Bigger moving companies charge based on the move size by giving an onsite estimate that includes a flat fee. This fixed bid typically covers everything including the box truck, manual labor, damage insurance, injury protection, moving pads, shrink wrap, lifting straps and other accessories. There may be a small fee for this consultation but that charge is generally waived if you decide to hire that moving service. On the other hand, smaller moving companies charge by the hour and don’t usually offer an onsite visit, especially if you only need a few items moved within the home. Instead, they may request pictures and then discuss them with the customer during a phone call. This gives moving companies the information they need to determine a fair hourly wage for your moving job.

You can expect to spend at least $100 for single item moves such as relocating an arcade machine from the basement to your garage, or bringing a treadmill from the garage to your workout room upstairs. Long distance moves are much more expensive. For example, a fully furnished 5 bedroom 5 bathroom house with 5,000 sq ft can cost up to a hundred times that amount, so you’d be looking at a $10,000 price tag! Other moving services will fall somewhere in-between this broad price range. Local in-town moves can cost around $2,000 for the truck and muscle. Long distance moves that include loading and unloading will run you anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000. Remember this math equation: short distance + less/light items = low cost, and long distance + more/heavy items = high cost. For further reading, check out my blog All You Should Know About Moving Companies.

For smaller moves with short distance and light items, consider hiring a small moving company that subcontracts the labor to local college students. This will save you money since the little guy won’t charge as much as the big guy. Examples of quick moves include rearranging furniture within your home or single item transportation with a pickup truck. You should avoid using amateur movers for complex moves that are long distance or include heavy items like grand pianos. Why? Because you don’t want to run the risk of expensive items getting damaged. It’s not worth saving a couple bucks if that means you’ll need to go through an insurance claim process simply because your movers had minimal experience. Make the smart choice which isn’t always the cheapest option.

Moving companies either charge based on a hourly rate or a flat fee. There are pros and cons for each of these pricing structures so neither one is inherently superior than the other. The pay-as-you-go aspect of hourly labor ensures that the time worked corresponds with the cost paid. This promotes fairness so long as the movers have integrity and don’t “milk the clock.” The benefit of a flat fee is that you know exactly what the cost will be prior to hiring the moving service, which will help you budget for your project. However, the downside is that the customer is usually required to make a 20% deposit. Plus, hidden fees may arise once the moving project gets underway since it’s not possible for movers to account for unknown variables.

Not all moving companies collect a deposit up front but many of them do. The ones that don’t are typically a very small business. If there is a pre-existing relationship between the business and the customer, this may also be a good reason to waive the deposit. The rationale for collecting a down payment boils down to one major thing: mutual commitment. You can trust the movers to show up and perform the manual labor as promised. The moving company can trust the customer to follow through with the handshake agreement and not cancel the service request. Deposits are generally around 15% to 25% of the total moving cost. Down payments are almost always non-refundable, given their purpose to solidify the contract and prevent the customer from shopping around any further.

Most moving companies will have a minimum fee, which can range anywhere from $100 to $200. This number will vary based on factors such as: how busy they are, how many staff are available, how far away the job is, how complex the move is, the size of the job, etc. Minimum charges are often scorned by prospective customers since they feel it’s unfair to decline a job on the basis of its size. However, it’s standard practice for home service businesses to filter through small tasks that aren’t worth the time spent. The fact of the matter is that moving companies don’t have unlimited resources or infinite bandwidth. So they need some type of strategic criteria that’ll allow them to sift through moves that have lower profit margins and consume more attention.

Attempting to negotiate a cheaper price from the moving company without any persuasive reasons is probably not the best choice. That approach tends to backfire for lack of practicality. Here are three winsome options that will increase your odds of getting moving companies to reduce their charges. First, offer to rent the moving truck and drive it yourself. This strategy is particularly helpful for short distance moves where both locations are only 5-10 miles apart. Second, offer to pack up your belongings and label boxes ahead of time. Third, offer to move the lighter items in your garage so there’s less distance to the moving truck. All three of these options will make life much easier for the movers which will incline them to accept your proposal and lower the overall price for your move.

First and foremost, it needs to be stated that tips are optional not obligatory. Tips should not be given out willy nilly; they should be earned by hard work. The customer reserves the right to withhold a tip if they have good reason to believe that the work was subpar. Valid reasons for refusing to tip are as follows: movers show up late, check their phone often, take too many breaks, scratch your floors, damage your possessions, scratch walls, use profane language, etc. That said, if the movers exceed your expectations, then a 15% to 25% tip is a reasonable amount. In this regard, the moving industry is similar to the restaurant industry. Working outside through rainy weather or scorching heat warrant a higher than average tip.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, then you should hire a moving company to do it for you. Don’t just hire the cheapest company because there may be a reason why their prices are so low. During your conversation with the move consultant, make sure to ask good questions so you have adequate knowledge to make an informed decision. You should try to get a ballpark estimate on the total cost for your move. In order to get a quote, you’ll likely need to provide information about where you live, what heavy items you have, as well as your budget. Before making a final decision, you should make sure they have good reviews online. His Workmanship connects you with affordable movers. Click here to get a free online estimate.