When you are planning to move house you have a lot on your mind. And that is an understatement There are a hundred and one things to think about, and one of the biggest factors that will be weighing on your mind is the cost of your move. How much will it cost to hire the company that assists you with your big move, and what are the other costs besides?

How much does it Cost to hire a Moving Company in the USA?

Shopping around for quotes can seem overwhelming. There are so many options to consider, and contradictory information flooding the internet. You can start with a Google search, but with a list of hundreds of companies confronting you, knowing where to start can seem impossible. What is considered a high or low price? How do the quotes you are getting compare to other movers within the state or country?

There is no need to fret. This article covers all the information you need about the price of moving in the US and Canada. We will take a look at exactly what you need to consider and prioritise when it comes to pricing and picking the package most suited to you.

What Costs are there to Consider during a House Move?

The cost of your house move is dependent upon many different factors. It will vary depending on how far you are moving and how many belongings you have to transport. It also depends on how much of the moving of your items you will be doing yourself.

Possible need for Temporary Storage

One thing to consider is storage. Will all your furniture be able to go straight into your new place or will you need to hire some storage space in the meantime? Bear in mind that you may have to use storage in unexpected circumstances, such as a delay in being able to enter your new home. This could double your moving costs. You suddenly have to pay your movers to ship your items to storage, and then again to your house.

Insurance for your Belongings

It is important to get insurance for your expensive or irreplaceable belongings in case they should get damaged or destroyed in the moving process. Moving companies are legally required to fully insure the items they are transporting, but some companies have extra insurance perks you can consider, such as offering the value of replacing a lost or damaged piece of property. This can be advisable if your belongings are particularly precious or valuable, as the basic cover only covers the cost of cargo by weight, rather than value.

Uprooting and Re-establishing your Life

If you are moving between states or across the border, there are further costs that will be awaiting you at the other end of your move. These may include joining a bank, registering with a doctor or dentist and renewing other memberships you may have. Though these may seem negligible they are worth remembering as they add up quickly.

How much is a House Move Likely to Cost?

Quotes from moving companies can vary so greatly that it is important to know the general moving costs in the country so you can compare them to the prices you receive from potential companies. Bear in mind that your quote will depend on many factors personal to your move.

Moving in the United States: local move or long distance moving

The American Moving & Storage Association report that the average cost of moving in the United States is $1,170 within a state and between states is $5,630. Other companies claim that the average cost is much higher, up at around $12,000.

A quick automatic moving quote generator estimated the costs of moving from a 3 bedroom house within California could fall anywhere between $5,000 and $7,000, and that is with no additional packing services. In contrast, moving a short distance within Texas was shown to be between $1,300 and $1,700. However there are so many factors that your quote will depend on, including moving distance, packaging services and the time of year you are moving. The quote you are given will reflect your personal moving circumstances.

Moving in Canada (international move)

The costs in Canada are not quite on average as in the United States, but again vary greatly depending on the size of the move. Estimated costs of a one bedroom apartment move are around $1,000. However, some companies claim to be able to move you for as little as $500. A larger house, one with 3 bedrooms for example, will be around $2,000 on average. Again, the lower estimates drop to as little as $1,000, so it is definitely worth shopping around. Costs for movers in Canada vary.

Factors Affecting your Quotes

When are you moving, be sure to collect numerous quotes from potential companies so that you can make a comparison between them. Bear in mind that when constructing a quote for you, a company does not just consider the cost of gas and man power. It will also have many hidden costs to consider. These include advertising and branding, as well as vehicle care, costs of administrative staff, the cost of office upkeep and many other areas they must maintain. Although these factors do not affect your move personally, they are of importance to the company and are vital to its smooth running. The company is, of course, also driven to become or remain a profitable business, and this will naturally drive up costs. Still, all movers are part of a competitive market that prevents their prices from soaring to extortionate levels.

What should you Consider when Choosing a Moving Company?

While cost can feel like the overwhelming factor to consider when you are choosing a moving company, there are many other things to bear in mind. It is vital to read the small print when it comes to picking moving packages. Some offers look great from the outside, but once you find out what they are really offering, they can often not be as good value as you thought. Here are some factors to consider.

How Big is the Move?

Some moving companies specialise in local moves, so if you are not moving far it is definitely worth getting quotes from them. They will know the area well and be able to make your move a less stressful experience. There are also movers who deal more often with cross country moves, so depending on the size of your move, it would be wise to target companies who will be most helpful to you and have valuable experience in these types of moves.

How Big is the Team?

It is important to check how big the moving team is that the company are sending out to you. If you are being charged hourly and they only send one man, your prices will suddenly skyrocket to way above your initial expectation. A company may look more expensive by the hour, but if they are sending a larger team you could end up with a much shorter moving experience and a much smaller bill at the end of it.

Is the Company Trustworthy?

It is important to find a moving company with a good reputation, and one that you trust. There are many horror stories of companies that have damaged a client’s property, or even held it against the customer’s will while demanding more money. While searching blindly online may bring up some cheap options, they may not always be the most reliable and might let you down in the long run. It is usually worth doing some background research into a company to find out their customer satisfaction rate and uncover anything that might have happened in the company’s past.

Set up a Pre-Move Inspection

Make sure a representative from the company has been round to your house before the move, particularly if you have a large home, so that it is clear to them exactly what needs to happen on the day. This will not only put your mind at ease, but it will also give a good indication of the company’s manner and quality of customer service and hopefully increase your trust in their services. If a company tells you they do not need to pay you a visit before the move and can provide a quote over the phone, this should immediately set the alarm bells ringing.

Know who to Contact

A good company will provide you with a representative as a clear point of contact. This is someone who you can call should you have any further questions or concerns about the move, or wish to make any amendments to your contract. Ideally this person will be the one who is managing and coordinating your move, and will be able to take care of things on your behalf so that you have less on your plate causing you unnecessary stress. Look for a company that goes out of its way to put your mind at ease and make your move as easy as possible.

Writing up a Contract with your Movers

The first and most important rule is to get your company’s quote and contract in writing. Make sure you draw up a detailed plan, including specific things you need to be moved and where, if necessary. This will protect you against hidden costs and a company potentially trying to cheat you out of more money later down the line.

The contract should dictate who is in charge of certain tasks, like packing and moving certain numbers of boxes or pieces of furniture. Include the value of expensive items that are being moved and insurance details.

Although it feels frustrating and is a hassle, the more detailed your contract, the more protection you have if something goes wrong. If something gets damaged or the move takes much longer than expected and becomes a lot more expensive, this might leave you wanting to resolve things in court. If that unfortunate circumstance occurs, your contract becomes immensely valuable to your case. It is the definitive proof that things did not go to plan for you and will stand against anything untrue that the company tries to justify.

How can you make Moving Cheaper?

While a house move is always going to be an expensive business, there are a few handy options you can consider to make your moving experience cheaper. Here are a few tips.

Choose your Moving Day Carefully

One of the easiest ways you can bring down the potential price of moving is to pick a weekday rather than a weekend. Most moving companies have lower rates on these days, as weekends as more in demand, so if you have the flexibility this is a great option to take.

Protect your Deposits

Another tip is to take on the deep cleaning of your current house yourself. You will be expected to leave the place spotless when you relocate, particularly if you have a deposit riding on the cleanliness, as is often the case with rented apartments or houses. This includes the carpets, oven and other difficult areas. Though it is a daunting task, doing this yourself will save you money on hiring in professionals to have to do this for you. Even the cost of carpet shampoos and oven cleaners will be nothing compared to a paid hand. It will also ensure that you do not lose any deposit you may be expecting back, adding yet another cost to your move.

Use your own Manpower or Vehicles

If you have your own large vehicles for transporting some of your belongings you are likely to be able to lower the cost of moving. The company you hire will have to perform fewer trips or supply fewer vehicles if you can take some of the load yourself. Otherwise you will be fully dependent on a moving company to take everything for you.

How do you go about Getting Quotes from Movers?

Our best recommendation for finding out which mover will be best for you is to use a website like 5moversquotes.com. This website is a great tool to use. By filling in a single form you can gather quotes from different movers which will paint a clear picture of your expected costs of moving. It will allow you to get numerous quotes easily and quickly without the hassle of repeating yourself to different competitors. It is by far the most convenient way to find moving quotes, so you can get a clearer idea of how much your move will cost you.