If you’re considering a move, odds are you’ve wondered about the cost of hiring a professional moving company — it’s something you need to know to financially prepare for the road ahead. Although hiring a professional, trusted moving company is more expensive than renting a moving truck or using your own car, there are many benefits of leaving it to the pros, starting with the fact you’ll have more time to devote to family, work and down time.
For one thing, hiring a moving company can ease a lot of the physical and emotional aspects involved in a big move, making the experience less stressful and letting you quickly settle into your new home.
At the end of the day, there really shouldn’t be surprises when it comes to the cost of your long-distance move. A reputable mover will walk you through not just the cost, but also things like packing services and moving services based on the size of your move. Then, they’ll provide an estimate based on your specific needs and budget. That way, you know what to expect.
Looking to hire movers? Mayflower has nearly 100 years of experience helping families move across the country. In this article, we will break down the cost of movers to help your decision-making. If you decide to go with a DIY move or opt to use a truck rental company instead, read on — there is helpful information for you, too.
How are Moving Costs Calculated?
There are several different factors that impact the cost of a move, from the distance between origin and destination to the size of your move, your move-in date, whether or not you need to move specialty items, and any additional services you may need.
When calculating your moving costs, it begins with determining whether you’re planning a local move, an intrastate move within state lines or a long-distance move to another state because distance does impact your moving costs.
The size of your move is a major factor when it comes to moving costs. The size of your move is often based on the number of bedrooms in your home. Knowing the size of your move can help determine the size of the truck and the number of professional movers needed to help your move go as smoothly as possible.
When you move is also a factor that can affect your moving cost estimate. Certain times of the year are busier than others, meaning movers are in high demand. Whether you plan to move in the summer or the winter, check out our guide to help decide, when possible, the best time of the year to move.
Another factor when calculating moving prices is if you plan on moving high-value specialty items, such as a piano or fine art. These items need extra care and therefore cost more.
Remember there may also be additional costs, such as moving protection, and added moving services — like packing or unpacking — that factor into your estimate. Have bulky furniture? Movers may charge extra when handling those items, too.
The most effective way to determine what you’ll need from a moving company is to make a list of services that you think you’ll need. This can even include services such as appliance installation or storage options. Keep this list handy when comparing moving companies so your estimate request is consistent across the board.
Moving for your job or military relocation? Your employer may cover some or all of your moving costs.
From there, you can compare your moving budget against your requested services and decide if you need to scale them down and if hiring professional movers is right for you.
It’s important to note when companies calculate your moving costs, you’ll initially get an estimate based on themoving packages you choose and the current information they have about your move. After you give more details about your move, the estimate will be updated to reflect a more accurate move cost.
Once you get final estimates from the moving companies you’re considering, you can use them to compare companies and decide which one best matches your budget and individual moving needs. Want to get started? Mayflower can provide an estimate for your move to get the ball rolling.
How to Estimate Your Moving Costs?
Thinking of renting a truck to move yourself? Consider what truck size you need based on the size of your move. The rate for the rental vehicle is a major component of your moving costs. Remember, you also need to pay for gas throughout the move. Plus, most truck rental companies expect you to return the truck with a full tank of gas.
If you’ve decided to hire professionals to help you move, the same size considerations are required. In this case, distance matters a lot, too. Think about if you want or need extra services, like packing and unpacking, and if it makes financial sense to handle that portion DIY.
By compiling your initial estimate first, you’ll have some idea of the expense before you request official estimates from movers. To learn more about building your own estimate, check out our article.
Pros and Cons of Moving Yourself vs. Hiring a Moving Company
Do you pride yourself on doing things for yourself? Or do you prefer to leave the tough stuff to the pros? When considering whether hiring professional movers makes sense, you need to think about your preferred moving style, how much time you have and if you can handle the strain of heavy things. Then there’s the matter of stress, since movers take a lot of potential worry away.
In the end, hiring professional movers is more costly, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.
Moving Yourself
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Cost-effective way to save money | The time it takes to plan a move and how much time it takes away from daily life |
| Flexible move timeline | The stress involved in coordinating a move by yourself |
| Strenuous physical labor |
Hiring Professional Movers
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Relieve stress from planning a move by yourself | More expensive than moving yourself |
| Helps save time planning, leaving you free to focus on other aspects of the move, such as closing your new home purchase and enrolling your kids in new schools | The need to coordinate around moving crews’ availability |
| Many movers offer additional services to help make your move even easier | Control over moving plans must be shared with movers |
| Movers tackle physical tasks like packing, loading and unloading so you don’t have to | |
| Package options that include things like packing and unpacking can further simplify and streamline your move |
Ready to Move? Mayflower can Help
Mayflower is here to guide you through your moving journey, Every Step of the Way®. We’ve been moving American families since 1927 and provide full-service moves from over 500 locations nationwide. Whether you’re moving locally or long-distance, Mayflower can help. Start an online moving quote today.
If you’re still researching and comparing your options, keep our checklists on how to hire movers and avoid moving scams on hand when getting in touch with moving companies.
Deciding to make a DIY move, we have more tips from our moving experts. We also have state guides that can help you get to know your new area — or even decide where you want to move next.
Whatever your moving needs, though, Mayflower is here to help.
