The Top 5 Ways Long-distance Moves Have Changed
Published by Chris Townsend
The world keeps changing. Life is all about change from the start to its end. This is also reflected in moving. Every adult in the United States will move at least once in their lifetime according to many studies.
This move isn’t the same for most people. For some, it can be to the next block while for others it can be a move as drastic as an east coast to west coast move. It all depends on the situation.
One thing that goes around all forms of moving is the difficulty involved. If the move is down the street or it is to another state, the difficulty is there.
However, the difficulty ramps up as the distance increases. This is due to many factors like the resources required to transport the items that are being moved.
There is also the challenge of having to get the move right the first time with no option to return for something that has been forgotten.
Over time, the art and science of moving have changed due to many things like the advancement of technology and the change in the behavioral patterns of people.
This change can be confusing for those who are used to the old ways, and it can also give a clue to what the future holds for long-distance moves.
What is a Long-distance Move?
Many people don’t know what a long-distance move is until they have to move. The reason is easy to figure out; they have never needed to know.
A long-distance move has different meanings under different contexts. However, the most accepted definition is that which uses distance.
This means a long-distance move is a move that is over 100 miles in distance.
A long-distance move can also be defined as a move that is between cities, counties, or states. Because of the proximity between cities, the most long-distance move involves changing states.
A long-distance move has its rules. For example, for a company to conduct long-distance moves, the company should be licensed with the United States Department of Transportation. This is because such moves are regulated by the department.
5 Ways Long-distance Moves Have Changed
Things evolve and change as time passes. It is hard for anything to stay the same for long and that includes long-distance moves.
Over time, the moving industry has seen shifts that have influenced how these moves are conducted. A factor that has stimulated great change in recent history is the Covid pandemic.
So, below are 5 ways long-distance moves have changed:
- Less is Becoming More
Fewer and fewer people have been moving as the years passed. However, due to the pandemic, there was an increase in temporary moves. This means many people moved to other locations for 6 months with plans to return.
Still, even with the increase in temporary moves, there was a reduction in long-distance moves. 84% of moves in 2020 and 2021 were done within the same metropolitan area. Less than 1% of movers left a state to another state.
Even if you take age as a factor that affects moves, a trend becomes apparent. The age range of 18-34 which is the age people move the most, is seeing a decline in relocation. This affects the long-distance moves as well.
In 2006 30% of people between 18 and 34 relocated. In 2020, that number was as low as 19%.
Millennials that normally drive the moving industry are forced to stay in place due to many factors. There is inflation which isn’t corresponding with an equal rise in income. Plus, an increase in remote work has encouraged the ‘stay-in-place’ culture.
- People Are Done with the Big Cities
Another change that is affecting long-distance moves is the move out of big cities to smaller towns, suburbs, and boroughs.
People are seemingly done with the big cities. Long-distance moving companies are seeing an increase in long-distance moves in the opposite direction when compared to the trend pre-2020.
The reason for this varies from the direct effect of the pandemic to the hyperinflation the world is experiencing.
Big cities are the areas where the infection rates are the highest. So, people who want to reduce their chances of getting infected are moving to smaller towns and cities where the infection rates are much lower.
Also, the rise in remote jobs has made it possible for people to work from wherever they want. It wakes up the question of the need to live in expensive cities when you can earn the same income from a smaller, cheaper city.
Inflation is also causing an increased move out of cities to other towns that are cheaper to live in. This trend has been around before. It was a trend that followed the 2008 economic depression.
Whether this trend of leaving the big cities is permanent or temporary is yet to be seen. What is clear now, is that long-distance moves are originating more in big cities with suburbs and towns as the destinations.
- The Cost of Long-distance Moves Has Changed
The cost of moving, in general, isn’t the same as it used to be. It is getting higher. It isn’t just the inflation that is causing the rise.
The complexity of service provided by movers has increased and with that, the cost of moving has increased. Services like storage which were a luxury in the past are now, more or less, a necessity.
In 2018 long-distance moves averaged $1500 to $2500. In 2022, the range has changed to $2500-$6000.
The reasons for this change are multidimensional.
For one, the pandemic has brought a shortage of workers in all industries including the moving industry. So labor is more expensive to maintain leading to a price hike. Drivers and crew members aren’t enough in most companies.
Also, there is a gas shortage leading to an increase in gas prices. When calculated into the cost of moving, the price goes up.
The one-sided direction of long-distance moves has also affected the cost of moving. Most companies rely on balanced moves. They move some people out of a location and move another group into the location. This isn’t the case anymore and it forces the movers to increase the cost of moves.
- Technology is Now a Part of the Moving Industry
Tech has been around for a while, slowly but surely permeating through different sectors in the world.
However, the moving industry hasn’t accepted the trend in full… until now. Technology is now a vital part of the moving industry and that includes long-distance moves.
Inspection of homes by movers was always an important part of drawing up a final budget. So, when the pandemic hit, it became a challenge to enter people’s homes and inspect.
Technology had to be used at that point. Cameras were used to go round the house from room to room and to inspect the items to be moved. This reduced the need for human contact.
Technology has also changed the culture of tracking the items that are being moved. With an increase in the use of GPS trackers, more clients can monitor the progress of their stuff in real-time.
Technology has brought in more fluid payment methods as well and made the internet the battleground for brand supremacy.
- Customer Experience
The way people experience long-distance moves has changed. With every year, the percentage of people conducting long-distance moves themselves is decreasing.
A decade ago, more than 70% of moves were done by the clients themselves. Now, DIY moves are barely 40% of all moves.
More and more people are looking to outsource their long-distance moves so they can be more relaxed during the whole venture.
Also, long-distance moves have become so complicated that people decide to just outsource the whole thing rather than deal with the complications themselves.
Another way the experience has changed is in the way the companies interact with the clients.
Customer satisfaction has become so important in the moving industry. With the reliance of people on online reviews, companies are striving to have good online reputations.
This has led to the development of customer satisfaction tactics like more robust customer care services.
The experience you are likely to get with a mover has changed for the better. You are more likely to get what you want out of a move than before.
Final Point
Long-distance moves have changed. Some changes might not last long while some might. However, things can’t remain the same and neither should your outlook on the whole process.
Technology has brought in a slew of opportunities to you as a client. From the comfort of your home, you can verify the licenses of a company and see customer reviews.
While there is an increase in the cost of moving, there is also an undeniable increase in the quality of services that are being offered.
Three Movers, even with the challenges in the industry is committed to giving the best long-distance moving services at the most competitive prices.
Give us a chance, and you won’t regret it.
