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Q: What do moving companies do?

A: Moving companies provide people and businesses with the services of moving goods from point A to point B. The relocation can be carried out interstate and intrastate. In any case, you can expect that a moving crew will ensure you not only with the moving itself but also arranging and packing all your items in boxes and packs, loading them in the vehicle, hoisting them from your residence to the destination, unloading and unpacking them at a new place.

Moving companies sometimes also offer additional services such as move-out cleaning, furniture assembly, storage, and junk or garbage removal.

Q: How do moving companies charge?

A: Moving companies usually charge either by the hour or per square foot. It hinges on the distance mostly. If you’re going to relocate locally, that is within 100 miles, you’ll pay per hour rate. If you go to some other state, or to the place that is further than 100 miles, you have to pay per square foot.

Q: What is the average cost of the moving services?

A: It’s difficult to define the exact cost of the move as there are many factors that shape the overall price but on average, expect to pay some $20-$55 per hour or $11-$17 per square foot. For detailed information, check our moving cost guide.

Q: What factors affect the cost of the moving services?

A: There is a range of important factors that affect the cost of your move, here are the most important ones:

• Distance: moving within one state is cheaper than moving from Sacramento to Dallas, for instance.
• Size of your apartment or house: moving the entire house is heftier than moving a 1-bedroom apartment.
• Number of items: a cluttered 1-bedroom apartment can cost more than a 3-bedroom dwelling just because picking-up, packing and loading all of the goods in the cluttered space is a bit more complicated than in the roomy residence.
• Bulk or fragile items: moving a grand piano or a motorcycle will cost you much more than taking a few boxes with clothes and some silverware from the kitchen.
• Timing: busy seasons such as summer are charged higher. The same works for holidays and weekends.
• Urgency: the faster you want to move, the higher is the price.
• Scope of works: if you need a full package of services, be ready to pay more. If you want to cut down your expenses, you can delegate part of the workload to movers and another part to your family and friends.
• Vehicle you rent: do you need a van or a truck? How many hours you’re going to use it? How many miles are you going to cover?
• Stairs (lifts): it’s always easier to work in a detached house than in an apartment on the 4th or 5th floor.
• Access to the loading/unloading area.

Q: How to avoid dealing with a scam moving company?

A: Unfortunately, there are many fraudulent companies in the moving industry. In fact, with 35 million people moving every year in America about 4100 of them fall victims to disreputable moving companies. In order to avoid this unpleasant experience and spot rogue movers immediately, pay attention to the following:

• On-site inspection. Any legitimate moving company will request an inspection of the stuff you’re going to move before they give you any estimate. If the movers refuse to come to your place, that is a red flag.
• Low costs. It’s just too good to be true. Once you hear you’re asked to pay incredibly low prices for the work done, it’s time to become alert.
• Ask for a deposit. No reliable company does this.
• Final payment in cash only. Are they afraid of money tracking?
• Incomplete documents. If your movers ask you to sign a blank or incomplete document and say that they will fill out the papers later, avoid dealing with these shady movers immediately. You should know all the conditions of your collaboration in advance.
• No estimate in writing.
• No license. In the majority of cases, a moving company does require a license. Here we are talking about two types of moving: interstate and intrastate. In case of interstate moving, a license from the United States Department of Transportation is obligatory. In case of the intrastate moving, each state set its own requirements that should be checked in advance.
• No insurance. Save yourself a headache and check that the moving company you hire is insured. If not, you risk having your precious things chipped or completely broken with no reimbursement.
• Reviews: check the company’s online presence and their reviews. Pay additional attention to their former projects, qualification, and experience in the field.