How much do movers cost?

Depending on how specific you want to be, this may be a tough question to answer. From a simplistic perspective, you could say a complete moving service cost on average anywhere between $100-$400 per hour/per mover. That also depends on your location, how accessible your home is, the size of your home and how much stuff you have. The quote could vary greatly depending on how all these factors pan out. Let’s look at the key factors when trying to figure out this deceptively simple question of how much do movers cost.

When are you moving?

Depending on the time of the year, the cost of your move may vary greatly. As you can imagine, during the summer and dates around the 1st of the month see higher rates as a simple effect of supply and demand. In the summer, demand rises tremendously, and prices are adjusted based on how much capacity your moving company of choice has available.

Where are you moving from?

This parameter has two parts to it. Firstly, depending on if you are in the city or in the suburbs, access to your home may be vastly different. A house in the suburbs with an accessible driveway would not pose any concern. However, if you are in the city and require permits to block off the street, or need access to an elevator or receiving area, that is a different issue and may incur additional costs.

The second part of this question depends on the mover you chose. Most likely, the moving company you hire will charge travel time, so the further you live from the movers’ base of operations, the more additional costs you may see.

What are you moving?

This will make up the majority cost of your move. Depending on the size of your home, this will dictate the number of men needed and the amount of time required to remove all of your items. There are things that will naturally increase the amount of time, such as disassembly of furniture or emptying out your drawers. The movers will need to do this to make the furniture manageable to maneuver through hallways and down steps. If you are focused on being cost-effective when it comes to your move, you can do a bunch of this disassembly and decluttering prior to your move day to ensure your movers can operate as quickly as possible.

Additional items to evaluate

Often times leading up to the move day, life gets extremely hectic and some things gets missed. Keep in mind, your mover is prepared for this, and can offer both full-service packing options, as well as additional supplies if needed. If you happen to underestimate your need for either time or materials, your moving company will happily offer these items at an additional cost.  

The other important additional service to consider is valuation and liability. Most states have a default liability insurance requiring your moving company to carry. Keep in mind however that this is usually a very basic insurance, and if you have a claim on a sentimental or expensive item, the claim payout may seem inequitable. If this is a concern for you, reach out to your moving company and explore their valuation options, however an additional cost to think through as well.

 

One thing to note that is usually free, an estimate. As Olympia Moving & Storage consistently urges, perform your due diligence on the moving company you choose. Make sure they have the customer reviews, the accreditation, the experience and the expertise to make your move-day as stress free as possible.

Calculating Interstate Moving Costs

Relocation puts everyone under a large amount of stress. It is not only hard to pull it off, but it can also cost you a lot. Especially if you don’t even try to downsize your moving costs. In this post with guest writer Moving Offices San Diego, we will try to explain how to do it and how to calculate interstate moving costs in advance. Because – the more prepared you come – the better!

Prepare yourself physically and mentally

You don’t have to prepare only your budget; you will have to prepare yourself as well! Getting informed is the best way to calculate interstate moving costs, so let’s start.

Get a pen and some paper

It is time to start writing everything down. Everything. Even if it sounds silly or unimportant. Write down your every thought regarding the move. Every expense, every idea and every task that needs to be done. Save receipts and calculate how much you are already spending.

Make a solid strategy

Having a plan is a must if you are planning on interstate moving without breaking the bank. So, wait no more and start strategizing. If you think about your every step in advance – not many things can surprise you. And remember – those surprises are what can cost you the most. Make a timetable, and try sticking to your schedule. Postponing tasks is not a good idea, so try to avoid it. The more you do at this stage – the easier it will be for you along the way.

Calculate your budget

Keep it real. No one knows your budget like you do, so stop for a moment and think about it. Hard. Calculate and then do it once more. Try to save as much as possible. Little things add up fast – and you should really make a choice here. Do you want to save or to overspend? It is really your choice – you are the one who will have to pay for it.

Piggy bank
Are you trying to save money on your interstate move? You are in the right place!

Get moving assistance

Even if you can handle your interstate move by yourself – it might be a good idea to hire professionals to take care of everything for you. Why? There are really many things that need to be taken into a consideration when we are talking about interstate relocation and its costs. So many paperwork, tasks, and worries can make you forget other aspects of your relocation project. What will happen if you do? You will make a mistake. And then what? Well, you will have to pay for it! Making mistakes isn’t bad only for your budget, but also for everything else.If you are moving to the NYC area, Moving Offices San Diego recommends contacting NYC moving professionals for some assistance.

 Try not to overspend

We have said this before, but it is really important you keep this in your mind. Interstate moving costs can get greater than you are expecting – simply because you forgot your main goal. And what is that? Not to overspend. Say it again. And then, once more. It will help, believe us!

Communication is the key

It is quite impossible to pull off an interstate moving project by yourself. Even if you don’t hire moving professionals to help you, you might have to get some other services from some other service providers. It is quite important you have good communication with them. Get informed. Ask your questions. Read paperwork. There is a problem? Contact them and get it solved. Communication is really a key to pulling off an interstate moving project hassle-free. Your service providers should be at your service at all times, and ready to help.

Get moving quotes

The best way to estimate your interstate moving costs is to ask a mover for one. You can get moving estimates in one of three ways:

  • Over the phone. You will need to tell your mover everything. Every single detail can change moving costs of your interstate move. But, if you are not looking for the most accurate estimate – over the phone quote is right for you!
  • Over the Internet. This kind of the moving estimate is a bit more accurate than over the phone ones, but it is still not the best way to estimate the price of your relocation. Its accuracy depends on many factors, but mostly on the calculator moving company offers on their website. The more detailed it is – the clearer picture of your interstate moving costs you will get.
  • At your house. This approach is the most reliable and accurate one. Moving specialists will come to your house and estimate your relocations costs. You might feel a bit uncomfortable with estimator going through your every drawer – but if you want an estimate that is guaranteed, this is your way to go!
 A truck on the road.
Rely on your mover for a help!

Interstate moving costs depend on many factors

Three main factors of your interstate moving costs are complexity, distance, and size of your relocation. Moving overseas costs more than moving to another state, and the more you have to move – the bigger the price will be. Also, if you are planning on transferring special items, such as pianos or pool tables – you should get ready to pay more.

Piano
Owning piano is great, but transferring one isn’t!

In the end, there is one more thing to consider – what services are you going to pay for? The more you need the moving company to provide you with – the more you will have to pay. If you are trying to save as much as possible on your relocation – maybe you should consider doing some tasks by yourself. You can try packing by yourself perhaps. Interstate moving costs depend on many factors, but your choices will decide the final number. So – be careful!

 

To book your interstate move, give Olympia a call at 800.222.4744 or fill out our form for a free moving estimate.

6 Essential Tips for Fragile Packing

In the absence of budgetary constraints, having professionals pack your fragile items is both easier and preferable from a liability standpoint.  Having said this, if you are going to pack the fragile items yourself, following are some hints that should make this process easier.

1)     Whenever you are packing, make sure that you have a good workspace setup.  Place the box that you are packing on top of another box so that you avoid potential back issues associated with bending at the waist repeatedly.

Packing Fragile Items in Moving Boxes Effectively
Take Extra Time Packing Fragile Items

2)     The vast majority of fragile items can and should be wrapped in plain newsprint.  Do not use regular newspaper for packing, as the ink has a tendency to stain china.  Setup a flat surface and lay the packing paper on top of this space.

3)     Fragile items should be packed in a “Dishpack” or “5.2 cubic foot” box; which is double corrugated and specially designed for breakable items.

4)     Dishpacks should be packed in “tiers”.  Begin by creating a layer of crumpled up paper at the bottom of the box.  Proceed to wrap each piece individually with multiple pieces of paper.  Heavier (and less fragile) items should go on the bottom of the box; constituting the first tier.  Once the first tier is complete, fill in any remaining gaps with paper and create another layer of cushioning.  Continue with this process until the box is completely full.  Stemware and extremely fragile items should be placed on the top of the Dishpack.

5)     Remember that structure and support for a box are provided internally as well as externally.  Make sure that any extra space is filled with paper.  There should be no extra space inside the box.

6)     Make sure to label any fragile boxes with your name, the contents and a vertical arrow pointing upward to indicate that the box should not be loaded on its side.  In addition, the word “fragile” should be displayed prominently on at least two adjacent sides of the box.

There are more packing tips on this page or you can order moving supplies here. Contact Olympia Moving or call 800.222.4744 for a moving estimate.

Packing Preparation Essentials

Proper preparation is essential to a successful move and one of the biggest factors in determining final cost.  This is especially true if you are doing your own packing.  The following tips will help you to be fully prepared on moving day and, by extension, to keep your costs down.

Packing:  Basic moving boxes and supplies are key. The basic rule of thumb is that if it can fit inside a box, it should be in a box.  Loose items are difficult to load into a truck and create unnecessary delays.  If possible, use standard moving boxes as opposed to smaller boxes that may not be structurally sound.

Labeling:  All boxes should be labeled with your name, the room that the items came out of, and a word or two about the contents.  Boxes should be labeled on two adjacent sides plus the top.  This is especially helpful during the delivery process; as it allows you to direct the movers and make sure that boxes are placed in the appropriate place at your new residence.  The more detailed you are with your labeling; the easier it will be for you to locate items during the unpacking process.

preparing to pack to move

Organization:  As boxes are packed they should be stacked against the perimeter of the room.  Do not leave boxes in the middle of the floor; as this is hazardous to the movers.  Ideally you want to organize your space so that the movers have easy access to everything within a given room.  Trucks are loaded in tiers and it adds time if the movers have to re-organize in order to get access to specific pieces.

If you are planning on moving some of the items yourself in a car, focus on items that are not boxed; such as lamp shades.  The movers are very efficient in moving furniture and boxes, but loose items have the potential to cause delays.

For more preparation tips see the Olympia Moving moving resource page with downloadable PDF files to help you with your next move. Contact Olympia Moving or call 800.222.4744 for an moving estimate.

How to Pack Video Series

Packing can seem intimidating.  Fortunately, our comprehensive “How to Pack” video series is here to guide you!

Still intimidated?  Then maybe you should consider calling in the professionals:  hire packing services.

You can find more packing tips in our moving resource center.