Cheap Apartment Movers Near Me

How do I find Cheap Apartment Moving Services near me?

Chances are, if you are searching for an inexpensive mover for your local apartment move, you have already decided you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route, but you don’t have a lot of extra money to spend on a moving company. How can you get the help you need without breaking the bank? Luckily, you can find a reputable local business to handle your move from one apartment to another, and it won’t exhaust your savings.

Moving is a big business. Thirty-one million people moved their home in the United States last year—that's almost ten percent of Americans moving to a new home. Interestingly, the numbers have been dropping pretty steadily since the 1960s, and last year’s total was the smallest number of movers since the government started keeping track in the late 1940s. Not surprisingly, renters move more than homeowners, with an average of 20% of renters changing residences in recent years.

There are thousands of movers, mostly small businesses, managing all these moves, not counting the relocations that consumers take care of on their own, or with their friends and family's help. Almost half of moving companies employ fewer than five people. Of course, the industry is more than just the moving companies. Think about truck rentals, storage facilities, even boxes, packing tape, and dolly rentals.

Types of Apartment Movers

There are different types of movers that you can contact for your apartment moves. They can be categorized based on distance and the type of services to provide. Here are the common ones:

Local apartment movers?

Local movers assist with local apartment moves within a range of distance that do not exceed 100 miles. Local apartment moving companies typically charge an hourly rate for labor and a truck. Depending on area labor costs, two movers and a truck to move your apartment contents will cost between $50 and $100 an hour for 4-6 hours. In most states, you will also pay for the time the team spent driving from the old apartment to the new one and unloading into the new residence.

If you have everything packed and ready to go, you will save money. A professional local apartment mover is expected to be licensed by the department of transportation of the state where they operate.

Long Distance Apartment Movers

These type of movers help to coordinate long distance apartment moves which can be within a state, out of state, interstate, or cross country. Any apartment move that goes beyond 100 miles is considered a long distance move. If the mover operates along state lines or interstate then they are expected to be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Full Service Movers

These are companies providing all the services you will need when moving your apartment. Some of the services that might be included in a full service move include:

• Packing services
• Provision of packing supplies
• Storage services and storage solutions

Working with full service movers can be more expensive but you can rest assured that you are getting a professional service from start to finish. Full service movers also often full value protection on your moves which gives you additional peace of mind.

What Factors Influence the cost of moving my apartment?

Type of estimate

When you start planning the move, you will need to interview several moving companies. You can choose from the local independent businesses, agents of an apartment moving company, or a franchise owner. No matter which business structure you prefer, it is essential that you talk to the local representatives and that someone comes to your home to see what you need to move. This step is key to the company's ability to assess the move and provide an accurate estimate of the cost.

Insist on an evaluation-based estimate

Some movers may tell you they don't need to come and do a visual survey, and they will ask you to describe your shipment over the phone or by completing an online form. You should be wary of this suggested approach since it's difficult for the mover to develop a clear understanding of the move parameters if they don't see what the apartment looks like, how heavy the furniture is, how far they will have to carry your goods, and so forth.

For a local move, the mover will give you an assessment of how much time the whole job should take, an hourly charge for labor, the number of movers and trucks. Since you are moving from one apartment to another, you will most likely have two movers and one truck.

Know which estimate you are getting

Talk to each mover about whether the price estimate is binding (in which case it is a commitment, and will not go up or down) or non-binding, in which case the final invoice will might change based on the actual weight of the move. You might incur additional charges if the mover determines that your weight is more than the initial estimate. There is also the binding not-to-exceed estimate in which the customer pays for the actual weight of the move, no more, no less.

Moving conditions

These factors are essential and will influence the cost of the apartment move. Movers charge extra for "long carries," which means that the truck is parked more than a specified distance from the residence. If the layout of your apartment complex doesn't allow the moving truck to pull right up to your unit, you may incur a substantial charge for this service. It's better to be aware of that in advance.

Similarly, if you have stairs, particularly narrow or winding stairs, you may incur an extra charge. Movers may add a fee for using an elevator unless you can reserve it for exclusive use on the move day. The mover's tariff explains these fees, and each mover will supply the tariff to you along with the estimate of what your move will cost.

How do I protect myself from a shady moving company?

Check for the company's license and reputation

First, check the company's reputation. If the company performs interstate moves, it will be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can check out their website for information on the mover's safety record and complaint history. If the company specializes in local moves, it is likely regulated at the state level, probably by your department of consumer affairs, or possibly the department of motor vehicles. Another good source of information is the Better Business Bureau.

Ask for references

Once you have a moving company in mind to do business with, ask for references. It should be able to provide you with contact information for actual customers for whom it has recently completed moves. If it won't, be suspicious. Also, check the address—it should not be a residence or a Post Office box, the company should have a physical presence, and you should be able to reach them when you call. Sometimes rogue operators set up fake websites and have call centers to answer phones for various scam businesses.

Only accept an inventory-based estimate

Never sign a blank or incomplete contract with a mover (or anyone else). Don’t agree if the mover says he will fill the rest in when he gets back to the office. Don’t agree to an estimate if it doesn’t have a full inventory of what the mover agrees to move for the price.

Only work on existing terms or better still renegotiate another contract

On the day of the move, be suspicious if the company tries to change the terms. If this happens, insist that work stop until you agree to a new contract and both you and the company have signed it. Disreputable movers will load half of your goods and then tell you that you have more than they thought and demand more money. You may feel trapped, but the more they load on the truck, the more control they have.

Never pay large deposits

Don’t pay a large deposit and don’t pay cash. It is customary for moving charges to be paid when the delivery is complete. If a company insists on a substantial deposit in advance, that might be a tip-off that your job isn't going to get handled. Paying by credit card allows you to dispute the charges through your financial institution, while cash is gone once you have spent it.

Most registered companies in the moving industry are honest and hardworking. When you hire professionals, they want to help you accomplish your apartment move at a fair price. By being careful and following some common-sense guidelines, you can find a cheap but reliable mover for your move.

Three Movers As Your Most Affordable Apartment Mover

At Three Movers, we have the experience, the expertise and the equipment. Most importantly, we work with all classes of people for all kinds of moves. You can depend on us for fair, flexible and transparent pricing, and a hassle-free moving process.

Give us a call today at (888) 202-0036 and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have about moving your apartment. Whether you’re moving within a state or out of state. We’ll also provide you with a free quote, a no-obligation moving estimate so you can budget accordingly for your upcoming move!