Are you looking for full-service movers in Columbus or cheap movers in Ohio? When considering whether to hire a professional moving company or to move on your own, taking into account the possible costs of your movers vs. renting a moving truck and carrying out the process yourself makes all the difference between having a smooth and affordable moving experience and in putting yourself through a lot of hardship or physical stress – not to mention spending more than you should in the first place!
If you’re looking for professional full-service movers, you should first know how to locate a moving company that truly serves your needs and who will work to make sure your relocation is a smooth one – especially if you’re headed over a long distance. So how do you find the right cheap movers in Ohio, and how do you know you’re getting the best deal for your money? Learn more about the average cost of movers for local and long-distance moving below.
Before we get into the cost of a full-service moving company in Ohio, it’s important to know what services your moving company should be providing to you. Knowing what services you need or are interested in from your company can make a big price difference, and can mean the difference between overpaying for services you don’t need and getting a cost-effective and tailored moving experience.
So what should you expect from your movers, and how do you spot a company that doesn’t have your best interests in mind?
First thing – when it comes to choosing an Ohio moving company that will give you the best services and best value for your money, you should always think of EE Ward Moving & Storage. With over 100 years of experience in the relocation industry, our services and prices do more than just set us apart from the competition – they allow you to get the best moving experience possible. Learn more about how we can make a difference in your Ohio move today.
When it comes to looking at moving companies in general, however, there are a few things to look for before you begin getting quotes or shopping around for the best prices. Before getting a quote from a moving company, you should look out for the following variables:
Before investigating a moving company any further than just pursuing its website, you should always look into its reviews on sites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, Google Reviews, and more. Having the first-hand experience of those who have already worked with a company will let you truly see if your potential moving company is who they say they are and whether they’ll truly work in your best interest. You should also ask around family and friends to see if they’ve had particularly good or bad experiences with moving companies.
Before getting a quote from a company, make sure they’re a legitimate business before going any further with them. It’s easy to get hooked into marketing tactics or smooth-talking from moving companies once you’ve called them or spoken to them about getting a moving quote – but don’t take everything they say as truth or at face value.
Before learning more about a professional full-service moving company, you should always check their USDOT number with the FMCSA, which regulates the interstate trucking industry. This includes moving companies, and should always include your moving company as well. Moving companies should always provide you with their licensing information and USDOT number, whether on their website or with their general information so that you can properly research them.
If a moving company you’re looking at doesn’t have a license number or USDOT number listed, isn’t affiliated with any larger van lines, or just doesn’t seem to have much experience or customer reviews in general, it could point to a potential moving scam.
After checking moving companies’ license numbers, and reviews, and narrowing down your search to a few different companies that seem to have potential, it’s time to shop around for quotes and see who will provide you with the best services at the best prices.
This is also part of the process where it becomes very apparent whether a moving company is a scam or not. We’ll outline the average prices of moving companies in our next section, but make sure to compare all of the quotes you receive from different companies to not only get the best deal but to automatically rule out companies who provide you with suspiciously low moving quotes.
Though it might initially seem like a great deal to find a company with much lower prices than everyone else, this is a hallmark of a moving scam, or of a company that will hook you in with low initial prices, only to hit you with hidden fees later.
Knowing what to look for in a moving company and knowing what services you need from your moving company makes all the difference in ensuring you’re getting the best services at the best prices, and ensuring that your move is truly tailored to fit your individual needs.
Now that you know what to look for in an Ohio moving company and what to beware of, let’s discuss the average cost of movers. In this overview, we’ll discuss general moving company costs in the United States for local, and long-distance moving companies.
Keep in mind that when it comes to calculating average moving costs, no two moves are the same, and the cost of your move specifically will differ depending on how many items you have, how heavy they are, and the amount of distance you’re covering in your move. It will also depend on the specialty services you’ll require or whether you’re shipping especially large items. When moving off-season, however, you can also most likely find lower prices than are listed here due to the lower amount of competitive bookers during this time.
Because local moves require you to cover less of a distance and require less travel or mileage, they’re often much cheaper than long-distance or international movers. However, in addition to the mileage or labor, your move requires, moving companies charge by the weight of the items you’re moving. The weight of your items, of course, won’t change no matter the distance you’re covering, so you won’t see a huge price dip there. You will see a big difference in travel and distance-related fees, however.
For local moves that are within 100 miles of your starting point, the average cost of movers ranges from $500-$2000, depending on the number of items you have and the specialty services you require. This averages out to around $1400 for the average household. Again, this does not factor in your specific distance covered or the weight of your household items, so prices might vary for your unique move.
Moving cross-country is of course going to be more expensive than hiring local movers.
Keep in mind that when it comes to long-distance moving, your company will need to charge not only for the weight of your move and labor, but for mileage covered, the cost of transportation, mileage, fuel, and other costs associated with moving items across state lines.
The total cost of your long-distance movers depends heavily on the size and total distance of your move, but the average cost of hiring professional full-service movers for a cross-country move comes out to anywhere from $800-$10,000. This is a huge range, we know, but these costs truly depend on the size of your move, your specialty services, and how far you’ll be moving across the country.
This also applies to international moving companies, who will have to navigate not only the shipping of your household items, vehicles, or specialty items but also customs and the labor involved in international moving.
At the end of the day, it’s important to try and anticipate the types of services you’ll need for your moving services so that you have a good idea of how much you think your moving services will be going into your research process. This will give you a good frame of reference for what might be worth getting rid of or decluttering as well.
No matter how big your move might be or the distance thereof, always make sure you’re working with the right local and long-distance moving company for you and your family. Want to learn more about EE Ward Moving & Storage, our pricing, and the services we provide? Discover what we can do for you today.