Hiring a moving company to help transport your items for a local or long-distance move can cost a lot. Without proper preparation, moving can become a financial burden and cost more than necessary.
The good news is that you have plenty of chances to thoroughly prepare a moving budget long before your relocation. Below, we’ll discuss typical and possible additional moving fees, as well as how moving companies price them. With this knowledge, you can anticipate your moving expenses better and more accurately.
What Do Moving Companies Take Into Account When Pricing?
Moving companies consider many aspects when they’re deciding on the price of a move. Like many other services, movers create unique prices based on the client’s needs and expected services.
Below is a list of factors movers take into account when they price their services. Visit goborntomove.com if you want to learn more about finding high-quality moving services.
The Covered Distance
Like other transportation services, covering larger distances in moves will cost you higher fees. After all, moving companies need to consider gasoline expenses and vehicle wear. They also consider how much time their employees spend at the location.
Long-Distance Moving
Many professional movers charge by weight for long-distance moves. A full-service moving team may charge 50 cents per pound to move items more than 100 miles away. Long-distance moving is also more taxing, so the labor fees may reach up to $100 per hour and/or could be based on the weight of your items.
Certain items may increase the labor cost of long-distance moving, like pianos or grandfather clocks. On average, an interstate move can cost you between $2,000 and $8,000 or more, depending on:
- How much stuff is being moved
- The types of things being moved
- How it’s being moved
- Where it’s being transported to
An international move may cost much more, easily exceeding $10,000 if you’re going overseas. Port-to-port shipping is the main reason behind this high cost. It’ll be especially costly if you decide to use your own freight container and need to pay legal and visa fees.
Local Moving
According to statistics, about 3 million people in the US move between the states every year. And, of course, these people put in their moving budget significantly lower expenses than port-to-port freight shipping. Instead of a weight-based rate, local movers will charge you an hourly rate. Depending on the services you’ll require and the company’s pricing structure, the total cost can amount to $25-$50/hour per mover.
Insurance Costs
You can never tell what kind of accidents or hazards the movers may stumble into during the moving day. Even movers cannot 100% guarantee that your items will all arrive at their destination safely.
That’s why reliable moving companies provide insurance or moving coverage to all customers. This moving coverage provides an extra layer of protection for all your household goods and items while they’re en route. Whenever an item gets damaged during the move, the company will cover the repair or replacement costs.
However, they will still do their best to ensure all your items arrive there untouched and in one piece. Anyway, be prepared to carefully inspect your property immediately after it’s unloaded from the moving truck.
Possible Additional Charges
Using extra services will cost you more. These services may include:
- Packing and unpacking
- Transporting heavy and fragile items
- Long-term or temporary storage services
- Transporting specialty items like antiques or freezer-stored items
- Trash removal
- Home theater setup
For example, let’s say you don’t have the time to pack all your things and need professional help. You can call your moving company and get movers who can quickly and expertly pack your items.
Certain accommodations and adjustments may also cost you more. Perhaps you’re moving to a fourth-floor apartment without a working elevator from a third-floor flat without any elevator at all. The movers will have to carry all your items and furniture up and down those floors, which will be reflected in the price.
Now that you know these factors, it’s time to look back at your moving plans and ask yourself, how much overall does moving cost for me? Use the information mentioned above to approximate how much your move may cost. Remember that you can contact the moving companies you’re considering for quotes and estimations.