Every year, Mover-Help.com takes a deep dive into the moving industry to find that “diamond in the rough” moving company that is making the right moves. This year, Mastodon Moving has really caught the attention of our staff. Besides being a mover for athletes and celebrities – many high end realtors in the Boston area say this is the only mover they will recommend.
So, what is it about Mastodon Moving that really stands out from the other movers in the area which include past winners like Monster Movers and Gentle Giant.
Uniformed, Trained Professionals – Every one of Mastodon’s employees show up ready to work and in uniform. Since the pandemic, many residents have said movers are coming in ripped pants, sweatshirts and sometimes even sandals. Mastodon Moving reminds us of the old-school companies coming in simple black and white lettered trucks with lettered jackets and steel-toed boots. The movers themselves are not allowed to take personal calls, smoke or use poor language on any move and this is something the operation manager takes seriously.
Reliable – Every other moving company we looked at had at least one review where the crews did not show up on time and/or didn’t come at all. On moving day, this can create a load of un-needed stress.
Responsible – It is clear that the owner, JJ runs a tight ship. Every person on the moving team takes clear ownership of how moves are performed.
Facilities – You will be hard-pressed to find a nicer moving facility than the storage at Mastodon Moving. While the pandemic forced many moving companies into cheaper, smaller and less secure warehouses, Mastodon doubled down on safety. Their facility is so clean and managed 24/7.
It is really difficult to find a good moving company these days, but we are sure Mastodon is the best choice for 2023.
If you are like so many people searching for trusted moving companies in your area, you will likely find the market saturated with fake companies, scams, brokers and franchises.
With all of this internet noise, it’s harder than ever to find a real company in all of the chatter. Movers Near Me, a company that verifies moving company license, insurance, and transparency is getting closer to launching a portal that will help navigate you to finding a moving company that you can trust. There are so many moving scams, Movers Near Me will get you a moving estimate without any sales calls bombarding you whatsoever. Then, you can choose a moving company that has been vetted and verified every 30 days.
Movers Near Me has secret shoppers to make sure owners are accurate as well as company addresses in case there are issues. What is more, they guarantee their movers. This connection between the customer and independent moving company also benefits the “little guy.” It allows smaller movers to compete with larger franchises. Franchises traditionally spend a lot on advertising, have mediocre at best services and are on the expensive side. Smaller movers provide the best services at the best price but lack when it comes to advertising dollars. Movers Near Me enables smaller moving companies to get a voice on their platform for 1% of what a typical monthly yelp, hire a helper or Angies List customer spends. Even Nextdoor charges smaller companies about 8x what Movers Near Me will cost a smaller mover. This means all money spent goes to the two parties it should – the mover and the consumer. Not a third party.
Currently Movers Near Me is nearing completion with its vetting and verification of the Boston moving market. By the end of the year, there will be 15 metro areas added to the portal. You can begin your search for a mover by filling out this moving estimate. Again there will be no sales calls – this is just to let the consumer know what moving should cost.
As peak moving season is winding down, consumers planning their upcoming out of state moves will be able to hire the best long distance movers in 2022 with a little more ease. This was not the case for many in the past few years. The pandemic caused a lot of rogue moving companies to pop up – inexperienced and fly-by-night scams are on the rise. Of course another new trend of one moving company owning multiple locations and “brands” to cut out any competitors is also something we have seen in 2022.
Take Boston, MA for instance. The market saw over 20 moving companies associated with Elromco/Boston Best Rate/Michaels Movers. The have over 20 brands all owned by out of country owners. Their terms and conditions for all of these brands states it is illegal to write a poor review and you cannot sue them. We spoke with an anonymous mover who used Anton’s Movers aka. Xpress Movers – one of the many “brands” all owned by Eli Derei, Stoil Andreev, Ronan Dhory. “Getting in touch with the owner to make a complaint after the move was impossible, its a goose chase to someone in another country.” He then received a letter from an attorney stating he take down his poor review or he will be sued. A quick web search finds all of their brands have impeccable reputations on the internet – a little too good do be true for moving company owners that have had to shut down several times under the name Boston Quality Movers. What’s more? Eliran Derei has ownership in these moving companies and owns Elromco – moving company software that gives him and his team every contact, email, access to every move coming in from movers that sign up for elromco.
In Florida, large moving companies flood the market with google ads and basically take every move. They do an abhorrent job then when the claims pile up, their business simply disappears only to rebrand and reopen somewhere else. This is the case with Good Greek. Good Greek has rebranded several times after claims get too much to bear. Another moving company that has constantly rebranded and reopened under new management several times – All My Sons. There is an entire facebook group dedicated to All My Sons Moving which is one of the largest moving companies in the country, yet their individual city reviews remain stellar. Something has to be done to fix the moving industry – how can the average consumer trust movers that are able to manipulate the internet to look like valid, trusted movers?
Can You Really Trust These Reviews?
So, the question is- Which Movers Can You Trust
Choosing a moving company that has been around for a long time in your area – one that has not had to rebrand. Also, you can do a local search on your state corporation site to find out who the owner is. Look for red flags – owners who live in another country, owners with more than 2 businesses. Another red flag is which movers received PPP. Out of every industry moving is one that never experienced a slow-down and were considered essential workers. Most moving companies had their best years during the pandemic. If your moving company took PPP money, it’s highly likely they are shady. You can check who received ppp here.
Moving Reviews
Moving Reviews have been completely fabricated in the past 2 years. You can easily pay a company $5/moving review that companies are able to write themselves. These same companies can have fake reviews written and good ones flagged for review which means after so many flags google takes them down. You can not trust google reviews at all. They are not accurate. Yelp and BBB are paid. So, who can you trust? Movers Near Me has a platform that is filtering out fake/duplicate moving companies. This platform also verifies insurance and has a real intimate knowledge of the moving companies they put on their site. You can also visit Move Line. This is a startup that verifies moving companies and helps small, independent movers compete with larger companies so consumers can get the best moving services at lower rates.
Moving Costs
Moving Costs are also an area of concern when finding movers you can trust. Prices can range by as much as 40% between moving companies. How can you tel which company is giving an accurate quote vs. low-balling only to upcharge you at a later time? You can start here using our instant moving calculator to give you an estimate of about where your moving company pricing should be around.
It’s that season again where all the moving companies start swinging into full gear! Whether you live ina big city, a suburban jungle or a small town in the middle of nowhere – we found the best moving companies near you. I will help you navigate through the muddled waters of what to look for when choosing the “moving companies near me.”
THE BEST MOVING COMPANIES HAVE THIS IN COMMON
TRANSPARENT PRICING without pushy salespeople
If you fill out a moving calculator from a moving company that you have considered and they call more than 3 times, I would pass. High pressure moving sales people are usually not the most trustworthy.
LOCATED NEAR YOU
The average person doesn’t know that there are many moving companies that are sourced out of another country and own multiple shell companies. For example, in Boston when you call what looks like a real company you will find the call being picked up by someone from another country and they sell or broker the move. You can go on your state’s corporation search site and search a company name. If it has a foreign name, 9 times out of ten you are not dealing with a US company. Find movers near me.
MULTIPLE MOVING SERVICES OFFERED
The best moving companies will have storage, packing and all moving needs so you don’t have to subcontract somewhere else.
VERIFIED MOVING REVIEWS
It’s really unfortunate but these days movers can purchase reviews. And even the good moving companies do this because they all do. There are a few places where you can find actual moving reviews that have been verified. Even the BBB allows movers to pay to have reviews removed and it is actually just a business and has no government affiliation. A recommended review sites for movers is Houzz. A pretty website with thousands of obviously fake google reviews should not be trusted.
YEARS IN BUSINESS
Moving companies come and go. There are moving company owners that will open a company, get a fine or lots of claims then shut it down and reopen another under another name. In Boston, there are hundreds of these shell companies. Look for movers that have really been open for at least 10 years without switching names. Some moving companies will have a company for local moves and one for long distance. Learn more about trusted Boston Movers.
Click to Find “Movers Near Me”
Now that you know some of the important things to look for when searching for the best moving companies in your area, we can go over some other considerations. Comparing movers is key when you are moving – and especially true when deciding which will be the best long distance moving company.
COMPARING THE BEST MOVING COMPANIES NEAR ME
Here are the best questions to ask your moving company when comparing movers:
How long have you been in business and has it always been with the same corporation? Meaning did you have to open a new company due to too many claims.
Will you be using your own trucks and labor? It is normal for movers to rent moving trucks in busier times but they should always be registered to the moving company for insurance purposes.
Do you hire day labor?
Will all of your movers speak english? ( or whatever languages you speak). It is so difficult to communicate about your move to the actual crew if they don’t all speak english/your language. I have heard horror stories of items getting left behind because the crew cannot understand what needs to be done or just one crew member can communicate with you.
What extra fees can be added? So many movers will charge you for tape, materials, etc. and they do not put it on the estimate but in the fine print that they send over.
Will I have to sign a release or waiver at the end of the move? This is important because many movers will make you sign this release to combat against bad reviews and claims. Yes, the release will usually say you cannot write poor reviews! You will have no retaliation to a poor job and local residents won’t ever know.
Are you looking for residential movers near me but don’t know where to start? There are a ton of moving companies that offer local and long distance moving services in your area. Residents need to be careful these days due to moving scams that can cost you thousands. Moving doesn’t have to be extremely expensive but you have to find a residential mover that is the best for your particular move.
Residential Moving Companies Near Me
Residential Moving Companies
When looking for a moving company to transport all of your household items, it is important to look for a private, flat rate moving company. Unlike a van line that swaps, barters and sells your move to an “agent,” private moving companies have their own employees and perform all of the moves with their own crews. Private residential moving companies are usually a little less expensive as they don’t have to pay middle-man fees associated with van lines, brokers and franchises. So, where can you find a trusted residential moving company is the question. With internet searches not being the best place as they often paint a false picture of a moving company with pretty pictures and thousands of positive “reviews.”
Where to Find Trusted Residential Movers Near Me
Mastodon Moving, one of the best moving companies in Massachusetts has been able to provide us with a list of important questions to ask your short distance movers prior to hiring.
When you’re looking for a “moving company near me”, trust is probably the first item on your list. You have to be able to trust that your movers will handle your precious belongings as if they were your own. There are a few moving companies nearby that instill that trust into every moving job. Whether a moving job is being handling a local, interstate, or distance move for customers in the US, we have a tool to help find the best moving company near you
First, a moving company must have a thorough understanding of what we will be moving for you, so they can be prepared with any special equipment or packing materials needed to keep your household items undamaged during the move. These experienced and courteous moving professionals near you can even pack and store your items in overnight, short term or long term storage bins.
Movers Near Me has a unique approach to your moving situation. We want to ensure that everyone has access to a skilled professional moving company near you – because it really does make a world of difference! That is why you’ll find our rates to be so competitive. Our goal is to offer a superior service at a low rate, so the decision to hire Movers Near Me is a no-brainer.
When you think about moving companies near me, Movers Near Me is known as an industry standard. With a large percentage of our business coming from referrals and repeat customers, we seem to be doing something right. Visit our state of the art website for a free quote for your local or long distance move.
Movers Near Me offers the finest distance, and interstate moves to or from anywhere in the US. We have locations in Boston, Providence, Portland, Charlotte, New York, Arlington, DC, NYC, Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Stamford, Denver, SF, Manchester, and Burlington , and we look forward to helping you get here or start a new adventure elsewhere.
We offer same day and/or next-day moving to the entire northeast and many eastern states, including Massachusetts: New York City, New York State, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Georgia.
Movers Near Me is licensed, bonded, and insured per all industry regulations. We specialize in relieving the burden of your long-distance move to or from any city in the US, not only with our dedicated service but by our commitment to offering the most affordable rates available in the US.
For long distance moves, we offer expedited shipping, and more affordable flexible date shipping. We are a private, flat rate moving company so there will be no delays, no waiting, everything you need when and where you want it. Our long distance movers take care of your belongings, from disassembly of furniture to packing and loading to delivery, unloading, and assembly.
Moving Company Near Me
Movers Near Me operates our own fleet of moving trucks, each one regularly serviced with great care and featuring the latest GPS technology and Arrivy so you know when your movers will arrive and where your shipment is the entire time.
Moving Company Near Me
As a 20+ year moving company, our professional movers are dedicated to helping you pack, protect, and move your personal items through full-service moving, packing, and storage services in the entire US. Whether you’re a young professional moving into a new home, planning to retire in the next few years, or somewhere in between, we’ve got a team of movers with shining attitudes who are excited to piece together your the belongings in your new home.
Moving Company FAQ
We are more than movers, we are your partners in the moving process. Our moving company employs highly trained, results driven household moving crews, and the best relocation specialists. It’s our commitment towards perfecting your moving experience and protecting your belongings that make our crews the best in the business. Our professional moving crews will be there from beginning to end with a smile on their face.
Full-Service Moving and Storage
Additionally, we offer moving and storage services, in case you need a few days or weeks before your new home is ready. See our moving and storage FAQ to learn more about our full-service storage costs. We also have overnight storage for anyone that has a bridge loan or is changing apartments.
Finding local movers near me can be a challenge if you are looking for professional, licensed and insured movers who won’t rip you off. Whether you’re moving for a promotion up the corporate ladder or to have access to better schools for your kids, moving can be hard. You may find local moving companies near me will be easier when using private, local movers you can trust. Even a short distance move down the street can get hairy if you hire movers that are not trained, not properly covered, damage property or furniture, or scam. Thankfully, there is a reputable local moving company near you that can make a moving mess into a seamless experience.
Local Movers Near Me
HIRING LOCAL MOVERS NEAR ME
Movers Near Me does not operate with a network of movers like most moving operations or van lines do. Our team is locally family-owned and complies with local licensing and insurance regulations. Movers Near Me do not have to give any of their profits to a van line, broker or franchisor. That means affordable rates for our local residents. What’s more? Most of you know a search for local movers near me will direct you to filling out a form in which 8-10 movers will hound you until you move. With Movers Near Me you will get one guaranteed not to exceed estimate and we will never hound you.
LOCAL MOVERS NEAR ME REVIEWS
Of course search engines might be the first place you turn for local movers near me recommendations these days, another way to get moving reviews would be through friends and family on facebook recommendations. Ask them to share their experiences with the moving companies they used. Other local moving companies review sites can be found on their actual website.
MOVERS NEAR ME LICENSED AND INSURED
Movers Near Me is a private local moving company which is registered, licensed and has an active insurance policy for both local movers and long distance movers.
WHY HIRE A PRIVATE LOCAL MOVING COMPANY
A private local moving company is one that does not belong to a van line, franchise or hired by a broker. The pros of hiring a private local moving company:
Lower Fees – most van line, franchise and broker fees are between 30%-50% of the moving costs.
Better Quality of Service – private local movers will be movers from your are and the quality will be much more important to management as the local sentiment will keep that mover in business.
Easier to mediate/sue if issues happen. Movers that are not local to your move will be harder to track down if things to go awry.
Will know specifics about your local area.
LOCAL MOVING COMPANIES NEAR ME
If you are looking for local moving companies near me we can provide you with mover help for your search. Starting with a local moving company estimate is really the best way to start your search. This local moving estimator will give you the weight of your shipment so you can shop around for the best value for your local move.
TOP 4 REASONS TO HIRE MOVERS NEAR ME
1. Less Work and Relying on Others
When you hire local movers nearby, they save you from injury and all of the heavy lifting. Our movers do this daily and most are student athletes. That being said, they are used to lifting, twisting and turning with heavy pieces of furniture that would leave even a fit person with a backache for the rest of their life. Hiring local moving companies near you will leave you more time and energy to focus on other components of the move like your kids, pets and roommates. Full-service moving companies offer an array of services to make your relocation go smoothly.
2. Professional Movers are Not Your Relatives
You likely have friends and family that are happy to help you move. But, do they know the best way of getting a couch through a narrow doorway or the best technique for packing your china? Local movers near me are trained and help people move every day. They know exactly how to transport your most awkward and fragile items with ease and care, to safeguard your things throughout the move.
3. Movers Near Me is Licensed and Insured
If you or Uncle Bob happens to drop and break your TV when moving you will have to pay for it yourself. Hiring movers ensures your items will be kept safe or you will get coverage. Any licensed moving company near you will have to provide basic coverage on any move.
5. Movers Have Tools & Equipment
Do you have a truck that can hold all the items in your home? Or the correct equipment to haul your furniture and lard
Local Moving Services
Local Movers Near Me Services
Packing & Unpacking: Packing your entire home is a job that can take days or weeks to finish. If you’re a busy person and don’t have the time , your movers will bring the packing supplies and do it for you. You can schedule a full-pack or partial pack at an affordable hourly rate.
Loading & Unloading:
Residential Moves: Whether your home is a brand new condo in a high-rise, a third-floor walk-up apartment, or a house in the burbs, our local movers near me can make your local move the best.
Packing Supplies: Most local movers offer packing supplies to safely pack your household goods and furniture, such as boxes, tape, bubble wrap, blankets, and shrink wrap.
Appliances & Specialty Moves: All Movers Near Me professional moving crews can also help with heavy items. Items that are more difficult to move include tv’s, refrigerators, grandfather clocks, and pianos, but our team can haul these things with ease.
Moving Help Near Me
Most of the people think that shifting to a new city or country is an exciting and very adventures process. While in reality, the process is full of different types of hassles while moving.
The presence of numerous local movers makes it difficult for people to select the best of them. So, people should be a little careful in choosing a company. To make the right decision they should compare the experience, services, and reliability of at least two or three companies. Apart from all these, they should compare their service charges as well. All these points definitely help them in selecting the right company to get the required services. If they want then they can read previous customer reviews also to make sure that the selected local mover company is right or not.
We require our movers to be CORI-checked with a comprehensive background check and they are trained extensively before entering your residence. We work hard to keep your personal information safe and secure and never sell your information
Ready to get a moving quote from us? You can simply get a FREE, INSTANT MOVING QUOTE by completing your move request in the form above. Please read the factors that affect a moving estimate below.
Moving Services Near Me
Believe it or not, there’s more than just one type of moving service to choose from when relocating to a new home. The different types of moving companies include full-service moving companies, self-service moving companies, and specialized moving companies.
Full-service moving company — The most expensive type of mover is the popular full-service moving company. These professionals will do everything from packing your belongings, loading and unloading the truck, and transporting your belongings to the destination.
Specialized Piece by Piece Movers Near Me — Specialized moving companies are trained in the proper ways to move pianos, hot tubs appliances, art, antiques and other specialized items.
Guaranteed Long Distance Movers – If you need guaranteed dates for long distance moves – this will greatly affect the price
Many moving companies offer both local and long distance moving services.
Why Moving Companies Near Me
So why opt for a moving company over doing your move yourself? For starters, hiring a moving company near you saves you from having to do any of the heavy lifting on moving day. This, in and of itself, is the most common reason why people choose to hire professional movers. Moving company pros know how to properly load and unload moving trucks, as well as how to move furniture without scratching the floors. Choosing a reputable and reliable moving company to handle your relocation only ensures that your move will be carried out in the most efficient way possible. It also frees up valuable time and energy that you can spend on other important to-do list items on your moving checklist.
Moving Companies Near Me FAQ
Mastodon Moving, a well known moving company in Massachusetts has given us some important considerations when looking for a moving company nearby. Mastodon Movers have won many awards in Massachusetts including: Nextdoor “Best Neighborhood Moving Company,” Angi Superprovider, and the “Best Moving Company of 2022” from www.moversnearme.com. Here are their suggestions when searching for a mover.
What moving company services are included on a long distance moving quote?
Looking for someone to handle your move from beginning to end? A full service moving company can do just that. “Full service” means the moving company will come to your house in their moving truck, load your belongings, drive them to the destination and unload your items. Full service moving companies typically offer additional services as well, such as packing, unpacking, disassembling furniture and reassembling furniture. Of course, you can always box up your own belongings and have a full service moving company do the rest. Full service moves are popular among customers who are moving at the last minute, as well as those who lack the time and ability to move themselves. While hiring a full service moving company often means spending big bucks, many will tell you that the added convenience is well worth the higher price tag.
YOUR MOVING QUOTE EXPLAINED
When movers give a non-binding moving estimate, they are giving the customer a moving quote based on the estimated weight of their belongings. However, this non-binding quote is not set in stone and will most likely change depending on the actual weight of the move. A binding estimate is a fixed cost estimate. If the customer agrees to a binding estimate, then they will pay exactly what they were originally quoted. A binding not-to-exceed estimate means that even if the weight of a customer’s shipment exceeds the original estimate, they won’t be charged anything extra. Instead, they’ll only pay what they were originally quoted. If their shipment weighs less than originally estimated, then they’ll only be charged for the cost of shipping the actual weight of their belongings.
Should I choose a binding or non-binding moving company quote?
The most popular type of moving quote is the binding not-to-exceed estimate. This type of moving quote is often called a “guaranteed not-to-exceed” estimate as well. It’s usually in the customer’s best interest to choose a binding not-to-exceed estimate because it ensures that they won’t pay more than originally quoted even if the weight of the belongings ends up weighing more than originally estimated. However, if the shipment weighs less than the original estimate, then the customer will actually pay less than the original quote.
What does a moving quote include?
If moving a long distance, your estimate should include the name and address of your mover, the tariff cost, miles traveled, minimum weight and estimated weight, any discounts applied, packing and unpacking service fees, storage charges, transportation charges, fuel surcharges, insurance surcharges, and accessorial services.
How can I save money when moving?
There’s no doubt that hiring a moving company will cost you a pretty penny. Fortunately, there are ways to cut back on costs when hiring professional movers. First, inquire about various discounts available. Additionally, many moving companies also offer military discounts to members of the armed forces. A second way to cut costs is to pack yourself for the move instead of hiring professional movers to box up your belongings. Third, choose a move date associated with lower moving rates. Avoid peak moving season in the summer and opt for a late fall/winter move when demand is lowest. Finally, you can cut costs on moving by getting rid of unnecessary belongings. After all, the heavier your move, the more expensive it will be.
Moving Companies Near Me Quotes
Full-service moving company quotes are factored on many items, here are the most popular:
Actual Weight — In general, the more stuff you move, the more expensive your move will be. Not only does it take longer to load and unload a large household, but it also requires a much bigger truck. You can find out your weight with this moving calculator.
Moving Distance — The mileage between point A and point B affects the price of a full service move. Not only will you have to pay for gas, but you’ll also have to pay the driver for his time on the road. In general, the farther the move, the more expensive it will be.
Labor costs — Labor costs may vary from state to state and moving company to moving company. For local moves, you’ll be paying movers an hourly rate. Interstate moves usually include the estimated cost of labor in the moving quote.
Packing costs — If hiring the full-service movers to pack and unpack your belongings, be prepared to pay at least a few hundred dollars extra for the service. Moving companies will also include the added cost of disassembling and reassembling furniture in their moving estimate.
Liability and valuation coverage — Movers must provide customers with two valuation coverage options: Full Value Protection and Basic Protection. Full value protection is the more comprehensive option. This liability coverage states that if your mover damages or loses an item, they will reimburse you for its current cash value. Released Value Protection is the most basic liability option available. It’s included in your moving quote for free and only covers .60 cents per pound of cargo.
Additional storage — If you need a moving company to temporarily store your belongings before, during or after the move, this cost will be added to your moving estimate. Storage rates vary from mover to mover, so be sure to ask about rates before agreeing to include this service in the estimate.
Moving Companies Near Me Quote
With numerous moving companies to choose from, we know the decision can be a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, with Movers Near Me, it’s easy to find, compare and book the moving company that best fits your needs. All you have to do is submit your moving details above to receive free moving quotes from a number of professional moving companies. Best of luck and happy moving!
Local moving companies typically charge $40-$60 per mover per hour, which includes a moving truck. Moving a 3-bedroom home may require 3 movers and 6-9 hours, or $1000-$1500. The factors that will determine the exact rate per hour will be: time of year, quality of moving company, additional services, distance travelled, size/access inside home and a slew of other minor factors that will be discussed below.
If you’re facing a local move and don’t know how you’re going to get all your household goods from one place to another, a professional moving company can make your worries disappear. Any move of 150 or fewer miles is categorized as a local move. Longer moves are handled by long-distance movers, or considered an interstate move when crossing state lines. Local moving companies provide a range of services to make your life much easier during what is a notoriously stressful time.
Professional movers can pack, they can load/unload and they can transport. The only work you really have to do is hiring a moving company. Everything should be insured and safely handled, making your ceramics collection far more likely to survive than in your hatchback or in the hands of your friends. Here are some of the services moving companies can provide you:
Packing: Pro movers can supply all your moving boxes and the labor to pack them. Different box sizes have different retail rates and packing rates. Box contents will affect packing rates. For example, china or glassware could be an average of $18 per box, linens $10 per box, and books $5 per box.
Standard move: You pack your own boxes before the movers arrive. The movers load the moving truck with your belongings and unload the boxes for you in your new location.
Full-service move: The moving company handles all aspects of your move: packing your belongings, loading them into their truck, transporting your items to your new location, unloading, and then even unpacking the boxes if you’re willing to pay extra.
Specialty Moving: Delicate and oversize items, like your pool table or baby grand piano, require special handling. There may be an additional charge for moving these items, as technical expertise is important for safely transporting them without damage.
Storage: Your moving company may offer storage at reduced rates if you bundle their storage services and moving services at the same time.
Long Distance Moving: Pro movers can drive your belongings across the country for you. Long-distance moves are often priced per cubic foot, with total mileage affecting the cost.
If you are moving anywhere within the same city — or to one nearby — you likely will work with a local moving company. For your local move you can choose from a range of service levels. Which service level you choose will depend on your budget and how much assistance you need. Simple moving services might just include helping someone unload a truckful of items into a storage unit. A full-service move can include boxing or packing up a home, loading, moving, unloading and unpacking. Or you can hire a company to pack boxes for you if you need a few extra sets of hands. Full-service moving does cost more, but it saves you time — which for many people equals money. Spending more on a full-service move might actually save you money by freeing up precious spare time for work, family or much-needed rest.
If you’re ready to get help with your next move, here are the things that affect the average cost for full-service movers.
Moving Prices Hourly Rates
Moving is hard work. If you’re doing it yourself, it’s long, sweaty hours of packing boxes and wrestling with your king-size mattress. Hiring professional movers to do the heavy lifting can save your relationships and your back. The cost to hire local movers is often calculated on an hourly rate, which can increase as more movers or moving trucks are needed. Your geographic location will also affect your hourly rate. Often cities with a higher cost of living have higher local moving rates than smaller cities with a lower cost of living, which accounts for higher costs of doing business, such as workers’ comp, insurance and labor. Most movers charge an hourly rate that increases with each additional mover you require. Two movers are $120 per hour, three movers are $150 per hour, and four movers are $180 per hour.
Other factors that may affect your hourly rate are logistical challenges such as stairs or steep driveways, or having many fragile items that require extremely delicate handling. During your initial call with the movers, it’s important to let them know about fragile items you want moved so they can have the appropriate moving and packing equipment on hand the day of the move.
Here are some rates from a local branch of Movers Near Me:
Two movers and one truck: $120 per hour
Three movers and one truck: $150 per hour
Four movers and one truck: $190 per hour
Service fees may apply when booking a company’s moving services
To obtain an instant moving total for your quote – you can visit their online moving price generator for a 100% guaranteed moving cost.
Full Service Moving Prices
Full Service Moving Prices
Full-service moving is your best option. Full-service moving includes a moving truck and moving boxes, labor for packing household items into boxes, loading boxes into the moving truck, driving boxes and furniture to the new location, and unloading boxes into the new home. Unpacking items from boxes in the new home is generally not included, but may be available for an additional cost. Moving companies typically request that you be present the day of the packing and moving, although other arrangements can sometimes be made for people who are traveling. The cost of local full-service moving is greater than for standard moving services, but the payoff comes in the free time you have not spent packing up all your possessions.
Moving Prices for a Full-service on a three-bedroom house: Three people packing for approximately four hours and five or six hours of loading, moving and unloading time = $1,200-$1,800
In general, the larger the house, the higher the moving cost. Seasoned movers often can provide a ballpark number for moving costs based on the number and type of rooms in a house. However, your individual home might be different, and that’s why most moving companies will need to do a site visit to provide you with a true estimate for services. Home size is not always an indicator of how many belongings a person has; you and your partner may have more in your two-bedroom apartment than a single person has in a three-bedroom home.
Moving Prices for Additional Services
Anything that makes the move take longer or that demands more physical exertion on the part of the movers can increase the cost. Stairs at the initial move site or the new destination can increase moving costs because they require more work for movers and present more risk of injury or damage. Narrow passageways, steep driveways, lack of parking out front, and the presence or absence of elevators are other factors that can influence your local moving costs. It’s important to tell the moving company about these obstacles when you are first booking their services. This allows them to bring any special equipment that will be necessary to navigate the obstacles or maneuver furniture in tight places, as well as prepare their moving staff.
How they charge for obstacles may depend on the company. Some moving companies have set rates for stairs, such as $50-$70 per flight of stairs. If you live on a top floor and the moving company has to transport all your belongings down in the elevator, they may have a one-time fee, such as $75-$100. Be sure to provide as many details as possible to your local moving company upfront. This allows them to provide you the most accurate estimate and to ensure the safest and most efficient move for your belongings.
Moving Prices – Packing costs
It’s easy to forget just how time-consuming packing is until you are faced with another move. Fortunately, local moving companies near me can help you pack all your belongings, saving you hours of frustration and lungfuls of dust. If you have already arranged for a truck, you can hire movers just to help with the packing and heavy lifting. When movers are hired for only packing, loading and unpacking, the costs will be less than if a moving truck is also requested. Different companies may charge for packing by the hour or by the box. The cost for packing can vary by geographic region, and by what type of moving boxes you need. Moving companies often have different prices for different size boxes. Specialty moving boxes, such as “wardrobe” boxes with a hanging rod inside, will also cost more. For example, charges $3 for a small moving box, $4 for a medium-sized moving box, $5 for a large moving box, and $8 for a dish-pack moving box. Packing labor costs are not included in any of those box prices. Movers Near Me, charges $5 per book box, $10 per linen box and $18 per glassware box, not including the cost of labor for packing the box.
Local moving companies may be able to provide ballpark estimates of how much it will cost to pack your home. Movers Near Me provides rough estimates for packing charges based on their experience with previous customers:
Studio apartment: $305-$465, including three or four hours of packing by two workers and $50-$125 for packing materials
One-bedroom apartment: $440-$625, including three to five hours of packing by two workers and $100-$200 for packing materials
Two-bedroom apartment: $770-$1,180, including four to six hours of packing by four workers and $250-$400 for packing materials
Moving Prices – Specialty Moving
If you have lots of unusual items, you may require special assistance in moving them to ensure their safety and want a moving quote that covers those items. Specifically if you have a pool table or baby grand piano, improper moving can do real damage to their delicate components. Unless your local moving company is specially trained to move pool tables or baby grand pianos, it may be wise to hire a specialist.
The cost to move a piano will vary depending on your location and any obstacles such as stairs also what type of piano it is. Moving prices for upright pianos, spinets, baby grand and grand pianos will all be different but you can expect a spinet piano move to cost about $300, an upright $400, a baby grand $500 and a grand up to $1000 depending on the brand and coverage.
In addition to specialty items, some companies may have additional charges (beyond their hourly rate) for disassembling and reassembling furniture or moving extremely heavy items. Communicate clearly with your movers beforehand about what you need moved to prevent any confusion on move day. Keep in mind that auxiliary tasks that require extra work may increase costs and ask for these to be itemized in your moving estimate.
Moving Prices for Travel Time
Moving Prices for Travel Time
Travel may affect the price for local moving costs. Some companies don’t charge mileage unless the distance is over 50 miles, while others do. Confirm how distance is handled in the contract before signing. Companies have to take distance into account to ensure they’re meeting their costs for the time that driving can require, the cost of fuel for large moving trucks, and the cost of upkeep on their moving trucks. For example Monster Movers’s base local moving fee is $100 per hour, and the company does not charge for mileage if the distance covered is under 50 miles. Beyond 50 miles, however, a mileage fee applies. Moving date could also affect travel costs with moves over the holidays or during peak season (typically summer in most areas) costing more.
How Should I Tip My Movers
Your movers have hustled all day, loading and unloading boxes, and your furniture arrived in terrific condition. An easy rule of thumb for local moves is to tip your movers 5 to 10 percent of the total bill. Tipping 5 percent is reasonable for standard local moves where the pros are in and out in a half day. Tipping 10 percent can be appropriate when the movers were also packing your boxes and had a longer workday. Tips can be split up among all the movers. Many companies recommend you give the tip directly to each worker, not only to recognize their effort but also to ensure that each one receives their share. You are not required to provide a tip, but it is a much-appreciated gesture for a job well done.
Saving Money on Moving Expenses
Packing all boxes ahead of time is a big cost saver. Having all your boxes well organized and labeled (on all sides of the box) also make packing and unpacking easier. If you’re paying by the hour, this saves you cash. When gathering boxes to pack for your move, be sure to find ones strong enough for the task. Moving boxes provided by moving companies have double walls that can support the weight of other boxes and furniture stacked on top of them. If you use single-wall boxes, the sides could crumple, damaging your goods inside.
Clearly labeling each box also saves you time, because the movers can put the boxes in the appropriate rooms as they are unloading them. Disassembling furniture is another way to save money. Pro movers will usually disassemble furniture for you, but if you’re able to take things apart yourself, it can cut back on the number of labor hours you pay for.
Moving can be really stressful, and it’s easy to make mistakes. Unfortunately, these mistakes can end up costing you money or wasting your precious time. The experts at Monster Movers have tips for you to have the most successful move possible. They’ve moved thousands of families, and these are the most common mistakes they encounter:
Not downsizing before the move. Going through your belongings before you pack them allows you to donate or sell items you don’t really want. Otherwise you are paying someone to pack and move unwanted stuff for you.
Only partially packing boxes. If your moving boxes aren’t filled to the top, you lose out on moving space, and you risk damaging items inside when they get bounced around.
Using the wrong sized boxes. Don’t fill large boxes with books or other heavy items. Keep your brick collection to small boxes. The movers, and your belongings, are more likely to get hurt when improper packing occurs.
Not being ready when the movers arrive. If you are paying for standard moving services, you are paying by the hour. Having your things spread all over means more work for the movers and more money for you to pay. Be ready to go on moving day.
Unlabeled boxes. Label each side of each box with a description of the box’s contents. At a minimum, label one end and one side of each box. This protects your more delicate belongings during the move and it helps you find things when you unpack.
No room labels on the boxes. Clearly mark on each side of each box which room you want that box to go to in the new home. This helps the movers help you by unloading the boxes into the right rooms, and makes your life far easier when you are unpacking.
Mixing up boxes. If you are putting some items in storage and some items in your new apartment, label each box very clearly. Use flag tape (from any big-box store) in two separate colors to indicate which furniture and which boxes go to which destination.
