RELOCATION GUIDE FOR LOCAL OR LONG DISTANCE MOVING TO MINNEAPOLIS

 

Are you moving to Minneapolis for a new job, or perhaps you want a change in lifestyle? Whatever the reason for your relocation, you will need to do your homework and plan well to ensure a successful move.

Many people fail to realize that moving to a new city calls for more than just packing your bags. Every decision you make relating to your move affects your moving cost, the ease of your move, and how fast you adjust to your new surroundings.

We have prepared this Relocation Guide to Minneapolis so you know more about the cost of living, the economy, the local culture, and provide you with important moving resources.

We have also prepared a presentation of 12 moving companies in Minneapolis with their customer reviews to help you understand what moving companies do and how much they charge for moving services.

Whenever you are ready, we invite you to request for 5 free movers’ quotes to receive actual moving estimates for moving to Minneapolis from your current location.

In this way, you can compare moving prices and plan your moving budget easily and conveniently.

 

 

The city of Minneapolis is often called the Mini Apple as it offers most of what is in New York City, minus the hustle and bustle.  It has got shopping, music, art, great food, parkways, lakes, and whatever else you’d want.  It is calm and quiet which makes it ideal for raising kids and suitable for families.

Minneapolis is also referred to as the “City of Lakes” and “Mill City”. With a population of 387,753 and around 3,318,486 residents in the metropolitan area makes it one of the largest cities in the US.  Minneapolis and the adjoining city of St. Paul are also known as the Twin Cities, the biggest Midwestern urban area after Detroit and Chicago.

It could be the snow or maybe the Scandinavian roots of the city but Minneapolis does have a reputation for being “white” with minimal ethnic diversity.  According to U.S. Census , the population is 63.8% white, 18.6% black, 10.5% Latino, and 5% Asian.  It has also been named as the “Gayest City in America” by The Advocate, with a vibrant GLBT community.

To get your house ready for your relocation to Minneapolis, you’ll want to contact these utility providers:

• Minnesota Electricity
• Natural Gas
• Cable and Internet

 

Minneapolis weather.  The city has a continental climate that is similar to other cities in the Upper Midwest.  The winters are snowy and cold while summers are hot with high humidity.  You will see all types of weather conditions including sleet, ice, snow, tornadoes, thunderstorms, heat waves, and fog. With such a diverse climate, you need to be prepared and willing to make adjustments. As a consolation, you will enjoy a wide variety of winter sports to make winters enjoyable.  Some people might be tempted to ask, “Just how bad is the winter in Minneapolis?” Well, it is long and cold, starting from mid-November to April.  It is the coldest metropolitan area in the US with temperatures rarely rising above freezing in the winter.  With the right attitude, you will survive and even have fun.

Minneapolis Jobs and Economy.  With the decline of the milling industry decades ago, the city turned its economy by focusing on being an economic hub instead of manufacturing.  There are many corporate headquarters based in Minneapolis in the sectors of retail, medical technology, banking, computer technology, which all contribute to the local economy.

The city is the country’s biggest producer of sweet corn, green peas, sugar beets, and farm-raised turkey.  It is heavily into manufacturing of value added food products with companies such as Hormel Foods Corporation, General Mills. Cargill, and McDonald Food Company.  Target Corporation and Best Buy are based here and provide a lot of jobs to locals. It is also where many inventions originated namely Masking and Scotch tape, HMOs, Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, and the Bundt Pan.

Financial heavy-weights US Bancorp, TFC Bank, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Ameriprise also call Minneapolis home.  From a state that just loves the outdoors, it is not surprising that boats and other recreational products are manufactured in the city with companies like Polaris Industries, Arctic Cat, Alumacraft Boat Company, and Lund Boats.

The city also boasts of a growing biomedical industry that is spawned by university research with the presence of St. Jude Medical.  The world-famous Mayo Clinic is in Rochester, Minnesota.  United Health Group is the country’s second biggest health insurance company.

 

 

Cost of Living. Minnesota has a progressive income tax system with 4 rates.  In addition, it has a local sales and special local taxes, excise taxes, use tax on items bought outside Minnesota, and property tax.  The overall state and local taxes is estimated at 11.9%,  the 4^th highest tax burden in the country.

The city has a relatively affordable housing market compared to other American cities.  The average home price in the Twin Cities is $224,950.  Heating costs are second to the highest due to winters being so long.  There is no sales tax on clothing or shoes which makes shopping for clothes is cheaper here.  They say one of the reasons for a lower cost of living in Minneapolis is its isolation.  Chicago, the nearest major city, is a 6- hour drive away or an hour by plane.

 

Best Places to Live in Minneapolis

What’s the best neighborhood to rent or buy a house in Minneapolis?

Whether you want a stylish loft, a quiet street, downtown living, or something more conservative, the city has what you need.

Calhoun-Isles is an affluent neighborhood where most of the city’s nightlife, trendy shops, restaurants and other entertainment offerings are present.  It also has 3 lakes and you know what they say about homes near a lake. They are generally on the expensive side.  It also has newly-constructed modern apartments.

Bryn Mawr and Kenwood have large and expensive family homes.  Prices of properties on the east side of the lake are a bit less expensive and you’ll find some mid-century and elegant apartment complexes.

Lowry Hill East features a mixture of housing with multi-family buildings and homes with moderate to expensive prices.

Camden is in the northern corner of the city.  It is primarily residential although there are 2 industrial areas around it. It is regarded as one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods.  Home prices are moderate to low but it doesn’t have a lake view or other amenities of the city.

Central is the middle of the city and consists of the downtown area, the warehouse district, museums, and parks.  Neighborhoods found here include Downtown East, Downtown West, Loring Park, North Loop, and Stevens Square.

Near North consists of 6 neighborhoods with mainly residential areas.  It includes Summer-Glenwood, Willard hay, Near North, Hawthorne, and Harrison.  The area has some notoriety for crime and also has the lowest prices in the city.  Most residents are renters and to the far south are the quietest and some affordable family homes.

Across downtown is St. Anthony West, the most preferred neighborhood for young professionals.  Waite Park and Audubon Park offer nice single family homes with moderate prices.  Windom Park has bigger houses.

Having Fun in the Mini Apple

The city of Minneapolis is relatively quiet, considering its size.  There is, of course, crime in the metropolitan area, but not any different from other cities.  Does being quiet mean it is boring? Not at all.

They don’t call the city the Mini Apple for nothing.  The local arts and entertainment scene is exciting. Music fans have a lot of choices on who or what to see on weekends.  Target Center hosts many A- list performers while First Avenue features indie acts.

 

 

And then they do have big league sports.  Target Field is home to the Minneapolis Twins while the US Bank Stadium is for the Minnesota Vikings.  You’ll definitely have plenty of sports action to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Coffee culture is definitely alive in the city with a variety of coffee shops transforming into music, art, and sports venues while serving a fresh cup.  International coffee chains like Starbucks don’t dominate the market, though, as local-based Caribou Coffee is more the favorite around these parts.

The city consistently ranks as the best for bicycling.  It has 92 miles of street bikeways and 85 miles of non-street bikeways for people to enjoy.  It also has a bike share program that makes it quite easy to pedal around town.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the biggest in the country with 11 acres.  It is also the best city for parks.  It has 197 parks, making it a big possibility that you’ll be living next to one.

In keeping with the residents’ love for outdoor recreation, the city also has the highest number of golfers. It is the #1 city for golf.  The city has 7 beautiful golf courses and 3 driving ranges.

The city has 10 lakes inside its limits, and together with the Mississippi River and a number of waterfalls and creeks, you would want to buy a boat.  They say 1 in every 6 people in the city own one, making it a top boating state in the USA.

You may be dreading the cold and wonder how you’ll get outdoors during the long cold stretch of winter.  You’ll be happy to know that Minneapolis has a famed skyway system where you can move around 52 blocks of the downtown area without ever getting wet.  The skyway connects restaurants, shopping centers, and more from within an enclosed space.

While many would argue that Minneapolis and New York City aren’t equal, both cities do have a common love for the theater.  Guthrie Theater, Old Log Theater, and Chanhassen Dinner Theater provide residents a lot of options for catching a show.

And if you love shopping, be prepared to splurge at the biggest Mall of America.  It is so big it has earned its own zip code.  It has more than 500 stores, a theme park, a movie theater, a mini golf, an aquarium, plus a host of other attractions.

For the more seriously inclined, Minneapolis also boasts of Open Book, the biggest literary and book arts center in the country.  It is, after all, the third most literate city in America.

From sports, to outdoor recreation, shopping, dining, and the performing arts, the city of Minneapolis packs a punch.  The city has so much to offer in terms of having fun and high quality of life.

You are surely excited to pack your bags and head off to the Twin Cities.  But before you do, you’ll need to get organized for moving day.

Below are 12 of the most popular movers in Minneapolis with moving reviews from customers about the quality of their services.  Read on to check what type of moving service you need and how much you should budget for hiring a professional moving company.

 

REVIEW OF 12 MINNESOTA MOVING COMPANIES AND THEIR MOVING SERVICES

 

It is not easy to choose a moving company. They may all seem the same but they have different pricing, quality of moving services, and levels of experience and customer service.

This review of moving companies in Minneapolis is designed to help you identify the kind of moving company you want for your move. It will help you to see what moving services can make your relocation easier and help you plan your moving budget.

 

A FEW GOOD MOVERS

This is a family owned and operated moving company with over 50 years of industry experience.  As a bonded and licensed business, it aims to offer quality moving services at very reasonable rates.

They provide full moving service, moving helpers, packing and unpacking, and post move cleaning.

 

 

 

AAA MOVERS INC

This moving company offers local and long distance moving for household or commercial relocation.  They are also last minute move specialists and offer storage services for those who need short or long term storage for their belongings.

The company guarantees a few things not all movers do – no voicemail, no hidden fees, extended service hours, and same rates for Saturday moves.  It is also the only moving company in Minnesota that has a satisfaction guarantee.

The company provides full service moving, moving labor only, packing services, large item moving, and storage.

It is an agent for Arpin Van Lines.

 

 

 

BACKDAHL HOWE MOVING AND STORAGE

This family owned and operated moving company started way back in 1901.  It is a statewide residential and commercial relocation company.

It serves the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. It offers household moving, commercial moving, single-item moving such as pianos, and storage.

Their premium service includes full packing and prep before the move, unpacking, reassemble, and placement.  They provide flat rates which allow for 3-4 days from start to finish.

They also provide packing service so professional packers pack and prepare your belongings for a move or for storage.

 

CROSS COUNTRY LONG DISTANCE MOVERS

This Minneapolis cross country moving company specialized in relocation, packing, storage and auto shipping.  They also handle international shipping. Since 2005, the company has been providing exceptional moving services in all 50 US states.

Whether you are making a commercial or residential move, this moving company can efficiently handle all aspects of your relocation. They do crating for fragile and special items and can provide storage when needed.

 

 

 

FISCHER TRANSFER LLC

This moving company has over 75 years of experience in the moving business. For commercial or residential moving, the company is dedicated to providing great results.

Their movers help with packing and unpacking, padding and wrapping of furniture, assembling or disassembling furniture, and the safe transport of household goods.

It is a family-owned business that makes customers’ moving needs their top priority.  The company stands out due to flexible scheduling, low rates, and no hidden charges.

The company also specializes in piano moving, antiques, and art moving.

 

 

 

HEDBERG MOVING SOLUTIONS

This premium relocation company provides moving services to households and businesses in Minnesota.

They have clean moving trucks and experienced moving crew that have the necessary equipment such as floor protection, dollies, and moving blankets for a professional move.  They also offer packing services for home and office relocation.

They specialize also in condo moving, apartment moving, and senior moving services.

It is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and enjoys an A+ rating.  It is a fully licensed and insured moving company.

 

 

 

MATT’S MOVING

This moving company entered the Minneapolis and St. Paul moving market in 2006.  It has served thousands of customers with high quality moving services and has maintained high customer satisfaction.

They offer local and long distance moving, packing, and moving labor only.

It offers low moving rates which start at $130 per hour for 2 movers and truck or $180 per hour for 3 movers and truck.  All moving jobs have a 2-hour minimum charge and one time travel fee.

 

 

 

 

MOHAWK MOVING

This relocation company has more than 75 years of experience in commercial and residential moving.

Founded in 1938, the company is a trusted moving company in Minnesota with cost effective transport and storage solutions.  It is the Twin Cities agent of United Van Lines and can handle local, long distance, and international moving as well as government and military moving.

As protection for its customers, every item the company moves is insured with no extra cost to the customer.

It is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and was given a rating of A+.

 

 

 

QUALITY MOVING & STORAGE

The father and son team of Dave and Nick Franta founded this moving company in 1996.  As a locally owned and operated company serving the Twin Cities, their goal is to provide courteous, professional, and efficient solutions for renters, homeowners, and builders who require packing, storage, or moving services.

The company has offices in Edina, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin. Both locations have climate-controlled storage and offer full service packing. They operate their own fleet of moving vans and trucks.

They offer transparent hourly rates for moving services which start at $130 per hour for 2 movers and truck or best value at $155 per hour for 3 movers and truck.

Their packing services start at $95 per hour for 1 specialist or $145 per hour for 2 specialists.

These rates include full insurance cover (not the basic $.60 per pound that other movers provide) and free moving boxes and shrink wrap.

They provide 5% discount for military and senior moving services.

 

 

 

 

RUTH MOVERS INC

This 3 generation moving company has been serving Minnesota for over 50 years.  They aim to take the stress out of moving with friendly, fast, and affordable moving services for residential or commercial relocation.

Ruth Movers has earned loyalty from clients due to the terrific word of mouth it gets from existing customers.

Aside from moving households and businesses, they also handle specialty moving like piano, organ, hot tubs, and more.

The company also provides moving labor only and storage services. They provide special discounts for military and senior moving.

 

 

 

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

This moving company has been serving homes and businesses in the Twin Cities since 2013.  The franchise is locally owned and operated and boasts of customized moving and packing services for customers.

Their dedicated movers are all professionally trained and background checked for your peace of mind.

They provide local and long distance household or business relocation services.

Two Men and A Truck Minneapolis Northwest specializes in long distance moving and will help you throughout the entire moving process. The same crew packs your truck and unloads in your new address.

This moving company is part of a domestic and international franchise with over 350 locations worldwide.

 

 

 

UPTOWN TRANSFER INC

This moving company has been helping customers in the Twin Cities metro area since 1901.  They have an established reputation committed to strong customer service.

It is a family owned and operated moving business that offers piano and organ moving, commercial moving, business packing services, and pool table moving.

It also offers residential moving, apartment moving, moving labor only, and storage.

 

 

 

We hope this review of moving companies in Minneapolis have shown you what professional movers can do for you to ease your move.  Some of them make their fixed hourly rates available so you can plan your moving budget.

However, it is best to compare actual moving estimates from moving companies based on your location and type of move. By filling out our quick online form with your moving details, you will receive fair and accurate moving bids from licensed and insured moving companies near you.

Compare 5 movers’ quotes today to book the best moving company for your moving day to Minneapolis.