Successful moves require a lot of work and careful planning. A moving company helps with both. Besides shouldering the heavy lifting, they can also assist with planning, packing, and storage – simplifying the process end-to-end. But how much does it cost to hire movers? While rates vary, prices are influenced by four primary factors you’ll need to consider before creating your final budget.
Size of Your Home
In most cases, the larger your home, the more expensive it is to move. While a studio apartment requires relatively few resources, a five-bedroom house requires considerably more time and effort, for several reasons.
- More Belongings. Big houses typically contain a considerable amount of items, requiring more boxes, dollies, moving blankets, and packing materials.
- Bulky Furniture and Appliances. Transporting oversized items is difficult. Movers normally need extra time and equipment to handle them safely.
- Longer Loading and Unloading Times. Transferring a large number of boxes, furniture, and appliances can take up to a full day in some cases, increasing labor costs.
- Bigger Trucks. Often, big households can’t fit into a standard moving truck. For homes over 2,500-3,000 square feet, movers may need a tractor trailer or a second truck.
- Big Crews. Large jobs require more people in order to complete tasks in a reasonable amount of time, especially if there are stairs, tight spaces, and long carry distances.
In addition to the logistical challenges, shipping a big household full of valuable items also increases the mover’s liability. As a result, homeowners can expect to pay higher insurance premiums to protect their belongings during the journey.
Distance
While local moves and interstate moves are priced differently, the general principle is the farther you go, the more you pay. Local moving companies charge hourly rates. For simple moves, the minimum price is typically a few hundred dollars an hour, plus gas costs. Often, companies will charge a minimum number of hours in order to ensure they make a profit even on short jobs. Longer, more complex ones generally include additional fees to cover extra movers and resources, such as a larger.
Long-distance moving companies generally quote a flat fee based on weight, volume, and mileage. Large, heavy loads require more fuel and increase wear on the truck. Cross country travel does as well.
As a result, interstate moving fees are normally higher than what you’d pay for a local move, even for relatively small households. The good news is the fee covers all your expenses, including labor and materials.
Service Type
There are two types of moving companies: full service and partial service. Partial service movers are only responsible for basic logistics (loading, unloading, shipping, etc.), while the homeowner oversees everything else. Full service movers, on the other hand, assist with every aspect of your move, including:
- Loading and Unloading
- Packing and Unpacking
- Cleaning and Debris Removal
- Auto Transportation
- Short-Term and Long-Term Storage
- Furniture Disassembly and Reassembly
Full service movers can even provide boxes and packing supplies. They’re also the best option for households with specialty items like pianos and pool tables. Though it’s possible to handle these items on your own, hiring an experienced professional reduces the risk of accidents. Moving services are always tailored to individual circumstances, meaning homeowners can choose as many or as few as they want, based on their needs, budget, and schedule.
Time of Year
Like all businesses, movers respond to demand. The majority of Americans plan their moves between May and September. The weather is warm, schedules are flexible, and kids are out of school – making it the ideal time to relocate. With so many people reaching out to them, movers charge their highest rates during summer.
By contrast, winter can be cold, wet, and icy. Schools are in session and the holidays make it difficult to plan major transitions. As a result, professional movers are less busy and may be more willing to offer better pricing in order to attract business.
Managing Costs
Balancing these factors isn’t always easy, especially if you’re moving on a tight budget. Distance is always fixed, but there are several ways to reduce expenses, such as:
- Downsizing. Reducing the amount of stuff in your home is one of the fastest and easiest ways to lower costs. Selling, donating, or disposing of old furniture and unused belongings allows you to pack, load, and transport your items in less time, with less effort, and with a smaller truck requiring less fuel.
- Scheduling. Summer moves may be convenient, but spring and fall offer many of the same benefits with greater savings. Depending on your situation, consider booking your move a little earlier or a little later in the year.
- Services. Box the small items yourself, to reduce the amount of professional help you need. Consider grouping your boxes in the garage or near your front door as well, to reduce carry times. The less you leave for your movers, the more affordable it will be.
If you’re looking for the most effective way to move, consider reaching out and asking for help. In-home inspections are a standard feature of professional moving services, especially when relocating cross-country. They’re a valuable source for tips and advice that will help you make the most of your available funds.
Southern California’s Full Service Movers
Executive Moving Systems makes your relocation as hassle-free as possible. One of the top-rated professional moving companies in Orange County, we streamline the entire process, everything from planning to packing to shipping, storage, and final delivery. Our team handles every detail in order to make sure your move runs seamlessly from start to finish. Contact us today for a free quote!