How Much Does A Moving Company Cost

When you are planning your move, one of the first things to do is to plan your budget. But how much does a moving company cost? Our guide will help you get an idea about prices and different factors affecting moving costs.

What is included in the moving costs?

Depending on the moving company, costs can vary from company to company, but here are some general components as:

  • The number of belongings you will be moving,
  • The distance of your move,
  • The time of year,
  • The moving services you require,
  • Whether or not you will hire professionals to assist at any stage during your move.

According to some researches, the average moving costs are $40- $200 per hour. The calculation is based on:

  • How many movers are needed to complete work,
  • How many rooms and belongings you have in your old house or apartment. Also, the price will be higher if that is long-distance moving or moving to another state.

How much does it cost to hire local movers?

If planning to hire local movers, you should know they are charging their services by the hour. The price is based on the weight of your property and how many people it takes to complete the move. Depending on the area where you live price can go around $40- $50 per hour. The hourly rate is also calculated depending if the movers are wrapping, loading, or transferring your belongings to the new address.

How much does it cost to hire long-distance movers?

When planning a long-distance move, take into consideration that moving costs are based on the weight of your belongings and the distance between your old place to the new one. So, that will be the main reason why a long-distance move is more expensive than a local move. Based on some calculations, the average cost of a long-distance move is $4,890, founded on a two to three-bedroom shift of approximately 7,500 pounds with a distance of 1,000 miles. The final price depends on factors like labor costs, packing services, and insurance of your property. Therefore, ask more moving companies about details and final costs before closing a deal with them.

Choose the right time of the season

Choosing the right time of the season has significant meaning in your moving costs too. So, if you are looking for the cheapest season, that will be from Mid-September through April. Moving during school, holiday, and winter season most people are avoiding, which gives you good options to change your location for a lower price. Also, if you have the flexibility to choose your moving date, avoid the first and the last week of the month.

The services that can affect the cost of moving

Like we advised before, always ask your moving company about details. Relocation is not simple, and you have a lot on your mind already. You do not need unpleasant surprises when you get a receipt after the job is done. For that reason, pay attention to:

  • Moving add-ons;
  • Travel fees;
  • Moving insurance;
  • Stairs, elevators, and other obstacles.

Moving add-ons

It will be a little difficult to calculate exact moving costs before you hire a professional moving company. However, it will be useful to get an idea of how much your budget can be affected by this. So, what is a part of moving add-ons? First of all, the number of movers involved in your relocation (labor costs) and services required (such as disassembling or reassembling furniture).

Travel fees

In general, the travel fee depends on the pickup location, which is negotiated between a moving company and you. Also, moving companies may include fuel costs and distance from house A to house B.

Moving insurance

Taking moving insurance is one thing you should think about for sure because accidents can happen! Take into consideration that moving coverage and moving insurance are technically two different things. What do moving companies include?

  • Moving companies cover loss or damage caused while items are under the consideration of the moving company, up to a particular dollar limit.
  • Third-party insurance covers: Damage from acts out of the moving company control or behind the obligation limit.

Every company has its rules and regulations about coverage options in the unfortunate circumstance. Therefore, always ask for more details and information before engaging them.

Stairs, elevators, and other obstacles

Maybe you are not familiar with it, but the hidden costs of moving are coming in all shapes and sizes. Do not be surprised if the moving company charges you an extra fee because there is no elevator in your building or it’s not working on moving day, and they will need to use stairs. For that reason, check before you hire professional movers as the building has elevators or only staircases because in this situation, carrying heavy furniture will be much harder for movers.

Some moving companies have fixed prices for stairs, such as $50 to $70 per flight of stairs. If you live on a top floor and the moving company has to carry all of your belongings down in the elevator, they may have a one-time fee, such as $75 to $100.

Do not fall for a moving scam

Unfortunately, many fraudulent people are looking to make money in dishonest ways, and moving scams are part of them. For that reason, take a quote from 4-5 moving companies, and if you notice anything suspicious as really lower prices, keep on searching until you choose the best Brooklyn movers. Also, do not forget, there are two types of estimates, binding and non-binding, and the vital difference between them:

Binding estimates are a written agreement between your moving company and you made in advance. This agreement is a guarantee about the total cost of your move based on quantity, service, and conditions. The binding estimate must specify what is shipped and all provided services during a move. The most important thing, they will not change the price.

Non-binding estimates are common types these days, especially for long-distance, but this can be one of the moving scams situations where fraudulent movers will keep your possession until you pay them a new amount in full. Thereby, check with your family or friends if they have some trustworthy company to help you, and if you do not have one, our moving company, Rabbit Movers, is here to assist you at any moment.

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