How much does an average mover charge?

Are you planning your relocation but you fear draining your bank account in the process? Yes, hiring a moving company can be expensive, but the DIY alternative is usually even more costly. Not to mention that professionals will handle the task much more efficiently than you do. But, before rushing in and booking the first moving company, it’s important to learn how much does an average mover charge. Stay tuned and learn all about pricing standards so that you know what to expect when the final bill arrives.

Average mover charge depends on the type of move

How much will an average mover charge depends on numerous factors, from the usage of various features, such as packing services, to the weight of cargo or the moving date. The biggest distinction, however, is made in the distance of your relocation. With that in mind, we differentiate between two basic types – long-distance or cross-country move and local or intrastate move. As you might suspect, there are specific fees that apply to each one of these types of moves. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how they differ.

Local move

If your new home is located less than 100 miles within the same state, then you’re performing a local move. The most important thing to know is that intrastate movers charge by the hour. Each moving crew member will cost you approximately $35 per hour and hiring two men and a truck will be from $90 to $120 per hour. However, if you are moving to Toronto, expect the moving costs to be a bit higher, ranging from $120 to 200$ per hour. Fixed hourly rates don’t always cover gasoline, so make sure to ask your movers about it. Another thing to expect is paying an extra fee for the travel time your movers need to reach your home before the move. In most cases, this additional expense will be equivalent to one hour of labor.

When moving to Toronto or Vancouver prices can be much higher than in other cities

Long-distance move

When looking at how much does an average mover charge for a cross country move, there are no simple answers. The price will largely depend on various factors such as the weight of the stuff, distance, and timing. For this reason, you should request online quotes from a few moving companies, or even better – get an in-house estimate. All things considered, it won’t harm you to have some sort of estimation in order to prepare your budget.

Now, we’ve already mentioned that long-distance moving prices are based on shipment’s weight and the traveled distance. On average, you will pay around $0.70 per pound to relocate to a place that’s 200 miles away. If you need to move a pool table or other larger items, this might mean a larger price. The volume of your items, which is measured in cubic meters, will determine the final bill.

Want to know the exact cost? Get an estimate!

Online quotes are a great way to form some kind of idea about moving expenses, but they are not always correct. As we will see in the paragraph below, there are many hidden costs and extra services which could make the price much higher than in the estimate. To prevent this from happening, ask a company to do an in-home estimate. Not only is this the most accurate way to estimate your moving cost, but it should also be free of charge as well. Not to mention that this way movers will be able to asses the availability of your driveway and whether there’s a need for special moving equipment. Since you can’t possibly know the weight of all the stuff you’re moving, estimates cover that as well.  

Other than seeing how much does an average mover charge, prepare a list of all the questions you want to ask them

This is also a great opportunity to personally meet the representatives of the moving company and talk to them. This will give you peace of mind, as you will see for sure whether they seem reliable and up to the task. Use this opportunity to ask them everything that’s unclear. Revise the inventory list with them so that nothing gets left behind that could later increase the price.

Beware of hidden costs

As you surely know, moving companies offer a variety of services, some of which you might never expect. We’ve covered a couple of them already, here are a few more:

• Packing supplies – This could bring an additional cost if you’ve hired a moving company to do the packing as well. Most people assume that required packing material is included in the overall cost, but it’s not always the case. Make sure not to assume anything by yourself – always check with your movers!
• Disassembling and re-assembling furniture – In order to avoid property damage, your movers will take apart your furniture. Depending on the mover’s policy it may or may not be included in the cost.
• Bulky items are on this list as well – moving a piano might cost you anywhere from $150 ad $600. Inform yourself on time so there are no unpleasant surprises.
• Move cancellation fee – If you cancel a week or a few days before the moving day, expect to pay $100-$300. The numbers will vary from mover to mover, so inform yourself about the cancellation policy.
  

  You can save on packing supplies by using free boxes from the supermarket

How to save on your move

If you ask yourself why does an average mover charge so much, it’s because he’s doing all the work. If you want to lower the final bill, you can always take matters into your own hands. With a little planning and a little bit more time, moving doesn’t have to be expensive at all. For starters, you can pack your belongings yourself – make sure to find free boxes from supermarkets or department stores. Another great idea is to declutter before your move so as to lighten your load. Timing is another great idea – try to pick a weekday over weekends and avoid the beginning or end of the month. All of this, together with the knowledge of how they charge, will save you from having a wallet-draining experience.