Moving anytime soon? Wondering about the costs of such an ordeal? Well, we’ll tell you one thing: it doesn’t come cheap. However, it depends on the distance or the weight of your cargo, among many other things. Still, the service you’ll receive is worth it. It’s definitely better to spend some funds and ensure a stress-free trip to your new home. Before we unintentionally scare you away from hiring pros to help you move, it might be good to show you something. In the text below, we’ll help you understand all of the costs of using a moving company.
Basic information
The average price for a local move in the US is about $1250. For a long-distance move (about 1k miles), folks usually have to cough up $4,890. These stats are based on a 2-3 bedroom house move with no more than 7.5 pounds of cargo. So, how do movers determine the price they offer you? Let’s get down to business.
Travel fees
One of the leading factors in determining the total cost of this service is, of course, the distance. When hiring movers, they calculate the amount of fuel they’ll spend moving you from point A to point B. Also, it’s not just the fuel they take into account. You’ll be paying for the time the moving crew spends traveling as labor. Make sure you have this in mind when wondering why the quote you got is high.
The size of your cargo
The second most important thing you’ll need to consider here is how much of your belongings are tagging along with you to your new address. When asking for a quote from a company, you’ll need to know the approximate weight of your cargo. It goes without saying but: the more you have (or plan to move), the more you’ll pay.
Packing services?
This one is optional. You don’t need to hire professionals for this task. Still, let’s see the cost of both options. Going DIY is definitely cheaper. Moving supplies you can easily find cheap on the internet, even for free. Your local shopkeepers can save you up some cardboard boxes.
On the other hand, professional movers that offer packing services guarantee nothing will happen to your stuff during the transfer. Also, they have the best packing supplies available on the market. If you don’t want to risk your belongings getting damaged along the way because you didn’t pack them correctly, hire movers to help you get ready for the road. Still, if you choose to go DIY, make sure you do it properly.
Moving specialty items?
Imagine you’ve got a lot of antique furniture you’re planning to bring to your new home. Those delicate items need to be handled with care. That’s why you’ll pay a little extra for their transport. Still, it’s better to pay a little more than lose a lot if something happens to your antique items. The moving company won’t cover the damage since the problem was with you packing them. Also, there are other add-ons: disassembling and reassembling furniture, mattress bags, and many more.
A quick tip before we move on – if you’re thinking about buying new furniture for your new home, this might be an excellent chance for downsizing.
The date of your move
The timing of your planned move will also affect the price you’ll have to cough up. An off-season move will definitely cost you less than moving during the peak. Also, weekends are more pricey than weekdays. The prices can differ dramatically, so you might want to wait out until the off-season (September-April). If you’ve got the luxury to do so, that is.
Insurance
Well, of course. Insurance is the standard part of the moving quote. Without it, nothing can guarantee you’ll get covered if something goes awry during the transfer of your belongings. Some folks even suggest you pay for third-party insurance because the coverage is based on the weight of your stuff and not the actual value of it.
Imagine your laptop breaks during the trip. Since it’s ultralight, you’ll get a couple of bucks worth of coverage, while the actual damage might be a couple of thousand dollars. That one speaks for itself.
The three types of moving estimates
Okay, let’s check out the three types of moving estimates a moving service provider can give you. As much as it’s essential to understand all of the costs of using a moving company, knowing these will help you immensely.
Non-binding estimate
Before we say anything, you might want to skip this one. Basically, this means that a company doesn’t have to honor the quote it gave you. If your items turn out to be heavier than you’ve expected (remember: you’ll need to determine the approximate weight of the cargo), the price of the move can differ a lot. In other words – you’ll have to pay some good extra money. So, you might want to avoid this option altogether.
Binding estimate
Your best bet is to find a moving company that can give you a binding estimate. It works like this – the quote you get is set in stone. You’ll pay the price they offered you, regardless of the fact your cargo might exceed the weight you’ve informed them about. Still, if the load turns out to be much smaller – don’t expect a discount. While the last thing might be a downer, this kind of moving estimate is most probably the way to go.
Binding-not-to-exceed estimate
This one’s probably the most popular option out there. With the binding-not-to-exceed estimate, you agree on the maximum price you’ll have to pay. If the cargo turns out to be heavier, you won’t have to pay a cent over it. How’s that different from the binding estimate, you might ask? Well, if the cargo turns out to be lighter – you’ll pay the actual price for it.
Wait, how does the moving company determine the weight?
They’ll need a list of all the items you’re planning to move. Once they obtain it, they’ll use industry standards to make an approximation of the weight of your cargo. This is why it’s best you find a moving company that either gives you a binding estimate or a binding not-to-exceed estimate. Just so you don’t get scammed into paying more than necessary.
Final words
Hopefully, now you understand all of the costs of using a moving company. Let’s do a quick walkthrough. So, what have we learned? The moving company determines the price most importantly on the distance of your relocation and the weight of your stuff. Also, you can pay extra for packing services or the moving of specialty items. It’s essential to choose the right timing. Moving off-season and on weekdays will cost you less. Additionally, insurance is also included in the price. Still, you might want to get insured from a third party since moving providers cover the damage based on the weight of the broken items. Lastly, always choose a company that offers binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimates over the ones that provide non-binding quotes.