Complete Guide to Mover Costs

Hiring a moving company isn't an affordable ordeal. It doesn't matter how far you're moving or how much luggage you expect to be carried; moving companies will put a dent in your wallet. However, before you actually go ahead and hire the company, it's important to know the cost of the service to figure out whether you're actually going to be able to afford them. If you're wondering how much that future relocation is going to cost, here's a full guide on hiring movers for a job and the cost you should expect.

Do I need to Hire Movers?

There's no straight answer to this question but, you'll need movers nine times out of ten. But, the option to DIY can be put into consideration. There are a few questions you need to answer to figure out whether you need to hire movers for your relocation. 

• Can I Afford It?
• Do I have a physical problem preventing me from making the move?
• Will I get enough time off to dedicate to moving?
• Am I good with strangers handling my personal cargo?

If the answer was yes to most of these questions, you probably do indeed need to employ the services of a reputable moving company.

The Usual Costs

So, let's get down to the actual costs of a move. We'll divide the prices into two separate parts; local and interstate moves. First, let's talk about a local move. As the name suggests, this move will commonly be within your own locality or, at least, within the same city. On average, a moving company will charge $1,250 for the move based on two bedrooms and a weight of about 8000 pounds. 

Local moves are usually categorized by hours of work instead of distance. However, this varies from state-to-state. Certain states will penalize you if the customer drives for more than 50 miles from the source location. If this happens, the package cost will instead be based on the weight instead of the limited time frame. You should definitely check for the state laws to see what criterion your specific state uses to define a local move. 

Secondly, in line, we have interstate moves. Interstate moves are more commonly referred to as long-distance moves and take place from one state to another. The average cost of this move is $5000 in the U.S. market. The prices of an interstate move largely depend on the weight of the cargo and cannot be paid for by the hour. 

Factors that Affect Moving Costs

(1) Number of Bedrooms

The number of bedrooms is primarily the measurement criteria that companies used to come up with an estimate for how big your house is. Shifting stuff one a three-bedroom house is definitely going to be more expensive than moving to a simple studio apartment. So, if your house has a lot of rooms, the cost will go up per room.

(2) Quantity to be Moved

This one is the obvious one. The cost of the move will depend a lot on the number of goods you want to move. If you're expecting the movers to hold the cargo for a little while before they move it from the trucks and into your new home, it's going to cost extra. You'll also be paying for the storage fees at the company warehouse, which can get quite expensive if you leave it there for more than a couple of days.

(3) Distance from Origin to Destination

Another obvious factor is the distance. The greater the distance between the source and the destination, the more the cost of the move will be. You're obviously going to be asking for more time from the trucks and the drivers and, obviously, fuel resources. If you're planning out the route in your head and think that it'll be a quick drive, there's a chance that might not happen. Trucks and heavy vehicles are restricted from driving on certain roads. Your moving company might have to resort to longer routes due to travel restrictions. 

Moreover, there are a few more things worth considering. There's a chance that due to a narrow street, a truck may not be able to drive right up to your door. The movers might have to either get a smaller car or move the cargo to the house by hand. In the latter scenario, if the distance between the parked truck and your door exceeds 50 meters, you might have to endure extra costs.

(4) Type of Moving Services Needed

Primarily, there are two types of moving services you could employ. The first is a traditional package where the moving company loads up the trucks at your old home, moves to the new location, and unloads all the cargo into the new place. Alternatively, if you want to save the money you'd pay for loading and unloading, you can go for a DIY approach as well. Pack up all your stuff and ask the company to send over a truck. You'll be loading everything in yourself, and the driver will just ship it to the new location. You'll also be required to unload the cargo at the receiving end of the deal. 

(5) Novelty Cargo

Novelty cargo like antiquities, old clocks, pianos, etc., require a bit of extra attention on the part of the moving company. Not every service has the equipment required to ship such products. It's good to ask your vendor beforehand if they have the crew that can ship novelty cargo. Moreover, most companies would also require insurance on the products they're moving. The cost of insuring onboard products is anywhere between 5%-10% of the actual price of the product.

Closing Thoughts

There's no way for you to accurately calculate the cost of the move. If you're looking for an accurate quote customized to your requirements, Premium Moving Services can help you out. We're one of the best moving companies in the industry and have years of experience to back us up. If you're looking for a custom quote, give us a call, and we'll help you out!