Many times the reality of moving is replaced by beautiful pictures of new shiny trucks and movers with ironed shirts and electronic clipboard.
Moving Help However, 99% of the time you will end up with a couple of guys in ripped clothes in a truck that looks like it was last serviced in 1993.
moving scam
Even van lines who “adhere to standards” have unprofessional vendors in their network. So now the question is who to trust for your move. What moving company can you really trust for a stress-free, professional moving experience everytime?
We can help you find movers with brand new trucks, professionally trained moving crews at reasonable prices!
Movers Near Me
We have developed Mover-Help.com and MoversNearMe.com to provide our customers with professional, prescreened full service moving companies at reasonable prices Our instant moving quotes allow you to compare moving companies and their services including: loading, unloading, packing, unpacking, specialty moving, crating, and coverage. Follow our three easy steps to finding a great mover near you.
Find Movers – Read customer reviews and compare prices and recieve quotes for INSTANT moving services. All local and long distance mover prices are emailed and have GUARANTEED quotes so there will be no surprises during your move
Compare– No waiting. Receive local moving companies and their contact information immediately, call them directly and discuss your move – you can use our compare movers tool to accurately gauge your moving costs.
Moving Time – You are in complete control of your move! Our moving companies does not receive payment until the moving services are completed to your satisfaction. * There is a $100 deposit for local moves and 10% deposit for long distance moves which are 100% refundable.
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Instant Moving Estimates. Competitive prices for moving services.
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Mover Help
We connect people with a reliable moving labor to provide packing help, unpacking help, loading help, unloading help, cleaning help and even driving assistance. You can choose from any or all of the moving services you need. Our moving crews provide unpacking, packing, loading, unloading, labor only moves, full service moves, long distance moves and local moves.
Moving expenses can get out of control really quickly – you need to prepare yourself to save money when moving from the very beginning – here are 99 Ways to Save Money When Moving:
99 Ways to Save Money While Moving – Mover Help
1. Buy disposable booties for movers if it rains during your move – this could save money getting carpets cleaned. This is especially true if you are moving into a newly constructed building where the landscaping hasn’t been finished.
2. Schedule your move for off dates mid-week. The beginning, middle and end of the month are usually very expensive and book early. Plan for a weekday from the 7th-12th or 19th to 24th for the best rates.
3. Don’t pay for moving insurance if you already are covered through homeowners insurance – you will have to call and check your policy.
4 Donating your items to Salvation Army or other non-profits will reduce moving costs and provide you with a tax-deductible receipt which will save you money during tax season.
5. Using a moving calculator, get your weight and negotiate the best moving company rates.
6. When moving long distance, you have to consider if your items are worth shipping – for example if your mover charges $.80/pound to move from NYC to Miami – a 200 pound table is going to cost $160. You may be able to get a new IKEA table in Miami rather than pay for shipping your old one.
7. Don’t pay for packing materials. You should be able to find slightly used boxes on craigslist, liquor stores, big box stores like Costco, Walmart.
8. Move during the off-season. January-March are usually much less expensive than June-December.
9. If you are moving to/from a major city – think Boston, NYC, DC – steer clear of long distance movers who charge shuttle fees. A shuttle is a smaller truck that can get into smaller roads and on Manhattan – this can save thousands.
10. Ask your moving company to include any and all additional fees that may pop up. Learn more about moving costs.
11. When packing, use towels, socks, clothes to cushion breakables.
12. Pack vertically to save space and reduce chance of breaking dishes and items.
13. Make sure your movers provide free moving blankets. If they do charge for rentals, you can use your own blankets.
14. Get a flat rate moving price when you move.
15. Nest smaller items in larger items to save moving boxes.
16. Consider buying see through plastic crates that you can reuse instead of boxes that will be thrown out.
17. Garage Sale – nuff said.
18. Enlist your friends instead of paying for moving labor if you are loading/offloading a shipment.
19. Dishes can be packed using packing paper – don’t pay for bubble wrap.
20. Pack all of own stuff. If you really cannot pack everything – leave anything expensive and annoying ( dishes and breakables) for your moving company since they are responsible for anything they pack.
21. If you need storage, find a facility that will give you a month free.
22. Make sure your movers will not charge for stairs or a long haul.
23. Organize your move – write down crucial steps to your move so you don’t forget any necessary steps.
25. Consider shipping books via FED EX or USPS – it may be less expensive than paying heavy weight charges on long distance shipments.
26. For a local move, move over boxes and breakables yourself – hire movers to move big, heavy items that could injure you.
27. Negotiate moving fees – suggestions would be negotiating taxes, tolls, mileage or fuel fees.
28. Make sure your movers have a flat rate for travel time – you don’t want to be paying for them to sit in a traffic jam – or worse hanging at the gas station. Find flat rate movers near me.
29. You can sell moving boxes at Box Cycle, on Nextdoor or Facebook marketplace
30. The Dollar Store has cheap plastic bins and cleaning materials that are cheap and great for single use
31. Find movers who will keep your items on a truck if you need storage for a few days or overnight. You don’t want to pay for 2 moves. Find Movers Near Me.
32. Find movers who have their own storage facility just in case there is a last minute change. Find moving companies near me
33. Make sure storage fees are prorated – you don’t want to pay for an additional month if you are only there for a few days over.
34. Measure your furniture before moving it and know where it’s going – most local movers pay by the hour. Don’t pay for them to move furniture twice.
35. You can move non-perishable food.
36. Movers don’t move flammable materials including gas tanks for grills so make sure yours is empty or plan on moving it yourself.
37. For an extensive wine collection, hire professional movers and make sure it is insured. Many movers are not qualified and don’t understand the importance and proper packing procedures for wine and specialty materials. Find full service movers near me.
38. If you are moving a piano, hire movers that move pianos as well. A private piano moving company can cost over $1000 for a same town piano move. If you hire movers that move pianos as well – they will be trained piano moves but will only charge around $350 for the same move.
39. Most movers will do junk removal – but make sure they are not using the same trucks that they use for moving for junk removal or you could end up with unpleasant after effects.
40. Hire movers with clean trucks and that steam their moving blankets.
How To Save Money While Moving
41. Hire movers that have their own trucks.
42. Make sure your movers have new trucks and change their fleet every 3-5 years max. There is nothing more costly than waiting for a broke-down truck.
43. Skip UHAUL – they will not reimburse for broken down trucks also if they don’t have a truck for your reservation – you’re out of luck.
44. Leave kids/pets at a family member or friends house during your move.
45. You may want to sell your house furnished – saving you and possibly the new buyer decorating and furniture fees.
46. Rental truck companies will usually price match other competitors – call the 800 number and check.
47. Make sure your movers know if they will need to hoist anything. If they don’t find out until that day, you may need to pay while you wait for other movers to come or you may need to wait until the next day if other movers aren’t available.
48. Find movers who have an online inventory so you can ensure you can input all your furniture so both parties are on the same page and you can be sure moving rates wont change.
49. When moving yourself, drive in off hours saving gas and time.
50. Movers are not responsible for IKEA or pressboard furniture – you really need to consider if it is worth it to move those pieces.
51. Sell your used furniture on craigslist or donate.
52. Optimize utility shut-down dates. Do this in advance – especially if moving out of state so you don’t have to pay for additional days.
53. Make sure your realtor/lawyer accounts for any oil leftover in a tank.
54. Instead of tipping your movers big bucks, consider purchasing a less expensive lunch or snacks and drinks which are usually more appreciated.
55. Appliances may not be worth it to move if they are older – especially if you are moving out of state.
56. Moving a hot tub is not possible to move in the winter if you live in the north. Plan this out in advance.
57. Consider moving yourself by renting a moving truck.
58. If you are looking for a discount moving company make sure you make sure they are a private, flat rate moving company and not a broker who has the authority to sell or barter your shipment!
59. You may be able to find moving company coupons. Do a quick google search for the name of your moving company coupons.
60. Priceless antiques or other expensive items should never be entrusted to a moving company that doesn’t have a great reputation. Seek out movers in your area that have won awards and are active in the community – these are usually the best moving companies.
61. Some moving companies offer veterans discounts as well as educator discounts. Most are only 5% off but if you are moving long distance and your move costs $5000+ – that could be a big savings!
62. Save TV and computer boxes to use for your move – it is really expensive to get custom boxes for these items.
63. Save moving receipts -some moving expenses like realtor fees, etc may be tax deductible.
64. Hire a moving company that charges by weight – not square feet. Square feet depends on the way a shipment is loaded, weight is a true, factual measure of the items you are shipping. Find long distance movers near me.
65. Label boxes as you are packing so the movers place them in the right rooms at your new residence -this can save lots of time. As we all know, time is money.
66. Disassemble your furniture when you arrive. But remember, movers cannot put together what they take apart. This is especially true for baby cribs and bunk beds.
67. Swingsets and hot tubs cost a bundle to move. Strongly consider selling these items with you house. It just isn’t worth it to move these items.
68. There is a box service called box buddy that recycles boxes – right now they will send 30 boxes for $90 – these prices are about 25% than your local mover but they do reuse which is earth-friendly.
69. Use coffee filters or Styrofoam plates in-between dishes.
70. Put hanging clothes in garbage bags – you can save money on wardrobe boxes.
71. There are charities that will pick up your old, unwanted furniture for free. Some moving companies offer a free delivery of furniture to charities as well.
72. Some cities have utility concierges that will negotiate utility expenses to find the best deals for you.
73. Have any special tools ready for the movers. Moving companies usually have a basic set of tools including allen wrenches. However, if your furniture was purchased overseas there may be special tools that are needed to disassemble and reassembled.
74. Upcycle moving boxes to make them awesome.
Upcycled Craft Cardboard Box
75. Try not to close on the last day of the month. Sometimes there are delays in recording the property which will mean your items will have to stay on a truck overnight. Overnight fees should be about $150/night.
76. Take pictures of your space before you move in and after you leave in case there are landlord issues.
77. Use old toilet paper rolls to hold jewelry so it doesn’t get tangled en route.
78. If you are moving long distance, call a reputable mover in the city you are moving to. They can usually book at much lower rates because you would be a back-haul. Find out more about long-distance movers.
79. Basic moving coverage is always free – movers must award it to you.
80. Don’t trust a low-ball estimate – you pay for what you get and no truer words were ever spoken when this relates to moving costs.
81. You can leave fitted sheets on mattresses to protect them although your movers should put shrink wrap on them too.
82. Be precise with your moving company. Your estimate is only as accurate as you are. Get a moving quote here.
83. Don’t pack liquids. You really don’t want spillage all over your items.
84. Find long distance movers with guaranteed delivery and pick-up dates – the last thing you want to do is wait around in anticipation for “up to 14 days.”
85. Use a moving company that won’t sell or barter or trade your move – make sure they do their own moves.
86. Make sure you get copies of weight tickets – any moving company can claim your shipment weighs a certain amount – make them prove it with copies.
87. Your moving company should give you a detailed inventory of the items you have moved – keep this with you.
88. Make a necessities bin which includes everything you need for your first night – toilet paper, cleaning products, sheets, clothes, medications, etc.
89. Portable storage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – check the reviews. Also, they are very easy to break into.
90. Hire a safe, reliable moving company – you don’t want rogue movers showing up at your house.
91. Make sure your moving company CORI checks all crew members.
92. Have cold drinks on hand – everyone works better when hydrated.
93. Take a picture of your electronic cords or label them so you can remember what they go with.
94. Keep all screws, bolts and nuts in baggies so they don’t get mixed up with your shipment.
95. Check moving company reviews before hiring. Remember yelp reviews aren’t reliable as moving companies can pay for good reviews. Trust customer lobby or google.
96. Find the best questions and the answers your movers should have by using a compare movers worksheet handy.
97. When hiring packers make sure you are getting charged by hour instead of by the box. You will unpack to find three cups in one box…trust me.
98. If you have awkward items that don’t weigh a lot like kayaks or basketball nets – you may be charged a bulky item fee. See if your movers charge additional fees for bulky or unstackable items.
99. Make sure your moving company isn’t going to offload, reload or swap your shipment before delivery.
Being frugal while moving can be a challenge. These tips are priceless and can help you navigate to a low-cost move.
The moment you decide to move there will be thousands of questions that will flow through your mind. Knowing the average moving costs of your move up front should ease some of that burden. Figuring out how much your move will really cost can be really frustrating that regardless of how thorough you are.
Average Moving Costs
Also, the move distance between the two homes in-state or less than 150 miles (local) or long distance or more than 150 miles will affect your average moving cost.
How Much Does Moving Cost?
The truth is, you may not get the right answers to all the pressing issues at the beginning of your preparations, but you must know the price of your incoming move in advance so that:
– set up your moving budget the way you’re supposed to
-understand all miscellaneous charges that can incur
– prevent any unpleasant cost related surprises at the end of the relocation;
Don’t Forget! The only way to get an accurate estimate of the costs of your move is to have your chosen moving company perform an expert visual inspection of your home and give you a precise price quote.
The approximate costs of moving you’ll find in this article should serve as a useful preview of what your actual moving quote will look like. In reality, these approximated values can only be used as guidance because the real-life moving company rates will be dependent on the region where you live, your town or city, the moving company itself, and the specifics of your own local or long distance move.
Moving company costs on average
In most cases, moving house with the help of a professional moving company is the preferred way to approach the numerous challenges of that significant period in one’s life. As a rule of thumb, turning to the pros for assistance will eliminate plenty of stressful guesswork and will make the entire house relocation much faster and easier.
The only drawback is that you will have to pay for their moving services but that often proves to be a disadvantage in disguise the moment you calculate the potential risk and dangers of self-moving, add up the lost time in doing it all by yourself, and include the possible irreparable damage to your nervous system.
So, what are the average full service moving costs?
Once your move is bound to cross state lines or exceed the 150-mile radius, it’s already classified as an interstate move and the approximate costs of moving across the country will be calculated differently than short distance relocation cases. In practice, cross country moves are much harder to be generalized as far as preliminary expenses are concerned because of three major price formation criteria that work at the same time:
-distance you are moving from and to
-quality of moving company
-size of shipment
-additional fees (most should be avoided like shuttle fees and long haul)
The cost to move furniture, for example, will be calculated based on the weight, size, and nature of your home furniture. Expect to pay more if you need experienced packers and movers to handle bulky, super heavy or antique furniture pieces. The cost of moving furniture will also be dependent on the specific conditions in your home such narrow corridors and staircases, smaller doorways or unavailability of an elevator. For instance, if some of the furniture pieces will have to be disassembled, the furniture moving costs will be respectively higher.
1-bedroom apartment. The cost of moving out from a 1 bedroom apartment to a new home located 500 miles away is around $1500, while moving to a new address 1000 miles away should cost you roughly $2000. Both these prices have been calculated for a shipment weight of 3500 lbs.
2-bedroom apartment or house. The average moving costs for a 2 bedroom apartment or house are roughly $2000 (500 miles) and $2500 (1000 miles). Both costs have been approximated for a shipment weight of 5000 lbs.
3-bedroom apartment or house. The average moving costs for a 3 bedroom house or apartment are approximately $2600 (500 miles) and $3500 (1000 miles). The shipment weight for both values has been rounded up to 7500 lbs.
Please keep in mind that the above mentioned average moving costs per mile and average moving costs per pound can only be used as reference values due to the case-by-case nature of residential moving. As mentioned above, approximate moving company costs can still be useful for forming a general idea of just how strong a hit your budget will take. For much more accurate price estimation, get free quotes by filling out our quick moving costs calculator.
According to U.S. Census statistics, 19 million American households pack up and move each year. In 2010, Worldwide ERC, the Worldwide Relocation Association, reported the average professional household move cost $12,230.
The dollars and cents that go into those moves vary greatly depending upon a number of factors:
Distance of the move – using local movers vs. long distance movers
Need for packing supplies and services
Size/weight of the household being moved
Weight matters
When it comes to a professionally handled interstate move – one that takes you from one state to another – load weight and distance traveled are the two biggest factors in determining the cost of your relocation.
The weight of your items is actually measured on a scale. Before the move, the empty truck is weighed; you may ask to accompany the driver to the scale during the weigh-in to ensure everything is on the up-and-up. Your mover should provide you with an “empty weight” receipt or certificate. The truck will be weighed again once it is loaded with your items.
A reputable mover will provide a cost estimate prior to your move. The estimate you receive will only be as good as the information you provide. If you have a shed full of bikes and tools that you failed to mention when the movers did their estimate, the estimated weight of your load won’t be accurate. Likewise, estimates given over the phone are not as accurate as those given in person. Companies can “guess” what your load will weigh based on an average 1- or 2- or 3-bedroom home, but if your home is minimally furnished or jam-packed with items, the estimate will be off.
Longer move, higher price tag
To get an idea of moving costs, consider these examples:
The fee for moving an average 1,000-square-foot, 3-bedroom apartment (goods weighing 5,500 pounds) from Boston to Miami would be approximately $4,400 to $4,900. The same 1,400-mile move for a 2,800-square-foot, 4-bedroom household (20,500 pounds) would likely cost $14,600 to $15,600. Same distance, different loads.
For comparison, consider that moving a 1,000-square-foot, 3-bedroom apartment (5,500 pounds, same as above) 200 miles from Boston to DC would cost roughly $3,200 to $3,700. Same load, different distance.
Beyond weight and distance, you may find one or more of these fees applied to your move:
A transportation surcharge if the moving company pays workers more for working in metropolitan areas, where labor costs are often higher.
You may opt to purchase full value protection insurance for your belongings. (Released value coverage is provided by movers at no cost, but protection is minimal – just 60 cents per pound per article lost or damaged.)
Charges for moving heavy items such as automobiles, boats, riding lawnmowers, snowmobiles or pianos.
Additional charge for specialists brought in to disconnect gas mains or disassemble/assemble pianos and pool tables.
Additional charge if the movers have to walk more than 75 feet from door to truck or need to use stairs or an elevator.
Additional charge if your street is too narrow to accommodate the moving truck; movers may need to shuttle your belongings from your home to the truck via a smaller truck.
Be sure to ask your moving company’s sales representative about these add-on costs. Are there things you can do to avoid or reduce them? Working with the city to reserve parking space right outside your door, for instance, may prevent a surcharge.
Remember that the fees you pay to your movers are only a portion of what your total move will cost you. You also must factor in your personal travel and accommodations, on-the-go meals, the cost of new vehicle registration and driver’s license, utility hook-ups, and carpet and drapery installation.
Moving from one home to another can be a tedious job. Before you start thinking about making the move, there are three things that you might want to consider:
I. Budget
The financial burden can be pretty large, and can grow depending on the place you’re moving to; be it a move within the same city, between states, or to a different country.
II. Number of People
Whether you’re single or moving with your family, the total cost to move will vary depending on the cubic feet of items being moved; which directly impacts the size of the moving truck you use or the amount of movers you may need. It might be helpful to write down the number of items being moved, along with their weight and size before moving onto getting an estimate.
III. Time
The next thing to focus your attention on should be the time it takes to actually make the move. If the move is not properly planned, it can become a stressful production. One way to plan for the amount of time it will take for the move is to consider how long it will take to move large items, time spent loading everything onto the truck, time spent moving all of your items to your new location, and time and effort unloading the truck.
How does our moving calculator help?
It can be difficult to estimate the cost of a move. There are so many things that pop up that most people don’t consider. How will you ever be able to calculate an accurate estimate of your moving costs? Try the Monster Movers moving calculator which will provide you with a free moving estimate. It makes the task of budgeting for a moving company’s assistance easier than ever.
Our online moving calculator gives an estimate that will take the hassle out of hiring a moving company. However, there are always unexpected expenses so be sure to budget for that. The moving calculator will calculate:
Approximate time taken to get from one destination to the next
Number of movers that will be required based on large items, like furniture
Estimated weight of the load
Fuel charges
Level of difficulty involved
With regards to average moving costs – remember hiring the cheapest or most expensive movers won’t guarantee any level of service. You really have to look at what moving services your movers offer to find the best movers for you!
Now that the 2017 moving season is getting closer, we have compiled a list of current trends and advice for all your moving and storage needs for 2017! There are many changes happening in the moving industry – most are positive but there are still a few moving scams in 2017 that should be avoided.
Best Moving Advice for 2017
Long Distance Moving
1. Private Long Distance Moving is on the Rise – Gone are the days of waiting 14-21 days to get your long distance moving shipment. Many companies who used to rely on van lines for corporate relocation are now opting for a faster, more efficient moving service to get their employees to their new jobs faster. This trend is taking place for traditional long distance moves as well. You can find private long distance movers by performing a simple google search. Most private long distance movers will use smaller trucks ( 26 foot) and will be able to give you exact pick up and delivery dates.
2. Prices are Much More Competitive than Last Year – Since private long distance movers don’t have to pay overhead to corporate like van lines, you will see that long distance moving prices should be less than last year by about 1-2%.
Long Distance Moving Scams 2017
Moving Brokers Posing as Helpful Services or Actual Movers – There are many moving brokers that charge a fee and sell moves to an independent contractor that will actually do the move. Sometimes the independent contractors are not even licensed which puts your belongings at risk. You should always ask if you are hiring a moving broker when you book your move. It is highly recommended that you hire a moving company that performs all of their own moves and will not sell/barter/trade you move with another. Our best moving advice for long distance moving in 2017 is to ask your long distance mover questions – lot of them!
2. False Locations are Listed, even on Google – There are many companies that have listings on google maps that are not actually located at that address/in that city. It is very important to hire a mover that services your area. If you are in Boston and accidentally hire a mover based out of California – you could be waiting days if they don’t have truck in your area or if another shipment was heavier and cannot pick up your shipment.
Moving Tips
Local Moving Advice 2017
2017 is Going to Be Full of Rogue Movers – Rogue movers aka. craigslist movers, unlicensed movers, movers without licenses are on the rise. It is so easy for anyone to create a fantastic website these days and pose as a professional moving company. Then when some untrained guys in a budget truck show up at your house – this means you got scammed. Our best advice for hiring local movers is checking out their Facebook and twitter page that should have plenty of updated pictures about their business, their crew, and their trucks.
Services for Small Moves are Abundant – If you are moving a few boxes, or anything less than a dorm room, there are many companies trying to become the next “Uber Movers.” Essentially they will bring a pick-up truck or a van/car whatever they have and you can load your items in their truck for a much smaller fee than a typical moving company. Our advice – if you have anything heavy – hire movers – these companies only provide transporation.
Hire in Advance if You Need Overnight Storage – Overnight storage moving companies are very hard to find – especially in cities like Boston ,NYC, Orlando, DC… You will need to book way in advance if you have a bridge loan in which you will need to hold your stuff on a truck for a few nights. Expect to pay $100-$200/night for overnight storage.
MOVING COMPANY PRICING GUIDE – Navigating the costs of moving
Obtaining moving company prices from local and long distance movers is enough to make one want to do the unthinkable. Hold in there, pull yourself out of the corner of that wardrobe box. This moving company pricing guide will help you navigate through completely unregulated and obnoxious pricing schemes to help you get the best value for your move.
Moving Company Pricing GuideI
Before getting down to the nitty gritty of moving company prices – you should know a few simple things about moving companies in general. Just like health care professionals or restaurants – there are many different kinds of quality movers.
I have found this article about movers from quora to be an insightful explanation of moving companies and the quality difference. Here’s the gist of it – there are three different “types” of movers:
Van lines – Usually priced about 25% higher than private moving companies because the 25% goes to a corporate office.
Moving Brokers – Buy, sell, trade, barter your move to independent contractors – usually 5-10% less than private moving companies but you never know who will actually be delivering your items.
Private Moving Companies – For the rest of the article, I will be giving you private moving company fees – you can adjust these if you are considering a van line or moving broker. In my opinion, the best value for a move will be through a private moving company. Generally, they have their own trucks, own labor, don’t have to pay a corporate fee and have the best reputations.
Other terms you will need to know:
Full service move – this is where a moving company loads, drives and delivers your shipment. You don’t do any work except packing. All full service movers I know offer packing services as well.
Interstate move – any move over 150 miles ( even if it is in another state)
price/lb – this is the price per pound that a long distance mover will charge.
MOVING COMPANY PRICES – HOW THEY ARE DETERMINED
When I was in college and before working in the transportation industry, I got three moving quotes because that’s what I was told to do. One was astronomical – about $1000 over the competitors, one was so low I was scared and one was just right. Moving companies really haven’t changed much. You have most likely experienced a similar situation. Here is how moving companies price moves:
Full Service Move Prices
If you have chosen to a full service mover for your move this will be more expensive by about 10-15% than doing the actual moving yourself.
If you are performing an interstate move, then the relocation cost of your move will be based on a few factors: distance your old residence and the new won, time of year you are moving, the amount you are moving. Full service movers charge by weight. I do not suggest getting a price by cubic feet as this adds an additional variable to your moving cost equation. What if your movers load your shipment to take up more space?
A quick example – if you are moving from Boston to DC and you have an 2 bedroom apartment your weight will be right around 3000 lbs. The average rate to go to DC from Boston is $.60/lb. So, you would multiply 3000 x .60 – $1800 plus the labor which will average $400 so the total moving company price would be $2200.
If you are not using a full service mover, the $400 for labor will be omitted.
Full Service Local Prices
Average Cost of a Move
If you are using a local mover for a move less than 150 miles, the moving price is calculated by hour. Here are some considerations if you are doing a local move:
If you are moving a small amount of furniture/boxes, most local movers have a minimum -usually of four hours. Per DOT and labor laws, movers must pay their workers 4 hours even if they work only two – so essentially movers have implemented a minimum hours per move. So, if you think your move will take less, find something else for them to do – for example, rearranging furniture or bringing items to the salvation army.
2) In most cases, local movers charge on an hourly basis for all moving services. For example, whether they are packing, carrying your household items outside your home, loading these same household goods into the moving vehicle, driving to your destination, unloading your stuff, or carrying all your furniture pieces, household appliances and cardboard boxes over the threshold of your new apartment or house. However, some movers charge differently for different services for example when packing – they charge per box.
3) There is a travel fee for all movers that is usually non-negotiable. However, make sure it is flat-rated. Most private movers and trustworthy ones, have a flat rate of an hour or less. That fee covers the expenses in terms of fuel and time your local moving company needs to reach your home, and then travel back from your second location.
Average Cost of Packing for a Move
If you are in a mood to pack your belongings and box every room, your average moving bill will be much lower than if you choose to have professional movers do the packing for you. Based on my experience in the field, packing costs can be similar to the moving cost itself. A 4 bedroom house can take more than 12 hours to move from one town to another. In this case, your average moving costs will be around $1800-$2500 with no packing included.
Average Local Moving Prices
Average moving rates vary considerably depending on where you live and the cost of living. For the most part:
2 men and a truck $100-$150/hour
3 men and a truck $150-$200/hour
Anything outside of this range, I would be rather weary on. Either the movers are making minimum wage and won’t be professional or there is so much being taken off the top you are being ripped off.
Studio apartment: 4 hours for 2 men an a truck x $100/hour – $400
2-bedroom apartment: 5 hours for three men and a truck x $150/hour = $750
4 bedroom home: 10 hours x 3 men and a truck x $150 = $150
If you are moving from a 3 bedroom 1500 sq. foot home or larger, you really need an on-site or in-home estimate. Your best bet is to have three movers come to your home to estimate and give you moving options.
Average Interstate Moving Prices
Interstate moves are not charged by hour. The average moving costs for interstate moves are calculated by 5 factors.:
The Distance Between pick-up and delivery.
Shipments are priced per pound. Logically, the more weight you have the more expensive it will be. However, weight and price per pound are directly related. As an example consider these scenarios: Boston to Orlando with 2000 lbs is $.75/lb. Boston to Orlando with 7000 lbs is $.70/lb.
Date Flexibility. If you need guaranteed pick up and delivery dates – it can get pricy. For example the average fee to incorporate guaranteed pick up and delivery dates is right around $500.
Additional Moving Services. The price estimates you receive from reputable long distance movers should include the basic move Additional services will be moving pianos, pool tables, or major items. Other moving services are packing, unpacking, long term storage or overnight storage.
Time of Year – The least expensive time of the year for an interstate move is the end of January through April 1.
The most important thing to remember here is that the following moving costs are only approximate values that can serve you well to get a general view of what your cross country move will cost you. I suggest using this instant moving cost estimator for any interstate move. It will give you an instant moving quote to compare to other movers.
HOW TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST PRICE FOR YOUR MOVE
With 20 years of intimate knowledge of the moving company industry here are the most helpful tips and tricks to use when negotiating your move:
Negotiating Moving Company Prices
First off – don’t settle for “additional fees.” Additional fees are all costs that moving companies add on top of the bottom line to make additional money off of the consumer. I have seen some really crazy fees as of late such as “interstate optional pick-up charge.” Optional pick up ? The other additional charges that you need to stay away from are: taxes, tolls, stair fee, elevator fee, certificate of insurance fee ( this is FREE through your moving companies’ insurance company), long haul, long walk, mileage charge, interstate move fee, fuel surcharge. Oh, and my favorite – the shuttle fee. This is a fee for a long distance move when a big rig cannot fit in your city/neighborhood and they need to bring a small truck to shuttle it. Find long distance movers that do not charge this fee – it’s a doozy and averages $800! Additional moving fees that are usually not negotiable are overnight storage fees, storage fees in general, fees to move pianos, pool tables, or exercise equipment.
Do not get an interstate moving price based on cubic feet. If your movers need/feel like charging you additional money it is easy to load shipments with more/less space. Only get an interstate move estimate based on weight. Weight is not a variable where cubic feet are.
Tell your movers that you were referred to them after you get a quote. While working at a van line recently, their data suggested charging an additional 14% to people who have been referred or any corporate relocation accounts because they have found, statistically, that they can still book the move with that kind of a pricing increase. Get the quote first so you can negotiate the moving price and any additional costs and don’t let your moving company know you are going to book them.
Be flexible. Moving Companies Nearby are usually booked the first five days of any month, the last five days of any month, and a few days around the middle of the month. Most leases and closings happen around these dates. If you are flexible – say around the 8th-10th or 18-24th of the month, your moving company will usually have lower rates.
If you are hiring additional packing services to your move – don’t let them charge you per box. I have heard that some movers will place a few items in a box which means you will have more boxes and get charged more. Make sure all moving services and charges are detailed and at guaranteed prices.
Take only what you need. A move is priced per pound – do you really want to take that pile of wood or bricks that has been sitting in your garage?
Moving in the winter has got to be the most difficult move that I can possible imagine – mainly because of parking, snow, ice, dirt, salt, lack of elevators and whipping winds. The OCD in me is terrified of salty, slushy boots tramping throughout my house. If you are planning a move during winter – here are some moving tips and hints to get you through the madness.
Winter Moving Tips
WINTER MOVING GUIDE
Get Moving Help. Right now is not the time to look for bargain movers who aren’t going to protect your furniture. It may cost more initially but save you a bundle in the long run. Hiring a professional moving company is crucial this time of year. Invest in a quality move team instead of trying to do everything on your own will minimize your time in the cold, decrease your risk of frostbite or injury, and avoid the chance of a friend or family member losing their footing in rougher conditions. It is important to compare movers and use caution when selecting your movers by verifying their reputation for high customer service and a track record that supports it. You can do this by looking at verified moving company reviews – not on their own site but trusted sites.
Keep an Eye on Weather Patterns. The temperature can change quickly in the winter. What starts rain can turn to ice within a few hours – keep salt on hand. Taking a bit of time to shovel and salt may save you a ton of money if the movers have to do this first or if they have to walk through snow to get to your door. Some cities and states do a better job of maintaining their roads in bad weather than others. For example, Massachusetts/Boston is used to extreme winter weather – it salts and plows immediately and regularly. North Carolina, however, only gets snow sparingly, so it doesn’t have the same infrastructure to handle snow and ice. Sometimes that means roads are not fully plowed or sufficiently slated.
Get an Emergency Kit Together. Especially if there is a windchill of 20 degrees or less you will need some blankets, water, etc. White out conditions can happen immediately in the winter and it is best to be completely prepared. Things you will need: An ice scraper and a snow brush to clear your windshield of precipitation. Even if it doesn’t snow, ice can form on the glass if temperatures are warm during the day and freezing overnight. Rock Salt/Kitty Litter
A shovel — Have a shovel to dig out your tires, should you end up in a snowbank or it snows overnight
Extra food, water
A first aid kit
A flashlight, extra batteries
Blankets and warm clothes
Make a Pile of Old Blankets/Towels Most movers will have moving blankets for the floors and protections for the walls but sand, salt and snow will find it’s way all over your house during a move. Wipe any wet areas down immediately to eliminate the possibility of long term damage to furniture or floors. Drying rags and cloths are helpful when walking in and out of a house or apartment. Wipe up any rain to reduce slipping hazards. You can also lay down a few cloths for people to walk on so that they don’t track in water or mud. If any of your boxes get wet, a towel is handy for drying them.
Unpack Wet Boxes Immediately. Towels are a temporary solution for wet boxes. Even if your boxes dry when in the house the inside can remain wet and wet boxes that sit around for long time can start to grow mold. This problem may not be as much of a concern for easily cleanable items such as pots or pans; however, fabric objects such as your clothes may be ruined.
Layer up. It’s important to dress warmly, even though you will be working hard on moving day. Consider wearing layers you can peel off as necessary. It’s better to start with too many clothes on than to deal with being cold all day. Make sure your ensemble includes a hat and warm gloves.
Gas Up Your Truck Regularly. Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before you put the first box in the truck. If you are moving yourself, know that fuel lines freeze in moving trucks anytime the temperature hits 30 degrees or below – there is a special fuel solution moving companies use called Iso-Heet ( there are other brands as well) that help keep your gas tank and fuel line ice free.
Call A Moving Company – There is no possible way you want to do a winter move without help – it is just too dangerous. Hiring movers during the winter is imperative.
The hardest cities to do snowy winter moves in are below as well as local winter moving companies in the area:
Having moved in the depths of winter multiple times, I can tell you it’s something that will definatly take the winter doldrums out of you – it’s something to look forward to and who wants to spend days moving when the weather is beautiful?
Homeowners Insurance policies vary completely so the first thing you need to do to see if your homeowners insurance covers moving damage is confirm with your agent. There is a huge disconnect between homeowners agents we have spoken to and the “google answer” as you will see below. We have also added a section below on how to completely protect yourself from loss during moving.
While homeowners does typically cover your personal possessions during a move there is often some ambiguous terms relating to when, where and if your items will be covered. Jeff Johnson, an Arbella agent states moving damage or loss is covered if it is related to a peril listed in your contract.” In other words, there has to be a catastrophe to be covered. These terms conflict with the google answer:
“gray area of homeowners’ insurance that we discovered: Some policies will cover damage to belongings while they are in your home. However, they will not cover damage that occurs while the belongings are in the possession of the moving company or in transit”
which we found google’s answer to be incorrect. In fact, homeowners insurance seems to be effective while your goods are in transit if there is a major catastrophe – fire, theft – that is when your homeowners insurance is activated.
Johnson has also stated “If the moving truck is in an accident or there is a fire/theft while transporting your belongings and your property is damaged, you’d most likely be covered by your homeowners policy. ”
You are not covered if your moving company damages your furniture during moving. For example, if the legs of a table are damaged and the table cannot go back together, your homeowner’s insurance will not compensate you – you will have to file a claim with your moving company which you will find specific instructions below.
Another consideration will be your deductible. Most homeowners insurance policies include a $1000 deductible. If you claim a computer or TV is stolen from your move – you may not be covered due to the fact that the item with depreciation subtracted may not even be worth the $1000.
Protect Yourself During Your Move
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM MOVING DAMAGE?
Moving companies are liable for $.60/lb/article for any moving damage. Therefore if a table breaks while moving and it weighs 100 lbs. The amount a moving company is responsible for is $60! Moving companies are not liable for damage to an actual residence ( i.e. walls, doors, etc.). Moving companies are not liable for any items they don’t pack. There are a few movers that offer full replacement value coverage for a move- here is a quick rundown of what you should do to keep yourself protected from moving damage during your move:
Of course, talk to your homeowner’s insurance – and get all of the details. What, when, and how much they cover.
Find a moving companies that offer full replacement coverage for the instances that your insurance agency will not cover moving damage. There are only a handful of moving companies that offer full replacement moving coverage. And only a few of those offer coverage at a reasonable rate.
Compare moving estimates including coverage rates. Many van lines full replacement value coverage rates are so high – over $1000 for an interstate move which is usually what their deductible is! In which case there would have to be a major issue in which your homeowner’s insurance would kick in.
The best moving companies will allow you to choose coverage when they arrive at your place- not beforehand. The movers that make you choose beforehand will most definitely have two types of moving crews – the customers who choose coverage will get the good crew. The ones who don’t opt for coverage will be be covered only at the $.60/lb so you can only hope for the best.
Always check moving company reviews from verified sources – they can shed light on how moving companies are handling damage.
If there is damage during a move, your moving company will most likely send you through their claims company which is a lengthy process – you won’t see any compensation for 3 months or so. Your best bet is to offer a reasonable amount for your moving company to credit back to you – it can save a lot of time on both ends.
What is a Shuttle Fee and Will I Be Charged During my Out of State Move?
Shuttle fees – one of the biggest moving scams in the world – can cost owners hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Most of the time shuttle fees are completely made up and unneeded and the most expensive of all of the “additional charges” moving companies and van lines can hit you with.
What is a shuttle fee?
A shuttle fee is a fee that a long distance moving company or van line will charge to put your shipment on a smaller truck to take it to a larger tractor trailer. It is usually an hourly rate ( expect approximately $150/hour). A normal three bedroom will take 6 hours or so. Out of state movers and van lines will charge these fees if:
they think your residence is too far to walk from
they cannot park on your road or in your city
bad weather
they are scamming you into paying more money – this is legal
narrow/unpaved roads
sharp turns
steep driveway or roads
overhead power lines
What is a shuttle fee?
Here is a typical shuttle scenario involving a van line:
At the pick-up address, the driver will park his truck as close to the pickup address somewhere nearby. A van line will hire a local origin agent to move the shipment with a smaller truck and a two man crew to help load the items out of the origin residence onto the smaller truck at an insane rate around $150/hour. The smaller truck will than transport the goods to the over the road van. The driver and his crew of the over the road van will than transfer the household goods from the smaller truck to the over the road van. Depending upon the size of the shipment, this process could take several trips with the small truck. At destination, the process is reversed if there is a need for a shuttle. Make no doubt about it, van lines want to charge shuttle fees because they make 20-30% off of each of these moves.
This is an opportune time for an out of state moving company or van line to increase their fees for your move. These days there are private out of state movers that use smaller trucks for efficiency and you will never have to worry last minute that you will be charged a shuttle fee. Please note – even if you have a moving estimate, shuttle fees aren’t known until the driver actually arrives. Check your paperwork, shuttle fees are legal to charge anytime!
Shuttle Fees for Out of State Moves – Be Aware
Most movers have impractical operation (or shuttle) provisions in their tariff which allow them to legally apply additional equipment and manpower charges to your bill of lading.
Most of the time, your driver will assess the situation but he can charge the shuttle fee at any given point. Even if the charges are not included on the original cost estimate. Your out of state mover cannot charge a customer for shuttle service if they didn’t use any other equipment or manpower to perform your move.
Cities That Have the Most Shuttle Fees
In these cities you will find movers will charge shuttle fees in most cases:
Boston
New York City
Denver/Vail/many places in Colorado
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Washington, DC
Philadelphia
Arlington, VA
Providence, RI
Portland, ME
Austin, TX
San Antonio, TX
Atlanta, GA
Many smaller, walkable cities like Boston and NYC have laws preventing tractor trailers in many areas. In NYC, tractor trailers are not even allowed in Manhattan. Your best bet is to hire long distance movers that won’t charge these unnecessary fees.
Instant Moving Estimate — Get Your Moving Estimate in Under 10 Minutes!
It’s almost moving day and you have procrastinated finding a mover – You need an instant moving estimate – a fast, convenient estimate for the cost of your local or long distance move. This moving estimator is a godsend! Not just a ballpark estimator, it gives you a flat rate, guaranteed price based on your exact inventory. Most “instant moving quote” sites are just information gatherers where you will be called/emailed by lots of different moving companies. Not only that but these are ballpark estimates which means they can change by the hundreds or even thousands if you are moving out of state. Although it may sound great to have a bunch of movers call you with quotes- you will get called and emailed a hundred times a day – from moving brokers all over the country. This instant moving estimate form is private and emails over a quote without the high pressure sales calls or emails flooding your inbox.
Instant Moving Estimate
The Simple Steps to Get Your Instant Moving Estimate in Under 10 Minutes:
Fill out the city/state or zip codes you are moving to
A second screen will pop up so you can add inventory – later you can access this screen to add anything you forgot OR take anything away
Click Send
You will have an instant moving quote sent right to your inbox
If you require an in-home estimate – you can schedule a on-site estimate right on the same screen. A representative will be dispatched an you will get an appointment to receive a detailed, in-home moving estimate from a moving expert.
For more information on moving estimates and how they are calculated you can check our moving estimate blog post.
Were you one of the people that vowed to move to Canada if Trump was elected president? Well, it’s not your imagination – it really happened. Now the real questions about finding movers and how much it actually costs to move to Canada.
Cost of Long Distance Moving
Canada is a huuuuge country. It’s true. The moving costs to move from Boston to British Columbia Canada will be much different than moving from Seattle to BC. Even BC is a large area so whether you are moving to southern BC or northern BC – this makes a big difference. Essentially, moving from the United States to Canada is charged per pound. The rates per pound will range from $.50 ( Seattle to Vancouver) to $2.00 per pound ( Los Angeles to Montreal). To make things easier – I have picked the most popular moving destinations in Canada: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Winnipeg to give you an idea of cost of moving to Canada:
Moving to Boston to Vancouver $1.70-$2.05/pound
Moving from Los Angeles to Vancouver $.90-$1.20/pound
Moving Boston to Toronto $.90-$1.15/pound
Moving Boston to Montreal $.60-$.90/lb
Moving Boston to Calgary $1.50-$2.00/lb
Moving Boston to Winnipeg $1.15-$1.55/lb
Factors that will effect the overall moving costs to Canada are:
time of year of move
availability of long distance moving companies
flexibility of moving dates
actual weight you are moving ( generally the weight per pound and cost per pound have a direct relationship – the more you move the less per pound it will cost)
quality of service
Another helpful article regarding long distance moving in general is our Not So Quick Long Distance Moving Tips which includes the pertinent questions to ask your US to Canada Movers.
Long Distance Moving To Canada
When researching long distance moving companies to move you to Canada – you need to make sure they don’t have any additional international fees on top of their rate per pound – this can increase your move by hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some larger van lines charge interstate rates up to $.40 more per pound – so make sure all fees and costs are in writing! A good place to start is finding an online long distance moving estimate to get an idea of your shipment weight.
Other Minor Details of moving to Canada will be outlined in the Canadian immigration website or http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp .
