How Much Do Movers Cost – Detailed Guide on Expenses When Moving with Professionals

Almost 33% of yearly moves in the US are realized with the help of professional long distance movers. The whole process takes a lot of planning and budgeting, that’s why it is important for you to know how much do movers cost before embarking on this adventure.

If you want to properly say goodbye to your friends and family, find the job and change the address, the smart thing to do is to hire professionals to do the grunt work for you. To fit everything in your budget, you should have the answers to questions like How do you estimate moving costs?, How to lower the relocation expenses?, and What factors affect the final price? To make the whole process easier for you, we made a detailed guide that will help you get all the services you need and, at the same time, prevent you from spending too much money.

What Are the Factors That Determine How Much Do Long Distance Movers Cost

Interstate moving entails a lot of planning and budgeting, that’s why you’ll require an extensive to-do list to keep track of your tasks during the whole process. Also, while you are at it, crunch some numbers and create a relocation expenses checklist that will help you keep an eye on your finances. A part of this list should be dedicated to the expenses of hiring a cross country moving company that will handle your belongings.

If you want to understand better what exactly you are paying for, go over the factors that affect the final price of your relocation:

• The distance of your relocation
• A variety of services
• The size of your move

How Are the Costs Calculated When You Hire Local Movers

Not all relocations have to be cross country ones. But even if you decide to stay close to your previous home, you should still hire professionals experienced with local moves to handle your stuff. Local crews usually charge per hour for the duration of your relocation. The rates vary depending on the company you hire. On average, they are between $25 and $50 per hour, per every mover. Basically, you will need one more mover than you have rooms, so knowing this, you can calculate the approximate expenses of your move.

How Much Do Movers Cost When Moving Across the Country

Moving state to state is an enormous task you shouldn’t tackle on your own. The best way to avoid moving stress is by hiring professionals to handle the relocation for you. They will provide you with long-distance moving services and prepare your items for transportation before loading them onto the truck.

How Much Do Professional Movers Cost for a One-Bedroom Apartment

Since your residence size also affects the final quote of your relocation, having a smaller place will mean you get to pay less. Those in studio apartments are expected to pay on average $1,500. However, this doesn’t include extra assistance. Those in one-bedroom will pay within the price range of $1,800 and $2,500, also without additional help from professionals.

How Much Does a Mover Cost for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

Data from Movers Development shows that around 21% of moves that happen each year are households with two bedrooms. Those with this household size will need between $3,500 and $4,200 to relocate their belongings to another state.

What Are the Prices of Relocating Larger Houses

People with large families usually have houses with more than two bedrooms, and if you are one of them, your overall relocation cost will depend on more than a few factors. Firstly, when you are budgeting your relocation, call the professionals and ask them for a free quote.

Tell them how big of a property you are planning on relocating, if you have three, four, or more bedrooms, and they will be able to give you an estimate. On average, a relocation for three-bedroom homes can be anywhere between $3,500 and $5,000. However, if you have a four-bedroom place, you will need to pay somewhere between $5,000 and $8,000.

Does Having Additional Services Affect the Price

Are you hiring professionals to load your boxes onto the trailer and unload them to the desired location, or you want them to help you with some other tasks as well? When you pick reliable professionals, they will offer you some extra services that will make the whole relocation process easier, faster, and more relaxed.

If you decide to move your vehicle to another state, then call professionals and ask about their auto shipping services. Having the crew handle your machine might not seem like the cheapest way to ship a car, but when you put all the expenses on the paper, having professionals handle it is a smart choice. You won’t have to worry about driving for a while, paying a hotel to rest, buying food, and paying toll road fees.

Since the professionals know all the moving hacks, leaving them to box up your items might also be a smart move. They will bring all the right packing materials that will protect your valuables during the relocation process. Even though this will affect the final price of your move, it will be worth spending some extra cash on ensuring your objects are well protected and safely put in boxes.

Another important thing that can come in handy is having storage to place your belongings in if your new home is not ready. You can also use it if you have too many things and you still haven’t found the place to fit them in. Call your chosen company and ask about the prices. Some of them offer 30 days of free storage you can take advantage of.

All of this additional assistance can only make your relocation go smoother, so even though you have to give extra money for them, they pay off in the long run.

How to Avoid Relocation Scams When Moving Interstate

According to Census Bureau Data, around 10% of all Americans move every year, but not all of those relocations go smoothly. There are some con artists that pose as professionals and cheat people out of their hard-earned money. To protect yourself from moving scams, always be on the lookout for suspicious bids like:

• Low ball bids should be suspicious straight away. If the sales pitch seems too good to be true, it more often than not is.
• The volume-based bids, where the prices are formed based on the measures of the truck, should be reported to FMCSA.
• The in-and-out bid means your estimator doesn’t spend enough time in your home, and they don’t inspect all the rooms.
• The handshake bid is the one cons pitch to people and then later charge them extra with more than a few fees. That’s why you should always insist on signing the contract before the relocation.

What Are Other Warnings Signs to Look Out for

Licensed cross country professional movers are required by law to stick to regulations and standards that keep them accountable. If you want to spot the scammer, keep an eye out for these warning signs:

• Reliable professionals shouldn’t ask you for an upfront deposit until they load the truck.
• Licensed companies will provide you with a brochure filled with useful information about fair practices, regulations, and rights.
• Cross country companies should offer an assessment of your belongings. If they don’t, you can consider that as a red flag that something is wrong.
• Read the terms and conditions of contracts carefully, for some scammers will present you with a document that doesn’t protect your property nor your payments.

How Much Should You Tip the State to State Movers

Even when you are still crunching numbers, make sure you have enough money to tip professionals for the job well done. However, the question is – how much should you tip movers without over or under tipping them?

It is normal to reward the hard labor with a tip, but you can forget about percentage tipping when it comes to long-distance relocation because that can cost you a small fortune. Instead, you can tip them based on a job well done, which is basically somewhere between $40 and $60 per person. However, since the novel Coronavirus’s outbreak, some people are feeling extra generous towards professionals, and they tip more.

Tips on How to Lower Costs When Moving Cross Country

When you are looking for the cheapest way to move out of state, every dollar you save up counts. Even though hiring a company might not seem like the most cost-effective way to relocate, if you use some simple moving tips, you will be able to lower the expenses and afford hiring professionals.

How Can the Date Lower Your Moving Costs

Believe it or not, you can save up by carefully planning your relocation, so what is the best time to move? Keep in mind that almost 65% of all yearly relocations realize between May and September, making summer the busiest season of the year and increasing the prices. If you can organize your move somewhere between October and March, you will be able to save up some money.

Can You Lower the Expenses With Decluttering

No matter the size of your home, there are probably some items you can live without when you relocate. One of the best packing tips for relocation is to declutter before you actually start putting things in boxes. Not only will you lower your overall relocation expenses, but you can also do a good deed by donating clothes for homeless people. When you get rid of things you don’t need, find free boxes and pack your stuff. This way, you can save up by not paying professional packing. If you want to learn more clever packing hacks, take a look at the video below.

How to Hire the Best Long Distance Moving Company

When looking for an enterprise that will assist you during the relocation, thorough research will lead you to the best option. Start by researching “long distance movers near me,” and from there, start reading the reviews customers left. When you narrow down your search, contact three or four companies asking for a free quote. Ask about their services, check credentials, and final pick the one that suits your needs and budget the best. Keep in mind that the cheapest option is not always the best option because it can come with more than a few hidden costs.

Why Should You Hire Cross Country Movers

When you are getting ready to move out of state, there are many ways you can go about it. However, hiring professionals to handle your belongings is the most effective and stress-free way to do it. While you are figuring out how to change the address or collecting everything you need to rent an apartment, the crew will take care of your items.

From moving furniture to packing books, they will take care of everything. Additionally, professionals will handle all of your delicate belongings so that you don’t have to figure out how to move a piano or how to move a gun safe on your own. With all the free time that you have, you can easily organize an unforgettable moving away party that will help you say goodbye to all of your friends but, at the same time, start a new adventure with a bang.