Moving Costs & Benefits

Moving Costs & Benefits

If you’re planning to move, whether across town or across the country, one of the main things you likely have on your mind long distance moving companies prices. This is a common question among clients we help and it’s typically one of the first questions they ask—and for good reason. Whether you’re attempting a do-it-yourself move or plan to hire professional moving help, the costs can add up quickly and add to an already stressful time. To help make this calculation more simple and straightforward, most moving companies in the industry offer free price quotes to provide customers with an idea of how much they can expect to pay for their specific moving needs.

To help alleviate some of the stress that comes with moving, we’ve put together this informative guide to help explain how moving quotes are tabulated and to inform our readers about what sort of costs to expect when moving. We’ve included the basic elements that contribute to moving costs, as well as some of the benefits of hiring a professional moving company. You’ll also find information about the average cost of moving and some strategies you can employ to save some money along the way.

Expected Costs of Moving

According to the American Moving and Storage Association, the average cost of moving ranges from $1,300 for a local move to $5,000 for long distance moves. Of course, these numbers are only an average calculated from all reported moving costs and can vary significantly depending on the specifics of your move. The main factors that influence how much you’ll pay for moving services typically boil down to the size of the move (how much furniture and belongings), and the distance of the move. As you would probably expect, the weight of your belongings plays a key role too since more fuel is required to move heavier loads, which is taken into account for long distance moves but is less of an issue for local moving. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what is taken into account when calculating the cost of a long distance move.

• Moving Distance – The most significant consideration when assessing the cost of a move.
• Size of Move – The more furniture and items you need moved, the more it will cost to move them.
• Labor Costs – Labor is factored in to the price for long distance moving, but you can expect to pay hourly for local moves.
• Supplies & Equipment – If you need packing supplies or any equipment such as a hand truck, it also contributes to the total cost.
• Storage – Though not needed in every situation, storage is considered an add-on and comes with an additional cost.
• Time of Year – Believe it or not, the time of year plays a role in how much you can expect to pay for professional moving services. Peak moving times tend to cost slightly more and generally fall between the months of May and September.
• Furniture Disassembly & Reassembly – If you need furniture broken down and put back together, it’s something that most movers will be happy to do for a small additional cost.
• Extra Services – Certain services are considered extras and cost more than a traditional move. This includes moving items like pianos, safes, and hot tubs, as well as more delicate moves that require white glove moving services.

Three Movers has years of experience providing quality, professional moving solutions for individuals, families, and businesses all over the world! We pride ourselves on consistently providing the best value in the industry and are happy to answer your questions and provide you with a FREE cost estimate! Contact us today by using our online quote form or calling (888) 202-0036 to see how easy and affordable it can be to get reliable and trustworthy moving help!

Local Versus Long Distance Moving Costs

Local moves are generally considered to be any move that is less than 100 miles, though that number can fluctuate from one company to another. One thing that should be noted is that there is a key difference between local and long distance moving in terms of how the pricing is structured. While long distance moving rates are based on distance and the weight (or amount) of your belongings, local moves tend to be set on an hourly rate. The reason for this is that local moves are easier to budget for from the perspective of moving companies because they cover shorter distances, whereas a long distance move can be anything from across the state to across the country.

Local moving costs include the use of a moving truck, as well as the labor to load, drive, and unload your belongings. The cost of hiring a moving company for a local move often depends on how many pairs of hands you need to get the job done. As you might expect, the more labor needed to handle your move, the more you can expect to pay. Most moving companies charge an hourly rate of between $50 to $60 an hour, per person. Since just about every move requires at least two people to tackle, you can estimate the low end of a local move to be around $100 an hour and increasing from there, depending on how many people you require for the job.

It’s important to keep in mind that drive time counts toward the hourly rate for local moves, and that it typically applies to all hired labor. Additionally, many local moving companies have a minimum of hours you must pay them regardless of how long the job takes, which is typically three hours.

Long distance moving rates, by contrast, are not calculated on an hourly basis and are generally presented as an all-inclusive price quote. Every moving company should offer free cost estimates for their long distance moving services, either over the phone or by using an online quote form on their website. These quotes are formulated using the criteria listed above after an assessment of your moving needs.

The Benefits of Hiring A Professional Moving Company

For many of our clients, the question of whether or not to hire a moving company can be a difficult one. It’s very tempting to put the work on your own shoulders with an eye towards saving some money on the cost of moving, but as many people quickly find out, it may not save you as much as you think. Putting aside the time commitment required to pack, load, drive, and unload all of your belongings, the monetary considerations between a do-it-yourself move and hiring a professional can often be negligible

Consider the following scenario: You need to move the contents of your 2 bedroom apartment or 3 bedroom apartment to another state. For the sake of our example, let’s say that you’re moving 1,000 miles. If you rented a truck on your own and did the work yourself, you’re likely looking at a rental cost of $2,300 just for the truck alone. If you’re moving across the country (2,000 miles or more), that number can easily exceed $4,000—and remember, you still have to do the work and make the drive yourself. While a professional mover will cost more than these figures, you also get the luxury of having someone else invest the time and labor. While it may make sense to go the do-it-yourself route for shorter moves, it starts to get more complicated and difficult when longer distances are involved. Here are some of the other benefits of hiring professional movers:

• Time Savings – One of the biggest benefits of hiring movers is that it saves you considerable time. When you consider the hours you’d spend on the road if you did it yourself, as well as food, lodging, and time away from work and family, it’s easy to see why many people choose to enlist the help of pros.
• No Heavy Lifting – Another of the major perks is that hiring movers means you won’t have to deal with the hard work of moving a refrigerator, washer, dryer, or any other bulky and heavy items you need to move.
• Affordability – When you consider the time and rental costs of a do-it-yourself move, hiring a moving company can make financial sense too. The price is often relatively comparable when you take into account the total moving cost.
• Packing Supplies & Equipment – Working with a moving company means that you have access to everything you’ll need for the big move, from beginning to end. If you need a hand truck, boxes, tape, bubble wrap, blankets, or straps, they can all be provided by the movers.
• Storage – Should you need short term storage, there’s no need to seek out a storage facility on your own if you hire movers. Most moving companies have reciprocal agreements with storage companies in the areas they operate so it’s easy for them to arrange storage for you.
• Discounts – Many moving companies have discount programs that can help you save money during your move. Two of the more common discounts include those extended to AAA members and members of the military. (See below for more information about saving money when you move).
• Less Stress – There’s no question that moving is a hectic and stressful time, which is a major part of the appeal of a moving company. It’s much easier to handle the other important aspects of relocating when you know that the physical part of the job is taken care of.
• Insurance – When you hire a moving company, insurance that covers damages to your belongings is included in the price of your move. The standard valuation coverage is usually between 50-75 cents per pound for your belongings with additional coverage available upon request.

Three Movers is a nationwide and international moving company that operates in all 50 states and in countries around the world. If you need an affordable way to move to your new home, we’re here to help! Get a FREE price quote today by using our online quote form, or by calling us at (888) 202-0036!

Moving Resources

Is Your Move Tax Deductible? – A helpful tool from the IRS website that explains if and to what extent your moving costs may be tax deductible. While most moves are not deductible, there are some circumstances in which they are and this information will aid you in determining if you qualify.

Protect Your Move – One of the best resources available for prospective movers is the Protect Your Move resources from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which oversees the U.S. Department of Transportation. It includes helpful links and resources for before your move, researching moving companies, and after you move.

Researching Moving Companies – A direct link to the online database that’s maintained by the FMCSA and U.S. Department of Transportation. You can easily look up information about moving companies that is collecteds