Understanding Moving Services

You don’t have to hire a mover if you think you can handle the move on your own. If you have a small space and a lax timeline to transport things, you can move smaller items over the course of several weeks and rent a truck for large items and furniture.

If you have a big family and a large home or a lot of things, no amount of pizza is going to be enough to compensate your friends and family for helping you move, so it’s worth springing for a professional.

Types of Moving Services

• Local full service with packers – Full service movers range from movers who will organize and pack your entire home for you and move it to movers who will load, transport, and unload your pre-packed items. If you’re willing to entrust your entire move to a full service moving company, they will consult with you about your needs, what aspects, if any, you want to handle, and they’ll take care of everything from start to finish.
• Local full service – A more typical full service mover will arrive on moving day and load everything you’ve packed into a truck, transport it, and unload it as per your specifications. Many also provide disassembly and reassembly services, so you can ensure that your furniture is properly wrapped and protected from damage and reassembled in their proper rooms.
• Local self service (“you pack, we drive”) – Self service movers simply provide a truck and a driver. It’s your job to pack your belongings, load them into the truck, and unload them at the destination. Some of these movers will help you load and unload, but they provide a minimal amount of service.
• Long distance services – For long distance moves (out of state, cross country), there are several options. You can hire a full service mover (with or without packers), and they’ll load and transport all your belongings to its new destination. You also have the option of hiring movers who transport large items for multiple clients at once for a much lower fee. You’ll simply have to meet them at your destination.
• Storage options – Many moving companies come with storage options. Some have their own storage facilities, and you can opt to have them pack, load, and transport the items you want to store to their facility. You also have the option of securing your own self storage unit and having the movers transport your items there for an additional fee.

Cost Estimates

The prices for movers vary significantly based on the size of the home, the amount of stuff you’re moving, the amount of manpower, the distance (interstate movers will start at a much higher price point), and your location. Some charge based on the weight of the items, others base estimates on the cubic footage of the property. You’ll have to research your specific area and get quotes to get an accurate gauge of how much they charge. For a full service one-bedroom apartment or house move, expect to pay at least $400.

Much like sushi restaurants, healthcare, and mattresses, this is not the time to bargain shop, so be ready to pay more for a well-respected mover with a long history of satisfied clients.