How much do movers cost?

Whether you’re moving out of your parents’ for college dorm living or finally upgrading to that dream house this year, getting a new address to call home is fun and exciting. But packing and moving can be such a hassle. It’s tiring, it’s stressful, and it takes up a lot of free time. Plus, the more stuff you have, the more you have to move!

Enter professional movers. Because it’s literally their job to, a moving company can efficiently make fixing up your new place easier for you.

Hiring the right moving company can make all the difference in the world.

Wailea Movers in Kihei, HI, said to start with online reviews. “Those are important. If they don’t have an online presence, from what I’ve seen, it could be a bad sign.”

“The number one most important piece of advice I give people when they’re looking for movers is to do thorough research on who you’re hiring,” Premier Coordinators in Idaho Falls, ID, said.

The most common jobs for movers involve local moves from one house or apartment to another. Some will even help organize and pack your belongings. Others can safely move specialty items, such as pianos or appliances.

Moving to a new home does require you to spend a few bucks.

Some movers need more information before they can give you a quote. Move Plus in San Diego, CA, said they’ll meet the potential customer and check out the place before giving a price.

“I get information from them, I stop at their house, and I determine how many men are needed and what the hourly rate will be.”

Just need a few items moved in a truck from Point A to Point B? Then you’re looking at $90 an hour.

If moving includes full-service like boxing, crating, packing, or storage, your expenses can go up to $150 including the packing supplies.

Have a specialty item that needs moving? Flat rates can start at $300 and get more expensive based on the service, tools, and labor needed.

There are a lot of different factors that could affect the price of your move. For example, residential, local, and intrastate moves are less expensive than if you truck to a new city or cross country.

“Long distance is where it gets expensive,” said Clean Cut Movers in Carmichael, CA. “We do labor only, so we’d don’t provide a truck. We just provide our services and supply all the tools.”

Timing is everything too.

“It’s more expensive to move in the summer and the weekend,” said Move Plus. “The summer is high demand for the mover industry. Every moving company is raising their pricing. You can essentially create your prices to land the job because it’s the busiest time of the year.”

Packing services will typically be more expensive than the actual local move, Heavenly Movers in Hampton Roads, VA, said. “You’re paying for the materials to pack the items. For some items, like an expensive picture or glass piece, you might need a third party for that.”

Make moving stress-free by using these cost saving tips.

Get a free quote on the moving and delivery process ahead of time. In-home estimates can give you an idea of what to expect with moving prices. Yelp’s Request a Quote feature can also simplify the research process. You can request up to 10 estimates with a single click.

“Be transparent about exactly what needs to be moved,” said Grigsby’s Movers in Sacramento, CA. If something comes up that wasn’t initially communicated when you were getting an estimate, the price could increase.

Now that you’ve got all the info, ready to make a move?