For moving, your choices are pretty much doing it yourself, hiring labor to help with the heavier items, or going for a full-service move.
If it is a full-service move, this consists of packing up all your personal things and loading them onto the truck, transporting them to their new place, and then unloading everything.
They cater to the individual who wants someone else to take care of it all. The prices can be a concern; after all, there are expenses for all these services.
The cost of a Full-service move is often one of the biggest barriers. Based on industry rates, local full-service moves cost $800-$2,500. Long-distance moves, depending on distance and volume, can run $2,000- $7,500 or more.
With a price tag like that, it's no wonder families are getting stressed out about how to save for their move. Many people assume the cost is all-inclusive, but hidden fees (such as packing supplies, storage and handling oversized items) can get out of hand.
To avoid such unanticipated cost interference, one must get a comprehensive quote explaining every service and the other points that we have discussed in the Blog.
What is a Full-Service Move?
As always, we have to cover the basics before diving into the full-service moving. What is a full-service move?
Full-Service Move: A full-service move means the moving company will come to your home and take care of all of your belongings.
They will box up your stuff, put it in the truck for you and take it all out when they reach your new place, which is damn good service.
In other words, this is a "white glove" move. Your heartbeat will not rise a little. Obviously, convenience comes with a cost. Understanding the potential cost of full-service movers will help you decide if this “all-inclusive” option is truly worth it or another way to leave your pockets feeling light.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Full-Service Movers
With that being said, now that you know what a full-service move entails, the following question will be on your mind: How much will this ultimately cost me? There are reasons why the cost can creep up. One biggie is the distance of the move. Are you moving locally, or are you going cross-country?
The amount you have to move and the volume and weight of your goods are also significant. The more belongings you have, the more you will pay. It’s a simple case of more baggage, more bucks. Extra services such as fragile packing and temporary storage can very quickly make your bill a whopping one. So, to move a 3-room home located about 1000 miles away, you could have to spend an average of $8,100.
Average Price for a Full-Service Move Based on Property Size
Now that you have seen some factors that influence your cost of moving, let's talk numbers. For example, moving a 2-bedroom property 100 miles away costs an average of $4,000. The cost can go as high as $7600 for the same property if you are actually taking it across state lines. Yikes! A cross-country move with a 4-bedroom home runs about $14,000.
That’s no small change! At least this will give you a rough estimate of the average price for a full-service move. It also means you can budget this out in advance and not have to sell the family silverware just to pay for moving.
How Much Does a Full-Service Move Cost?
Now that you know the average figures, here are some real prices for selling your home with a full-service mover! The typical cost of a local move with even the smallest property can vary between $3000 and $5000. However, for those looking at long-distance moves, this could then rise up to $8,000 — $15,000.
If you want to pack and assemble medium-size furniture, then it can easily add another 20% to the total cost of Moving. Therefore, be sure to request an in-depth, full-service moving quote from at least several companies before you decide. The last thing you want is any surprises when the bill comes… right?
Full-Service Moving Company Prices
Once you have a sense of what it costs, we break down below what to expect for full-service moving company prices. Local moves are typically done at the hourly rate, which can be anywhere from $80 to $100 per hour for a small team of movers. For long-distance moves, however, you are charged based on weight and mileage.
Such prices usually begin at around $2,500 for smaller long-distance moves. But hold your horses! Remember, special handling for fragile items can add another 15%-20% to the cost of your move… and that includes packing your furniture for you. Be on the lookout for those hidden fees that will surprise you when you least expect them!
Full-Service vs. DIY Moving Cost
Once you see the full-service moving charges, you may be stuck between a rock and a hard place — to hire movers or do it yourself. They're stress-free but way more expensive if you opt for full-service moves. Moving on your own is a lot of work, but it can also save you quite a bit of money.
Alternatively, moving a two-bedroom house will likely cost around $1,000, whereas enlisting professional services for the same property could reach about $5,600.
Whether you move with a full-service company or DIY, the cost really depends on your budget, time, and energy. DIY is the way to go if you have some free time and do not mind getting your hands dirty. Otherwise, full service is the name of the game when convenience is king.
Tips to Reduce the Cost of Full-Service Movers
You might well be thinking how all this can possibly be accomplished without spending a fortune, so let's get started. But don't fret; there are methods that will lead to full-service movers at a reasonable price. To begin with, good advice would be to get rid of stuff before moving. The Secret to Reduce Billing: Less Stuff, Lower Load
Other than that, an additional way to save a little money is by choosing some of your personal items. This can reduce packing costs by 10% to 20%. Placing your move during a non-peak season (like fall or winter) may also offer you a cheaper full-service moving quote. Because the penny saved is a penny earned!!
