What To Do if Your Movers Don’t Show Up

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It’s moving day, and the movers you hired are on the way… you hope?

If you’re ready to go, in between all the scrambling, you’re likely peeking out the window every ten seconds hoping to see your crew’s truck cresting over the horizon.

But ready to go or not, you’re at the mercy of your movers’ arrival time window. (All movers or move shipments typically arrive within a block of time that’s known as your “arrival window.”)

Yet what if your arrival window comes and goes and fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five minutes pass, and your movers still haven’t shown up?

First, call your movers directly!

calling movers

If you hired your local movers directly…

You have their number, right? You should call them and check if your crew is on the way, or if they are simply tied up. (If they aren’t answering, keep reading.)

If you hired your movers through HireAHelper…

You still have the option of calling them directly, which if you’ve already been in contact with them leading up to moving day, will seem natural. (And even if you hadn’t been, go for it!) 

However, if they aren’t answering or you don’t have their number, just call HireAHelper (1-800-995-5003). They will attempt to contact your movers for however long it takes to get you an updated ETA. And if your movers don’t show up or anything else is wrong, they’ll automatically go through the process of fixing it for you (more on that later).

If you hired your movers through a managed moving service…

If you hired a crew through a full-service moving service like MovingStaffers, MovingPlace, or if you’re using a vintage van line company, there typically is a ton of communication leading up to moving day. Even still, if something isn’t going right, these companies generally have a traditional customer service line that you should use right about now.

 

MovingStaffers

(800) 658-7292

 

MovingPlace

(800) 876-6839

 

Allied (Domestic)

(800) 689-8684

 

North American Vanlines (Domestic)

(800) 348-2111

 

Mayflower

(877) 720-4066

 

Pretty simple, right? Except this is where things can get… interesting.

If your movers STILL don’t arrive within an arrival window…

In my experience as a professional crew leader, there are generally three outcomes that happen if you can’t get ahold of your local moving crew.

  1. Your crew is on their way! If they’re nice, they’ll apologize for being late. They may also offer any of a range of excuses – traffic, truck problems, someone late to work – but, as long as they’re on the way, that’s better than the next outcome.
  2. Your crew “misscheduled” you! They’ll tell you (if they’re honest) that they forgot to put you on their schedule or they misplaced your request. Since their crews are all out on other jobs now, there’s nothing they can do except suggest you call someone else (or refer you back to HireAHelper to automatically begin the process of finding replacements). This is almost as inconvenient as the next outcome. 
  3. Your crew ghosted you! They never answer. No-show. Or maybe they do, but they say they don’t know who you are, never heard of you, and you must have called some other moving company. No idea what you’re talking about, sorry! Good luck  — “click.”

Now it’s your move (pun intended).

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

What to do if your movers are simply running late…

moversYou may or may not believe the movers’ reasons as to why they’re late, but if they say they are on the way, ask them for a specific ETA. And if they don’t have one, make the person on the other end of the line explain in clear terms what they do know is going to happen and when.

As a former mover and operations manager, I can attest that unforeseen things do happen sometimes. We’re all imperfect human beings, and what we should want as a result is for everyone to know what’s going on. 

If a crew really is on the way, whoever you’re speaking to won’t want to lose you, and by extension, lose a job for their workers. Plus, if they have a public-facing profile somewhere, they definitely don’t want a bad review, let alone a “no-show” permanently stamped onto their HireAHelper profile page! 

What if I’m coordinating between two or more services?

If you are trying to coordinate your move between your movers and a service such as a moving container company, you need to call the other company’s customer service number ASAP.

 

PODS

(877) 770-7637

 

1-800-PACK-RAT

(800) 722-5728

 

Protip: A mover may negotiate a discount with you if things get out of hand, schedule-wise. (Trust me, the nicer you are, the more likely this is.) If you hired your movers through HireAHelper, they may automatically refund you a portion of your bill for the inconvenience, though typically this is a case-by-case scenario. 

What to do if your movers are not going to show up…

If you find yourself in a worst-case scenario, it will be tough to put both of your functioning neurons together to come up with a plan. But last-minute mover possibilities do exist.

Call a mover marketplace ASAP!

An interconnected network of local movers is your most time-efficient next step.

Companies like HireAHelper maintain a living list of vetted professional movers, and they know all of their schedules.

Even if you didn’t book your movers through HireAHelper, call them (800-995-5003). They have a process in place for cancellations, mover replacements, and no-shows, and they may be able to find you last-minute movers. (This process is free with or without an order, but there may be different costs and/or policies associated with your new movers, so you may have to weigh the value.)

Otherwise, your best bet is to find a mover the same way you probably did the first time: Google “movers near me” and call every number you can find. Good luck.

Think you might have been scammed? 

Unfortunately, scams are a relatively common thing in the wild world of unmoderated moves. Especially if you pre-paid any amount of money, this might be a possibility. If you’re beginning to worry you might have been scammed, here’s what you can do to fight back


Here’s how to avoid mover issues in the future

It may not be of any use right now, but there are a few key things to make sure of in order to avoid a difficult moving day scenario in the future.

  1.  Look up your moving company online ahead of moving day. Especially make sure to look up where their office is physically located, and ideally, find out what their previous customers have said about them through their online reviews.
  2.  Create a rapport. In your pre-move interactions, be interested in your movers, both as professionals and as people. Nothing goes further than genuine investment and appreciation of their process, and it definitely will keep your moving day closer to the top of their minds.
  3.  Be willing to ask very specific questions. What type of equipment would they be supplying? Is there something you have that you’re worried they might not be able to move? Tell them about it. Make sure you understand the limits of their coverage against damage. The answers you get will tell you a lot, not just about their service but also about them as a company.
  4.  After you’ve booked your move, call to confirm a day or two ahead of time. Many, if not all, movers will actually do this themselves; but if something slips through the cracks, that call isn’t going to come, and neither will your movers. Making the call yourself is a good way to double-check everyone is on the same page.
  5.  Don’t book movers who aren’t vetted. You can actually look up a mover’s business license if they are driving a vehicle. But simply getting movers who want to uphold their reputation on a network of professional movers like those listed on HireAHelper is a great way to lower the chance of something going wrong. 

How Much Does a U-Haul Really Cost? We Found Out.

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Updated for 2023

 

We’ve all seen it: that $19.95 per day deal that’s advertised on the side of seemingly every U-Haul truck and van across the country. And that price looks mighty nice.

But just like renting a truck is only one small part of your move, that $19.95 U-Haul rate is likely to end up being just a fraction of your final bill. We know, because we went out to rent a U-Haul with one question in mind: how much does a U-Haul really cost? 

Here’s absolutely everything we learned.


The Big U-Haul Cost Breakdown

How much does a U-Haul truck rental cost?

After trying to rent a truck on their website, we found out the $19.95 price point refers to local moves only, not a “one-way” move, where you drop off at a different location – aka a long-distance move. (More on those prices later.)

The famous $19.95 price point is also exclusive to any one of their three smallest options:

  • 8’ U-Haul pickup truck
  • 9’ U-Haul cargo van
  • 10’ U-Haul Rental truck (what we rented)
How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

“To get your actual U-Haul cost, you need to add up all of their other fees that come with renting a U-Haul.”

And most importantly, the $19.95 only accounts for U-Haul’s “rental truck fee”. (And while this price is consistent for local moves, mileage rate and taxes can vary based on location.)

Here are the U-Haul fees that make up one (1) U-Haul bill

  • Rental truck fee ($19.95/day — subject to availability)
  • Mileage fee: rate varies by regional location/distance driven (Doesn’t apply to trailers)
  • Damage protection fees (aka insurance)
  • Fuel costs (Doesn’t apply to trailers)
  • Environmental fees (Doesn’t apply to trailers)
  • Equipment rentals
  • Miscellaneous fees (e.g., Cleaning, toll, damage, parking, convenience, drop-off fees)
  • Taxes
  • https://blog.hireahelper.com/wp-admin/edit.php

How much did it cost for us to rent a U-Haul for a day?

Our final cost was $52.40 for the most bare-bones rental imaginable.

Below we break down how U-Haul gets their prices, what else we could have bought instead, as well as what we had to do to get our quotes.

How much do the bigger U-Haul trucks cost?

 

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

It’s not possible to pinpoint the exact cost of a specific truck size because mileage and tax rates vary, but local U-Haul truck costs are consistent everywhere. There are sites that ballpark individual truck size costs, but if you want an estimate based on user-reported, real-time prices for U-Haul moves, click on the graph below.

 

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
Moving101 Real-Time Pricing Page

 

Can you rent a U-Haul for more than a day?

Yes, you can (usually) extend your rental at the same daily rate if you need it longer than 24 hours (for a local move). All we had to do was call before the truck was due back and ask the store for an extension.

There’s also no limit to the number of days we could extend our rental. The only exception would be if our truck was reserved for the days we wanted. That’s why it’s best to extend your rental when you make your original reservation. Otherwise, you have to return your truck and get a new rental truck that isn’t reserved for the additional days you want.

If you wanted to extend your rental to multiple days and there were no rental trucks available, U-Haul would likely sell you on one of their moving containers as an alternative, if those are available in your area.

“Paying for a U-Haul in cash? We were told cash customers need to put down a $100 deposit or the estimated rental charges, whichever is more. (Yes, seriously.) This would eventually be reimbursed – minus our total cost – upon return of the vehicle.”

For long-distance moves, depending on the distance, U-Haul assigns a minimum number of days with your truck. This might just be a single day for a shorter distance like 150 miles or less. We asked and yes, you can add days to your long-distance rental — but only with advance coordination with your local U-Haul store, and only as long as your truck is still available.

Beware: U-Haul tacks on an ADDITIONAL $40 fee to every day you keep your truck after five days.

Here are the daily U-Haul rates for adding days to a U-Haul long-distance truck rental:

  • U-Haul trucks – $40 per day
  • U-Haul trailers – $20 per day
  • U-Haul towing devices – $20 per day

By the way, there are no discounts for returning the moving truck earlier than the minimum assigned number of days, but you still can return it earlier. Virtually the only advantages would be that it would reduce the likelihood of anything happening to the truck while in your care, and to get it off your to-do list.


Trailers and Hitches 101: How exactly does renting a U-Haul cargo trailer work?

How much does a U-Haul cost?
Middletownstorage.com

We didn’t rent a cargo trailer with our truck, but we got all the info straight from U-Haul.

There are three types of trailers U-Haul offers:

  • Cargo
  • Utility
  • Car carrier (Available only at some locations)

For smaller loads or something super fragile (or heck, even quarantined), U-Haul offers trailers that hitch to cars and trucks, pending location availability. U-Haul likes to say they’re perfect for moving a dorm room.

Like their trucks, U-Haul advertises these as being as cheap as $14.95 (not including tax), and just like the trucks, that quote is only for the smallest versions of them AND only if you’re moving locally. There’s no limit to the number of days you can keep them, as long as availability permits. You generally get five days to use a U-Haul trailer for long-distance moves. Your quote will be based on your start and end locations.

 

Here’s $25 Off Movers

$25 Off Coupon

 

All trailers are subject to regular U-Haul fees (minus gas and mileage) and – most importantly – come with an installation fee if you don’t have the proper hitch.

How much does it cost to get a U-Haul hitch installed on my vehicle?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
Tacomaworld.com

All types of U-Haul trailers require a proper hitch and lighting to hook to your vehicle.

You can use your own hitch if it’s compatible – a Class 2 or Class 3 with a 2-inch hitch ball (a Class 1 is kinda like a bike rack hitch, in case you’re curious). If you don’t have a proper hitch, you must have one installed. You can either get that done on your own, or make an appointment to have U-Haul install a hitch for a fee roughly around $100 or greater.

But note that U-Haul won’t install third-party hitches. Of course, trailer hitches and installation is an additional fee to your U-Haul rental bill.

For the heck of it, we asked U-Haul how much it would cost to get one of our cars modded for towing a trailer, and for pieces and installation. We were quoted $509.07 online to mod my incredible 2014 Kia Soul.

  • Hitch: $149.95
  • Hitch lifetime warranty: $5
  • Ball mount $24.95
  • Hitch ball $12.95
  • Pine & clip: $2.95
  • Wiring: $89.95
  • 2-year wiring service plan: $10
  • Installation fee: $180
  • Taxes: $33.32
  • Total after taxes: $509.07

The U-Haul rep I spoke with about hitches told me that the cost of installation depends on the complexity of the installation. Installation tends to be cheaper on older cars because the electrical wiring is simpler than with more expensive, newer cars.

(Fun fact: we were actually quoted a better price over the phone – $458.80 – so you may want to give U-Haul a call, as well as run an online quote for the hitch.)

Either way, this isn’t exactly a steal, given that doesn’t even include the rental. But at least you’ll be good to go for the future. You will be buying all the pieces you need, but expect to get up-charged versus if you found the pieces elsewhere.

Let it be known that technically, you can actually rent a trailer for your U-Haul truck rental (which already has a hitch and lighting hook up on it) if for whatever reason you needed a little additional space.

What’s the difference between the three different U-Haul trailers?

There are actually three different kinds of trailers you can typically rent. (Note: there might be more at an official U-Haul dealership.)

U-Haul Cargo Trailers

uhaul trailer
subaruoutback.org

U-Haul cargo trailers officially come in three different sizes and come with a built-in, lockable latch, so they’re secure.

uhaul cargo trailer
UHaul.com

None of them generally come built with the U-Haul “EZ Ramp,” so prepare for that.

How much does a U-Haul Cargo Trailer cost?

For local moves, U-Haul trailer rentals generally cost as little as $14.95 before fees, and as much as $29.95 for the biggest size, after fees.

Without any hitch installation and for single-day use, the smallest cargo trailer (4’x8′) with no ramp was quoted to us at exactly $14.95, before taxes or miscellaneous fees. For their biggest cargo trailer (6’x12′), it was $29.95 under the same stipulations.

For a long-distance move, that quote goes out the window. Our quote from Florida to Texas for the smallest trailer (4′x8′), minus the taxes and miscellaneous fees and for up to seven days, was $114.00 plus tax. And the largest cargo trailer (6′x12′) was $257.00 plus tax! This is exactly how your U-Haul price can skyrocket fast.

Don’t forget the hitch installation charges if you need it, which adds another couple hundred, at minimum, depending on the year/make/model of your car.

U-Haul Utility Trailers

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

Utility trailers are needed when you have to transport something tall or oddly shaped. So when you move your arcade cabinet (okay, probably a refrigerator), you can strap it to this and haul it behind your vehicle.

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

Bring your own ramp, though, because only the 5′ x 9′ and 6′ x 12′ utility trailers come with U-Haul’s fold-out “EZ ramps”. (Careful, they rent a 6′ x 12′ trailer without a ramp, too.)

How much does a U-Haul Utility Trailer cost?

tow haul
You may see this sticker inside your U-Haul

For local moves, prices generally begin at $14.95 and go up to $34.95 for the biggest size. The daily local rates don’t vary.

We were only able to get a quote for a long-distance move for a 5′ x 9′ Utility Trailer because it turns out the 4′ x7′, 5′ x 8′, and 6′ x12′ Utility Trailers are only available for local and roundtrip moves. Our quote was $153 plus the rental fee and taxes for five (5) days from Clearwater, FL to Arlington, TX. (Keep in mind this doesn’t include optional damage coverage or if you need to have a hitch installed.)

You can expect both larger and smaller utility trailers to scale roughly the same in cost as U-Haul Cargo Trailers.

U-Haul Vehicle Trailer

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
corvetteforum.com

Finally, if you need to tow a vehicle and aren’t looking to ship your car, check U-Haul’s car towing site, and maybe also call ahead to see if the U-Haul near you has any car and motorcycle trailers available.

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

This type of move can definitely save you some cash compared to normal car shipping, but keep in mind that do-it-yourself car transport is not for moving rookies and requires a lot of time and some skill.

How much does a U-Haul Vehicle Trailer cost?

For our local move, U-Haul trailer rental rates for a tow dolly for a front-wheel drive vehicle started at $44.95/day and an auto transport trailer started at $54.95/day.

To get an idea for a hypothetical long-distance move, we came prepared with two faraway ZIP Codes. Before fees, our quote from Florida to Texas was quoted as $80 for a tow dolly and $222 for an auto transport trailer for 5 days. We thought this was pretty cheap, as long as you’re up for driving it yourself.

“…(W)e had to reproduce the same or another form of payment in person, regardless of what we used online to reserve it. Makes sense, but it might be a stumbling block for some people.”

Keep in mind that hitch installation, taxes and other fees are not included in this quote, which as you can see, can add hundreds more to this cost.

Oh, by the way, the rep told us U-Haul won’t let you rent any trailer of any kind if your vehicle doesn’t have a hardtop, SUV and Jeep included. They also strongly recommend you not exceed 55mph with any of this stuff attached to your vehicle.

How much do U-Haul U-Box containers cost?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
UHaul.com

We also didn’t actually rent a storage container but were told they are available for long-distance moves. Here was our quote, though:

My U-Box Container Quote for Clearwater, FL to Arlington, TX

U-Box Container that fits about 1.5 rooms (+1-month use): $99.95
2-dozen furniture pads: FREE
Gentle ride shipping (guaranteed delivery 13 days after pickup): $1,242
One-way transit fuel cost: FREE
Truck delivery: $115
Subtotal (before taxes): $1,456.95

However, according to Moving101’s real-time, user-reported prices, the average price for a U-Box move is $2,755.

For a complete breakdown on all U-Box moving container costs before you make your U-Haul U-Box reservation, check out the Moving101 U-Box page.


How U-Haul Mileage and Gas Fees Work

How much does U-Haul charge for mileage?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

 

In general, the price per mile is region-specific. Mileage rates are also higher for local moves.

For a rental truck:

  • Our quote was $1.09/mile for Los Angeles on a Wednesday. On a Saturday, the quote we got was $1.39/mile.
  • In the Midwest, it’s more common to find price points of $0.79 (for a truck) or $0.69 (for a van or pick-up) per mile on a weekday. On a Saturday, we found these rates were $1.49/mile and $0.99/mile, respectively.
  • Meanwhile, the mileage rate for either U-Haul rental pick-up trucks or U-Haul vans are typically $0.69–$0.79/mile on a weekday and $0.79–$0.99/mile on a Saturday.

We drove the U-Haul all of eight miles from and back to the U-Haul store to take pictures. For this, we were charged $0.99/mile, for a total of $7.92.

Imagine, now, how much your mileage fee will stack if you drive your rental 20, 50, maybe even 100 or more miles to and from the rental location? That’s why some call it “consumer-unfriendly“. Let’s hope there are U-Haul coupons out there somewhere.

“If returned with less than 1/4 tank, I agree to pay a $30.00 service fee.”

-U-Haul customer agreement receipt

What are the mileage rates for a long-distance/one-way U-Haul rental?

If you’re moving long-distance, a certain number of miles is accounted for and rolled into your final rate. There are technically no mileage limits, but if you drive more than this number, you’ll be charged $0.40/mile, which seems to be consistent for long-distance rentals regardless of location.

Remember, a one-way/long-distance to U-Haul simply means dropping it off at a different location than the one you rented it from. Technically, this could mean as near as a town over. Keep this in mind when typing in “U-Haul near me” into Google… just return it to where you got it.

Also, mileage is cheaper for long-distance moves, but other fees are way, way more expensive, so make sure you stick to local (in-town) rates, if possible.

Do U-Hauls have unlimited miles?

With U-Haul, there’s no limit to the number of miles you are allowed to drive.

But remember, for local, in-town rentals, miles are never included in the rate – you’re charged per mile. For long-distance moves, you’ll be charged $0.40/mile for anything beyond the expected mileage that U-Haul declares is necessary for your move.  

If you do need to put on some extra miles, you’re better off looking at Penske or Budget. This area is where the $19.95 price promise really falls apart, unless you’re moving something across the street from your U-Haul store.

How do U-Haul gas fees work?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

Simply put, you will pay for any gas you use. You gotta bring it back with at least as much gas as it started with.

The U-Haul clerk marked down the exact mileage and gave us their daily rate for gasoline. We had the choice of filling up what we used ourselves out in the wild, or paying U-Haul $6.25 a gallon (!) to do it for us after we returned it as a “convenience fee.”

And heed this warning straight from our receipt: “If returned with less than 1/4 tank, I agree to pay a $30.00 service fee.”

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
U-Haul mileage gauge

We spoke with a U-Haul rep who told us there’s no universal rule at U-Haul for this convenience fee, so this may be location-specific. (Oh, and in case you were wondering, U-Haul usually won’t reimburse you if you return the truck with more gas than you had to start with, so easy does it at the gas pump.)

Protip: Here’s how to save money on your rental truck’s gas.

How much mileage (MPG) does a U-Haul truck get?

A 10′ U-Haul truck should get in the neighborhood of about 7–10 mpg, although this can vary depending on what size truck you rent. The 15′ trucks and bigger are equipped with a fuel economy meter on the dashboard that shows you whether or not you’re getting the “Best MPG” in real-time. Our 10-footer had one too.

Protip: Normally, U-Haul is supposed to give you a truck with a full tank, but the tank can have less than this, and you’re only required to replace the gas you use. (We were given a truck with 5/16 of a tank of gas.) Make sure your truck’s tank is full when you take it off the lot. And by full, we mean full! (The fuel tank capacity for the 10′ truck is 33 gallons according to the equipment contract.)

When you pick up your truck, your U-Haul rep might think “full” means the needle on the gas gauge is more or less at full. But when you drop it off, that same rep will likely insist it isn’t full if there isn’t gas splashing out from under the gas cap.


U-Haul Insurance and Movers 101

What are my U-Haul insurance options?

U-Haul has two (2) main kinds of insurance. They’re called SafeMove and SafeMove Plus. Just like everything else, the added cost varies depending on whether you’re move is local or long-distance.

Keep in mind that absolutely no U-Haul insurance covers damages due to …improper packing, normal shifting of cargo in transit or theft of cargo“. When in doubt, U-Haul will probably win out.

Here are the differences between their two insurances.

SafeMove

SafeMove is basically coverage for if someone hits your truck. It gives you:

  • Damage waiver: Covers most accident damage to the rental equipment (doesn’t include collision with an overhead object)
  • Cargo protection: For loss or damage to the stuff in the vehicle (cargo)
  • Medical/life protection: Life coverage for the people in the cab of a U-Haul rental truck

You’ll have to look to your own insurance if you hit someone else, or get Safemove Plus, which covers you against damage done to another vehicle. And your stuff inside is only covered if you get hit, there’s a fire, a windstorm, or if your truck literally overturns.

“There are no formal military, senior, or student discounts at U-Haul. However, it’s up to the discretion of the U-Haul store you’re renting at if they offer it for asking.”

SafeMove Plus

SafeMove Plus is basically the coverage for if you were to cause an accident:

  • Coverage for accidental damage of any kind
  • Limited coverage for the stuff in the vehicle (cargo coverage)
  • Life coverage for the people in the vehicle
  • Supplemental liability coverage

It covers overhead damage, like the kind you see on YouTube where people slam their trucks into low clearances, as well as tire protection. (You know, the two most likely things to go wrong if anything were to go wrong.) And as a “safeguard” to your personal insurance, if you were to cause an accident or mess up their equipment somehow, this covers up the first million dollars (literally) of losses.

For our tiny little “move,” we were scared by U-Haul customer service into picking up U-Haul’s regular SafeMove coverage for $14. SafeMove Plus would have cost us $28.

Do I have to buy insurance with my U-Haul?

No, you don’t have to buy insurance of any kind to rent a U-Haul.

Here’s the thing though. While you’re statistically in the clear, U-Haul’s policies are perfectly crafted to screw you if absolutely anything were to go wrong.

  • Your personal auto insurance policy most likely does not cover damages to rental trucks
  • Your credit card likely does not cover any damages to rental trucks
  • You are responsible for damages even if it’s not your fault, including things like vandalism
  • Some stores told us you have to pay U-Haul the exact moment you return the vehicle for any and all damages, while others told us it goes through insurance — so, uh, probably ask

Keep in mind that U-Haul only offers SafeMove for their rental trucks. Pickup trucks and vans have their own type of insurance they call Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).

 

The difference between a move that takes you all day, breaks your back and your friendships, and keeps your stuff out of the hands of amateurs could be as little as $200 … Movers may be the most value you can get from any single add-on.”

 

U-Haul also offers SafeTrip for $5 extra per day, which means if you need roadside assistance they’ll send someone out to help. Kind of sad that you have to pay extra for this, but the option is there.

Bonus Insurance: SafeTow

SafeTow is U-Haul’s coverage for trailers, tow dollies, and auto transports. It’s available at different coverage levels from $8 per day up to $16 per day. Here’s what it covers: 

  • Damage to the rental trailer or towing device
  • Damage to your cargo or vehicle while being transported with a U-Haul rental trailer, auto transport or tow dolly
  • Medical and life protection for you in case of an accident (passengers are covered only if they’re riding in the passenger area)

Damages and cleaning fees

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

Also, if you leave some kind of a noticeable mess, they will charge you up to $25. Maybe don’t eat while you drive … or transport hay.

U-Haul Equipment

We didn’t rent any equipment or buy any boxes or supplies, but we definitely had the option!

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
U-Haul stores give you a wide range of boxes and equipment to choose from online, and in person.

Sure, it’s possible to move without renting (or buying) any special equipment. But even if you hire a crew of movers to come in with all their hand trucks and dollies to load (and unload) your truck, you’ll at minimum still need your own blankets to protect your belongings.

Here’s how much the stuff cost for us.

Average* U-Haul equipment purchase prices:

  • Padlock: $4.95 to $16.96 (Best value is a 4-pack for $10) unless you want to get really fancy with a $49.95 braided steel cable lock
  • Stretch wrap: $9.49
  • Boxes: $1.09 to $16.95 per box (Wide varieties available)
  • Tie Down Rope: $3.95
  • Straps: $9.95 to $15.95 
  • Roll of packing tape: $3.95
  • Furniture dolly: $19.95
  • Hand dolly: $75.75 online (but a different model was on sale in the store for $49.95)
  • Furniture pads: $7.95 each

Keep in mind that you can rent some equipment versus buying it. U-Haul has furniture pads for $5 per half dozen, as well as furniture dollies ($7 for local and $12 for one-way/long-distance moves) and appliance dollies ($10 for local and $15 for one-way/long-distance moves).

*These prices came from U-Haul’s website and may vary by location. You may want to check your local store first before buying online in case their prices are cheaper.

 

How much does moving labor cost?

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?

When you go to a U-Haul shop, it’s likely they’ll try and sell you on movers. Even the inside of their trucks have advertisements for moving labor all over them.

How much are U-Haul movers? Movers prices will vary dramatically, depending on the number of hours booked, how many movers you book, whether they are doing a load, unload, or both, and how soon you need them. U-Haul’s rate is for two helpers, and there’s a two-hour minimum per location (your starting point and end point). But if both locations are near each other, you may be able to combine the loading and unloading at both locations into one two-hour block.

Movers through U-Haul cost as little as $200 to as much as $5,000, which is why you need to get your own moving quote to compare against theirs.

moving equipment
Moving equipment can sometimes add up to cost almost as much as local movers!

The way U-Haul’s movers work is that they have a network of local move helpers that sign up to receive job requests via their marketplace. But unlike HireAHelper’s $1,000 guarantee if anything goes wrong or gets broken during a mover, with U-Haul you’re mostly taking your chances. They’ll connect you with movers, but it’s beetween you and them after that.

We found this part of their terms a little unsettling:

“Furthermore, the Moving Help request and its acceptance and if applicable, any resulting provision of Services, are solely between You and the Moving Helper. Therefore, when and where there are any claims, demands, liabilities, damages or losses incurred as a result of the same, You, your heirs, successors and assigns, do hereby waive and release Us (Our officers, directors, agents, parent, subsidiaries, affiliated companies and employees) from any such claims, demands, liabilities, damages or losses.

You acknowledge and agree that both You and the Moving Helper each have the right to pursue a claim against one another in a Court of competent jurisdiction or in another similar forum of dispute resolution.”

This, compared to cheap movers through HireAHelper, which provides some insurance for free (and $1,000 service guarantee if anything goes wrong), plus additional insurance starting at $12.

And in case you were wondering, for us to add movers to our made-up, on-the-spot move, U-Haul quoted us $312.

Are movers actually worth it?

The difference between a move that takes you all day, breaks your back and your friendships, and keeps your stuff out of the hands of amateurs could be as little as $200, depending on how much stuff you have. Movers may be the most value you can get from any single add-on.


Other Factors That Affect Your U-Haul Cost

What actually happens at the U-Haul store after you reserve online or over the phone

U-Haul reservation text
Here is the reservation text you get after you reserve a vehicle

We went online and used a credit card to book a 10′ rental truck, and we thought the booking was all paid up. But it wasn’t — our card was just used to make the reservation.

While our vehicle was reserved online (thank goodness), we had to reproduce the same or another form of payment in person (cash was acceptable as well), regardless of what we used online to reserve it. Makes sense, but might be a stumbling block for some people.

After that, U-Haul put a hold on our bank account upfront for all the estimated costs (rental fee, environmental fee, tax, and mileage). They asked us how many miles they thought we’d drive for our local move and added that to the total cost for the hold. If you end up driving less, they’ll charge you less in the end. If you end up driving more, they’ll charge more. Plus they’ll add any applicable miscellaneous fees.

When we returned with the vehicle, they checked out the truck before charging us to verify gas level and mileage (and probably to check for damages). We were given a paper receipt with the total costs. Because we used a debit card already on file, no further action was needed.

Paying for a U-Haul in cash?

We were told cash customers need to put down a $100 deposit or the estimated rental charges, whichever is more. (Yes, seriously.) This would eventually be reimbursed – minus our total cost – upon return of the vehicle.

Here’s how the cash payment breakdown works, straight from their website:

“If you’re paying with cash, the following is due when you pick up your equipment:*

  • Local/in-town truck: $100 or estimated rental charges (whichever is greater)
  • One-way truck: $100 plus rental rate 

*Cargo vans and pickup trucks must be reserved with a credit card. Deposits cannot be made in cash.

The total estimated charges for your rental are due when you pick up your equipment regardless of your method of payment. Payment can be made by credit card, debit card or cash. 

Cash is accepted for pickup and van rentals. However, a valid credit or debit card with a major credit card logo will also need to be presented in the name of the renter.”

Haggling and U-Haul coupons

There are no formal military, senior, or student discounts at U-Haul. However, it’s up to the discretion of the U-Haul store you’re renting at if they offer it for asking. The rep let it leak that anywhere between 10-15% discount is what they’re allowed to apply to an order if they decide.

How old do you have to be to rent a U-Haul? 

Wanting to test the age limits, we sent one of our 20-year-old team members to officially do the honors of picking up the vehicle. No matter, as U-Haul says you need only be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license, and just 16 years old to rent a trailer attachment.


The Cheapest We Were Able to Get Our U-Haul

Our final cost for our U-Haul was $52.40.

  • Rental Fee: $19.95
  • Mileage Charge: $7.92
  • SafeMove Insurance: $14.00
  • Environmental Fee: $1
  • 1.6 Gallons of Gas from U-Haul: $7.51
  • Tax on Rental: $2.02

Total: $52.40

We got a 10′ truck, U-Haul’s smallest with no ramp, and drove it a “colossal” eight miles. We bought the cheapest insurance, absolutely zero equipment and zero labor, and got hit with no other fees (since we didn’t actually put anything in the truck).

Our bill was still almost three times the advertised price.

Of course, $52.40 isn’t a bad deal, depending on what you need it for. The problem is that if you needed only a quick lift to pick something up, $50+ can render a lot of good deals useless.

How Much Does a U-Haul Cost?
The $19.95 truck has raised wheel wells inside the vehicle, which takes up some serious space in your rental truck.

On the other hand, if you were seriously moving, odds are great you’d drive many more miles, and your mileage would probably be way higher, given you probably aren’t hauling air. And if it’s during the busy moving season, the rental rate will likely be greater than $19.95.

An extremely conservative estimate for a very small, local move is probably closer to around $125 for the rental. You’ll realistically need one of the larger trucks for a real move.

And that is strictly local. For long-distance moves, even a small load will be much closer to $1,000 or more. And that is assuming you don’t need a hitch installed.


The Bottom Line

Nobody pays $19.95 plus tax. How much you finally shell out will depend on your circumstances, your preferences and your requirements. Keep the above in mind as you plan out your move. You’ll probably save at least enough for some extra coffee on the drive to your new home!

How To Save Money on Your Rental Truck’s Gas

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It’s no secret that gas prices have risen faster than a helium balloon on the moon. 

In June of this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that the price of regular gasoline reached a nationwide average of $4.93 per gallon.

At the moment, the high-cost trend is on the decline, but prices are still a high-octane headache. This means for those of us who are moving this year… yup, high costs are going to hit us there too.

To put it in perspective, a move from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Oregon covers about 2,800 miles. In 2021, driving a loaded U-Haul that distance while getting 10mpg would have run about $850 in gasoline costs. The fuel cost in 2022 for that same trip is a stunning $1,300!  In fact, a recent study by HireAHelper found that 2022 is the most expensive year on record for moving. Yikes.



What do high gas prices in 2022 mean for my move with a U-Haul, Penske, or Budget truck?
 

Airlines, full-service moving companies and portable storage container companies all tack on a fuel surcharge to your final bill that reflects the current price of gas.

This could mean anywhere from a couple hundred to a thousand bucks added to the final cost of your move!

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

(If you are hiring a company that does the work for you to haul your stuff to your new home, make sure you get a clear explanation of what their total fuel surcharge will be.)

But what about renting a truck yourself? To start saving money there, it’s first important to understand how gas costs and fuel policies for rental trucks work.

rental truck move gas cost

U-Haul

When you rent a U-Haul, they let you opt to fill up the truck yourself along the way, and so long as the fuel gauge reads the same as when you picked it up, you’ll avoid further fees. (In other words, you have to pay for all the gas you use.)

 

“To get better mileage, it’s best to keep the heavy core of your load in the middle of the truck, which is up closer to the cab.”

 

Or, you can use EZ-FUEL, which is a U-Haul service that lets you leave the refueling up to U-Haul at a price agreed upon in the rental contract. We don’t recommend this, as their prices are typically considerably more expensive than fueling up on your own. And if you return the truck with less than 1/4th of a tank, you immediately get charged a $30 fee

rental truck gas cost

Penske

Penske states that there are “no charges due,” so long as you return the truck in proper condition and at the same fuel level as when you picked it up. This is basically the same as U-Haul’s policy, minus the “convenience” of them adding the gas you used at a huge price. (Here are Penske’s truck return policies.)

Budget

Budget has a similar fuel policy to the other two companies. It requires you to return your truck with the same level of fuel as when you departed, at a minimum. If you don’t, you’ll not only be charged for however much it costs to refill the tank, but also another fueling fee on top of that. 

Before you ask, there is no standardized credit, rebate, or discount given at any of these companies for unused fuel. (I’ve had U-Haul employees offer a small credit for some extra gas left in the tank, but not as often as they haven’t.) A little unfair, but that’s the common policy. It’s best to plan your trip well and do whatever you can to not waste gas on your way.     

How can I lower rental truck fuel costs? 

There may not be much we can do about the price of gas itself, but there are a surprising amount of ways we can lessen our gas consumption.

 

“Airlines, full-service moving companies and portable storage container companies all tack on a fuel surcharge to your final bill that reflects the current price of gas.”

 

This ultimately means the most impactful thing for lowering your U-Haul bill is fuel efficiency; you want to use the absolute minimum it takes to get you to your destination. If you’re planning on renting a truck and want to make your refueling experience less painful, here are some proven tactics you can use. 

1. Lightening your load will save you a lot

The less you have, the less the truck weighs, and the less it burns fuel. It’s that simple. This means selling off unneeded furniture or taking as much as humanly possible in another vehicle will make you more money than you realize. There are lots of ways to get rid of stuff before a move — here’s a primer on paring down to get you started.

2. Fix your travel route

Taking the “longcut” because you haven’t checked for shortcuts costs you both time and money. Rush hour traffic is another big time and money waster, so make sure to avoid it when you leave your hometown and in any other towns along the way to your new place.

rental truck gas cost3. A/C on the highway (go easy!), windows down on the streets

The U.S. Department of Energy (USDoE) advises skipping the air conditioning and rolling down your windows. Turning on the A/C decreases fuel efficiency the more you crank it up. 

Especially when you’re driving through a town, it’s best to keep the A/C off. However, keep in mind open windows on the highway can create drag that’s as bad for fuel efficiency as the air conditioner.

Protip: simply wrap a wet towel around your neck. As a professional mover, I know from experience this will keep you both cool and plenty awake!

4. Slow down, lead foot

The USDoE also advises driving conservatively. Gunning it to beat the light or to pass someone (often bad ideas regardless) eats up gas faster than a jet ski. According to government numbers, an unnecessarily heavy foot — especially in city traffic — can decrease your vehicle’s gas mileage by as much as forty percent

5. Avoid filling up at highway rest areas 

Anyone who drives the highways knows that gas is more expensive at the super-convenient rest stop pumps, sometimes by a quarter a gallon or more. 

blog.google

That will definitely add up. Beat that racket by keeping an eye open for the small blue signs near highway exits showing what gas stations there are, which way they are, and even how far away they are.

Simply put, Google Maps is an invaluable tool for figuring this out. Not only does it show you all the gas stations in an area or along a certain route, but it will also tell you their gas prices in real-time. All you need to do is tap the gas icon under the search bar, and all nearby stations will pop up. 

The app can also let you know if the route you’re taking is the most eco-friendly and fuel-efficient. Look for the leaf icon when planning your trip — even if it’s a little longer, it will save you money in the long run. 

6. Ask for the newest vehicle on the lot

The newer the model on the lot, the better your final gas price will be. It’s that simple.

Penske has a reputation for having newer, better-maintained trucks than the other guys. And while Penske can be noticeably pricier for short moves, over longer hauls they are price-competitive. Add the bonus of a more reliable and more fuel-efficient vehicle in my opinion, and you may come out ahead when gasoline is your main obstacle. 

7. Balance your load 

It’s not just what your stuff weighs that affects your truck’s gas mileage, but how your stuff is loaded that can make a big difference, both in safety and fuel efficiency. A balanced load is a stable load, meaning your truck doesn’t have to fight against excess momentum and gravity on its insides.

To get better mileage, it’s best to keep the heavy core of your load in the middle of the truck, which is up closer to the cab. (If you’re not sure you’d be any good at playing furniture Tetris, professional hourly movers have this process down to an art.) 


The cost of a gallon of gas may be out of our control, but wet towels, light feet, and balanced loads? You bet you can handle that. There are plays we can make to save gas and, in turn, some of our hard-earned cash.

Cómo Mudarse en Estados Unidos si Hablas Español

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Mudarse es cosa seria y cuando es claro que tienes que hacerlo, te llega una mezcla de emoción y nervios por que estás a punto de comenzar una nueva etapa en tu vida. También te inundan mil preguntas sobre cómo planear una mudanza: ¿necesito contratar ayuda? ¿cuánto me va a costar? ¿Qué es lo que me quiero llevar a mi nuevo hogar?

Y esta pregunta es para los que hablan español y viven en Estados Unidos: ¿y si no me entienden?

Si mudarse es un proceso difícil por sí solo, hacerlo en un idioma que no es tu lengua materna lo puede hacer doblemente complicado. El español es el segundo idioma más hablado en Estados Unidos, así que las probabilidades de que encuentres alguien que hable español mientras organizas tu mudanza son muy altas. Pero si no es el caso, hemos armado esta guía para todos los hispanohablantes que necesitan organizar una mudanza en inglés.

Primeros Pasos

Haz una lista de tus necesidades

Ya sea si tu mudanza es local o de larga distancia, lo primero que debes determinar es cómo quieres hacerlo: tú mismo o con ayuda de una compañía de mudanzas.

Muchas veces esto depende del que tan grande es tu casa, cuántas cosas tienes y si llevaras cosas pesadas; también influye si decides rentar un camión de mudanzas, como (Penske), un contenedor de mudanzas (como PODS) o una camioneta con la compañía de mudanzas local de tu elección. 

Nosotros categorizamos las mudanzas de esta forma:

Hazlo tú mismo: Rentas una camioneta (o consigues la de un amigo), cargas todas tus cosas, manejas a tu destino y descargas todo en tu nuevo hogar solo o con ayuda de amigos. 

Mudanza Híbrida: Contratas ayuda para cargar y/o descargar todas las cosas, pero tú rentas y manejas la camioneta.

Mudanza de servicio completo: Contratas a alguien para que cargue, descargue y maneje el camión hasta tu destino. Tú te encargarás de decidir las fechas y horarios. Este tipo de mudanza suele ser más costosa y dependerá de factores como tu presupuesto y tiempo. 

Algunas personas tienen la suerte suficiente para tener amigos que les ayuden durante su mudanza a cambio de pizza o café y soda, pero si no es tu caso o si tus cosas son más pesadas de lo que tus amigos pueden manejar, te sugerimos buscar ayuda profesional para que tus mudanza sea lo más tranquila posible. 

Una vez que has contemplado qué cosas te vas a llevar y el tipo de mudanza que quieres realizar, es momento de enlistar todas tus necesidades. Es muy importante tener esto preparado para que conseguir cotizaciones sea fácil, rápido y preciso. Esta es la información que debes considerar: 

  • Fecha y hora de salida/Fecha de llegada (si es local será el mismo día, si es de larga distancia tendrás que negociar los tiempos de llegada con tus proveedores)
  • Cuantos dormitorios tiene tu casa y cuántas habitaciones en general
  • Hacer un conteo de todos los muebles especiales que pesen más de 300 libras. ¡No te preocupes! Los sillones y la mesa de comedor no son relevantes, pero sí debes incluir pianos, máquinas de ejercicio o cajas fuerte

Conseguir cotizaciones en línea o por teléfono puede tardar desde horas hasta días, sobretodo si estás comparando opciones y si estás planeando tu mudanza para la temporada alta del verano, así que sugerimos que empieces este proceso con semanas de anticipación. 

Encuentra Proveedores 

Camiones de mudanza

moving truck

Si decides que rentar un camión de mudanza es lo mejor para ti, hay muchas opciones con flotillas propias en todo Estados Unidos (cómo Budget o Penske) que podrán acomodar mudanzas locales y de larga distancia. Sugerimos reservar tus fechas con seis semanas de anticipación para garantizar la disponibilidad. 

Cada compañía tiene sus especificaciones de tamaño, te sugerimos tener a la mano tu lista de habitaciones y muebles para que tu cotización sea exacta y no termines con más o menos espacio del que necesitas. 

Profesionales de mudanzas

movers

¡HireAHelper te puede ayudar en esta parte! Contratar profesionales de mudanza es la opción más rápida y práctica para conservar tus amigos y tener la mudanza más sencilla.

Aquí puedes encontrar equipos de mudanza locales que puedan hacer el trabajo pesado por ti, sólo consulta las opciones en nuestra página y selecciona la compañía que se ajuste a tu presupuesto y necesidades. Te sugerimos reservar con dos a tres semanas de anticipación. Puedes ponerte en contacto con ellos a través de nuestra plataforma y coordinar los detalles de tu mudanza con ellos. Si vives en el sur de California, nuestra página en español con las mejores compañías de mudanzas en la zona te será de gran ayuda 

Ya que ellos estarán ayudándote el día de la mudanza, nosotros recomendamos preguntar si es posible que asignen a alguien que hable español en tu equipo de mudanza. Esto facilitará muchísimo el proceso de mudanza, ya que podrás tener un punto de contacto que entenderá tus instrucciones al 100%.

Contenedores y otras opciones de almacenamiento

Los contenedores son una gran solución para los que no quieren tener la molestia de manejar (especialmente en mudanzas de larga distancia) o si necesitas un poco de tiempo y espacio mientras ordenas tu nuevo hogar. Es muy fácil contratarlos: llamas, cotizas, acuerdas condiciones para entregar y recoger el contenedor y ¡listo! 

Aquí están las dos compañías mejor calificadas: 

  • PODS: Líderes de la industria de contenedores de mudanzas con instalaciones de almacenamiento en todo Estados Unidos
  • 1-800-PACK-RAT: La diferencia entre esta opción y PODS es el tamaño de los contenedores. Tienen ubicaciones en la mayoría de los Estados Unidos. Los precios pueden variar un poco según distancias

Nosotros ya hicimos la investigación de compañías de contenedores para que tú no tengas que hacerlo, encuentra en nuestra página Moving 101 desde tamaños, ubicaciones, comparaciones y precios aproximados. 

El Día de la Mudanza

moving

¡Ya es el día! A esta altura ya debes tener todo empacado y etiquetado por habitación, para que los cargadores de la mudanza puedan subir todo al camión sin problemas.

Lo primero que debes hacer es ubicar al personal asignado que habla español para que pueda ser tu punto de contacto principal. Asegúrate de explicar:

  • Las habitaciones empacadas
  • Muebles pesados especiales
  • Trayecto de entrada / carga o descarga
  • Cosas frágiles que deban ser tratados de forma especial

Ellos son profesionales que saben cómo manejar tus cajas y muebles, así que tú puedes relajarte. Unas recomendaciones para hacer el trabajo de los cargadores más fácil son:

  • Mantener a tus niños y mascotas en otro lado para evitar que se crucen en el camino
  • Asigna un baño para ellos en caso de necesitarlo ¡Son humanos! 
  • Puedes ofrecer bebidas hidratantes, lo apreciarán muchísimo
  • Si consideras que han hecho un buen trabajo puedes darles una propina

Nunca está de más recordar que este día tener tu teléfono cargado al 100% en caso de llegar a necesitar aplicaciones para traducir Inglés/ español y viceversa. Aquí abajo te dejamos un glosario de los términos más comunes que vas a escuchar al momento de armar cotizaciones y agendar proveedores.

Glosario Términos de Mudanza (Inglés – Español)

  • Quote – Cotización
  • Loading – Cargar
  • Unloading – Descargar
  • Packing – Empacar
  • Unpacking – desempacar
  • Same day moving – Mudanzas para el mismo día
  • Next day moving – Mudanzas para el día siguiente
  • Various hand tools – Herramientas, generalmente se refiere a martillos, destornilladores, pinzas, y más que puedan ser usados para armar o desarmar muebles
  • Furniture dolly – Carritos para llevar muebles
  • Straps – Cuerdas para asegurar las cajas o muebles 
  • Labor only – Sólo trabajadores, sin camión de mudanza
  • Moving truck – Camión de mudanzas
  • Moving container – Contenedor de mudanzas 
  • Storage facility – Instalaciones de almacenaje
  • Long distance move – Mudanza de larga distancia
  • Local move – Mudanzas locales
  • Moving crew – Equipo de mudanza, como cargadores
  • Heavy items – Cosas pesadas que están fuera de lo normal: cajas fuertes, pianos, aparatos de ejercicio, etc.
  • Hybrid Move – Mudanza híbrida en la que tú contratas diferentes proveedores para cargar, empacar y transportar con la finalidad de tener una mudanza cómoda y accesible
  • DIY Move – Mudanza “Hazlo tú mismo”. Aquí tú le pides a amigos y familiares que te ayuden a hacer toda tu mudanza. Es muy económico, pero no siempre es conveniente
  • Full Service Move – Mudanza de servicio completo. Aquí una compañía se encarga de toda la mudanza por ti, desde empacar, transportar y desempacar en tu nuevo hogar. Es el tipo de mudanzas más caras, pero aquí no tienes que levantar ni un dedo

The Comprehensive Guide to Moving With a Child

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Moving With Small Children is a Big Challenge. Here’s How to Succeed.

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How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Move

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What’s the difference between preparing for a local move and a long-distance move? If you guessed “time”, that’s only part of the equation.

You have lots of options to prepare for, and unlike a local move, there are more steps you need to take for better results. After moving people for, give or take, a couple decades, here’s what I’ve learned when it comes to preparing for a long-distance move.

How Am I Gonna Get Me and My Stuff Where I’m Going?

You have a number of options when planning a long distance move. Your options will all depend on these three things:

  • How much stuff you’re hauling
  • Your budget
  • Personal preference

What if I’m driving?

Some people decide to drive across the country, especially if they are bringing a vehicle or two. Beforehand, however, you should consider:

  • Car’s age and how many miles it has clocked
  • How many people and things it needs to hold
  • If it can handle a long trip without breaking down

If you need to get repairs ahead of time, then trust us, do that first. If that seems like it could be an issue or you just don’t wanna add hundreds of miles to your car, consider getting your car shipped.

Your other options are hitching it (to a truck for towing) or just ditching it. You can always try selling it or trading it in if you decide this is the end of the road for the car.

Are you driving with small childrenTransporting pets? Using an RV? All of those have special considerations, so click those links to learn everything you should know first.

Moving far away?

Do it cheaper.

 

MovingPlace can save up to 40% compared to traditional interstate moving companies. Click here to learn how.

What transportation should you get to move your stuff long-distance?

Unless you’re selling everything you own and driving into the sunset, you’re gonna need something safe and reliable to get all your stuff to your new place.

What you need depends on your unique move. Don’t worry, you’ve got choices. Here are your best transportation options for a long-distance move.

Legend: $ out of “$$$$”


Get a Rental Truck

The three major rental truck companies you’re likely to have access to are U-Haul, Budget and Penske. (There might be alternatives near you for you to check for better prices.)

It’s true that you will get a better mileage rate for doing a “one way” drive (taking a rental vehicle from one store to another store), but your invoice will still likely be considerably higher by the end. If you’re willing to drive, though, this could save you plenty of money over other options.

Pros: Most affordable long-distance move option.

Cons: Much fewer customer service options, way more time investment, no labor estimate, very difficult without movers.

Price: $$

Long-Distance Movers with a Truck

 

 

What if you don’t want to figure out where to get the truck or you don’t want to drive it? Well, movers who do the transportation (and aren’t van lines—there’s a difference!) are a cheaper solution, if you know how to go about booking it.

For long-distance moves, user reviews overwhelmingly recommend companies like MovingPlace, which connects the dots and pieces together the best long-distance moving experience for you so you don’t have to spend eternity calling a million businesses, or spend an arm and a leg by going with an old-fashioned interstate mover.

Check out the rates here. If you’ve already budgeted for a Full-Service move, you may be pleasantly surprised how much it can save you.

Pros: Your move is figured out for you, the best-reviewed moving service online.

Cons: More expensive the more stuff you have, less affordable than a DIY move.

Price: $$ or $$$ (Depending on your move)

Renting Space on a Truck

ABF

This is the service a lot of the big-rig companies offer; you’ve probably seen their trucks on the road: ABF/UPack, Old Dominion, and more.

This is how it works: a semi-truck trailer is dropped off at your home, you load your stuff (or have someone load it for you), and you partition it off to keep it separate from other customers’ belongings.

A driver will come to take the trailer away and drive it to your new home. Sharing space on a trailer with other people who are moving is a cost-effective way to get your belongings across the country because you only pay for the space on the trailer you take up. That said, because this moving option involves multiple individuals’ prize possessions packed inside in shared moving trucks, we highly recommend protecting your stuff with smart loading.

Pros: You pay only for the space you use, transportation all taken care of.

Cons: More expensive the more stuff you have, some companies offer less flexibility with loading and unloading dates. Can have a high claims rate, unless you book with a well-reviewed “you load, we drive” moving service, like our partners at MovingPlace.

Price: $$$

Get a Portable Moving Container

PODS.com

Moving containers are ultra-convenient for long-distance moves for a few important reasons.

The biggest plus for moving containers is being able to load your belongings at your own pace. Companies like PODS bill you monthly (while others are at least give you a few days). Like a freight trailer but a lot smaller (another bonus for people who don’t have their own private driveway), your portable container is dropped off empty and picked up when full, then kept in storage untouched until you request delivery at your new home.

But be aware: unlike more traditional self-storage, access to your portable container is only easy if you keep it in your front yard; an appointment is generally necessary and will cost you extra, so plan ahead.

Pros: The most flexibility of any long-distance moving option, transportation is taken care of.

Cons: Costlier the more items you own, can add complexity if you send your stuff into their storage units.

Price: $$$

Get a Quote from a Full-Service Moving Company

Two Men and a Truck

If money and time is no object, call a Full-Service moving company. They can assess your home and schedule a crew of movers to come with the packing supplies to pack, load, drive, and unload your stuff within the month of your choosing.

Pros: Your move done for you, minus the coordination.

Cons: Almost always the costliest option, lengthy to coordinate and requires more time (sometimes a month ahead of time, or more).

Cost: $$$$


Wondering which option is best for your move? Go ahead and ask the pros.

How Much Do Long-Distance Moves Cost?

Interstate and long distance moving companies charge based on weight, distance, and any extra equipment or insurance options you opt into.

The average cost of an interstate move is $4,300 for an average distance of 1,225 miles and a shipment weight of 7,400 pounds, according to the American Moving and Storage Association and as reported by numerous outlets. Sound high? See if we can help lower the cost.

Ultimately, as we’ve explained above, the price will depend on:

  • Your exact starting and ending points
  • How much you need to move
  • Modes of transportation
  • Who, if anyone, you decide to hire

One more big factor to consider is if you have any specialty items to move, such as a baby grand piano or gun safe.

Are there any ways to reduce the price?

Here are some money protips you should know as you collect estimates:

  • Binding vs. Non-Binding Estimates: This is important to know if you’re pursuing a Full Service move. A binding estimate means you will pay the final price of the estimate regardless of whether your stuff ends up weighing less or more than expected. A non-binding estimate means you could end up with a different final tally, either less or more, depending on the weight
  • You can bring the price down by being flexible with travel dates; weekdays, especially in the offseason (not summer) are often cheaper
  • Ask moving companies for discounts. For example, members of the military and veterans often get cheaper rates for rental trucks and containers
  • If you have time before you have to move, you should try to start a moving fund
  • Be sure to keep track of spending and make a written out or digital budget
  • Those who are moving for work should see if the company reimburses for any or all of the move

How long does it take to pack for a long-distance move?

Here is, generally speaking, the time-required estimates for packing a home:

  • Studio/1BR Apt – 1 Day*
  • 2BR Apt – 1-2 Days
  • 3BR Apt – 2-3 Days
  • 2BR House – 2-3 Days
  • 3BR House – 3-4 Days
  • 4BR House – 4-5 Days

* “One day” is about eight hours of one-person packing.

Knowing this, the single best strategy for packing is to start well in advance of when you think you should start, no matter which transportation option you choose. (In all my experience, I never heard someone say that packing took less time than they expected.)

Tips for Fast Packing

Try this: pick a closet or a room, or even just part of one room, and time how long it takes to pack.

This may give you an idea of how long it will really take you to pack up your entire home – and it will probably start looking like it will take much longer than you originally thought—so fair warning.

Make a checklist of the kinds of things you don’t need for a while. This can help minimize time spent deciding what to pack once you get started and are faced with that mountain of accumulation in the closet or the spare room.

The Most Trusted Moving Checklist on the Web

The Moving Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Move

Things you don’t need for a while often include:

  • Out-of-season clothes
  • Holiday items
  • Books
  • Sentimental items
  • Decorations
  • Seasonal bedding

Even if you are undecided about what to do with some of your belongings, other groups of items are a no-brainer. Get them packed and out of your way.

Shelve the sentimental. You will undoubtedly come across stuff you think you might want to get rid of but aren’t quite sure. Expect it, and set all that stuff aside for later. The monstrous task of packing tends to make people see with much more clarity what they really need and what they can let go of.

Label boxes as you go! You will forget what is in all those boxes. Trust me.

DO NOT pack important paperwork, forms, documents. Shred those you don’t need. Things to to not pack away include:

  • Cash, credit cards, checkbooks
  • Bank and other financial statements
  • Insurance documents
  • Jewelry, high-dollar jackets/coats
  • Laptops/tablets w/cords, data backups
  • Medical/dental records, prescriptions/medicine
  • Personal documents, professional files/papers
  • Cell phones, chargers
  • Car/House keys
  • Family photos/irreplaceables
  • Identifying documents – birth certificates, social security cards, drivers licenses, passports

And get used to the idea of having boxes around.

Could I ship my stuff through the mail?

You could theoretically choose to ship some of your things via UPS, FedEx, or the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Yes, it’s cheapest to send through USPS, but after packages get to only two pounds, pricing typically levels out. (That said, check out media shipping rates if you want to ship out a parcel or three that each weigh around 20 pounds.)

Where can I get packing materials for a long-distance move?

The easiest way to get clean, sturdy boxes and packing paper are from your moving service provider, who often sell these things. Many self-storage facilities also carry these things, along with tape. Though from a price perspective, you might be better off getting it from a home improvement store.

If you are looking to shave some dollars off your move, check out where you can find some free moving boxes here.

Protip: Bubble wrap is an attractive option for particularly expensive/hard-to-replace breakables, but it is bulky and becomes expensive quickly. Packing paper is more than adequate for packing most things. It is also easier to handle. Make sure you use the right kind of tape, too.

For some extra padding and protection for your most important and fragile items, consider using clothing/towels to wrap those items and/or line your boxes.

How do I load my vehicle for a long-distance move on my own?

Deciding to go it alone? Make sure to do this:

Load your belongings in what movers often call tiers. This means building walls, i.e., vertical layers of furniture, boxes, and assorted loose items. Furniture pads are crucial for this.

For example: set down your dresser and a desk (padded of course), some not too heavy boxes set on top of them, and top them off with outdoor equipment, pillows in plastic bags, etc. This all makes up one-tier.

Build one tier at a time, mixing furniture, boxes, and miscellaneous stuff. Cluster your items together like this to keep your stuff safer in the long run. Naturally, not all your tiers will be uniform. It is critical to pack tightly to avoid having everything shift and bounce around in transit.

To learn how pro movers move heavy furniture, check out this detailed post.

What if I’m flying?

If you’re taking a plane to the final destination, you should obviously consider bringing some things with you in luggage or handbags to save money on however you’re moving the rest of your stuff. Pack clothes and personal items that won’t break in the luggage, and bring fragile stuff, such as laptops and digital devices, in your carry-on bag. Paying for extra luggage on a flight is sometimes cheaper than shipping it via snail mail! Pile up your stuff, do the calculations and see what works best with your budget.

Looking to maximize your flying budget? In “The 10 Best (and Worst) Airfare Search Sites,” Frommer’s shares some of the best places for you to seek hot deals for air travel. When researching prices for flights, consider the following online travel agents and booking sites, but recognize that being better known does not necessarily mean being the best.

Is there anything extra I have to do if I’m moving across state lines?

Doing your homework on what is required of you for your specific interstate move is the first step.

Interstate moves are particularly complicated due to state laws. You still legally have to know what you are responsible for when you cross into another state.

Hiring movers? Some moving companies can’t even provide service for interstate moves because they lack the proper license. Check in with your mover ahead of time. (Of course, typing in your ZIP Code into HireAHelper filters all that stuff automatically.) 

In addition, you have to know both state and local laws and ordinances that may be relevant to you. Both your departure and arrival towns likely have parking rules, which will be a consideration as you’re loading and unloading, especially if you’re leaving a PODS container somewhere for a week or more. (You think you can just park a big truck on a busy New York City road any time you want?)

Also, some states have certain laws restricting what you can bring in. For instance, there are a number of items that are illegal to bring into California, including certain firearms and fruits. Yes, your pet ferret, among other things, can’t join you if you’re headed for the Golden State.

What do people put off longest when they move interstate?

What do you need to do if you’re moving to a new state? This is what your to-do list should look like:

  • Forward your mail. Regardless of distance or state, do this first. This requires filling out a change of address form with the United States Postal Service (USPS)
  • Get a new driver’s license and plates. Typically, states require you to get your new license within 30 days, so make this a priority. Unfortunately, this will probably require standing in line at the DMV. One thing we can guarantee is it will be as annoying as nails on a chalkboard no matter what state you’re in
  • Establish domicile for tax purposes. In other words, that means becoming a resident (No matter where you go, they’ll have taxes!)  
  • Transfer your utilities
  • Get a license for your pets if you have any (as long as they aren’t ferrets in California!)

Want to be reminded about even more easy to forget things? Check out these 21 easy-to-forget steps when moving to a new state.

Moving far away?

Do it cheaper.

 

MovingPlace can save up to 40% compared to traditional interstate moving companies. Click here to learn how.

Should I get rid of my stuff?

Take a look over the vast empire you’ve established. You must recognize that the less stuff you have to move, the better off you’ll be. After all, professional moving companies generally charge you based on the weight of the stuff you need to be transported. In other words, both literally and figuratively, you will have lifted a weight off your shoulders if you downsize.

“You’ll almost certainly want to bring some of your stuff, but the vast majority of what you own is replaceable,” writes Scott Meslow in GQ. “And the cost of moving most of what you own across the country is comparable to the cost of just buying something similar—or better!—once you actually arrive.”

The good news? Purging can be cathartic. Discover some ways you can unload your stuff before moving day:

  • Sell stuff online through Craigslist, eBay, or Etsy
  • Have a traditional garage sale
  • Give away things to your friends and family
  • Donate items through charities or religious organizations
  • Recycle old, worn-out clothes at a local recycling center 

Experts suggest taking photographs, especially for anything of great value. You may want proof of exactly what condition the chosen ones – items with which you simply can’t part – were in before they get on the moving truck (or whatever mode of transportation you choose).

How do I move long-distance with a pet?

Moving long distance with a pet, obviously, depends on the pet. For a typical dog (or cat), some rules of thumb include:

  • Minimize anxiety with a toy
  • Ask for help watching your pet
  • Build a safe space during load/unload
  • Keep them tagged
  • Keep medication unpacked, if necessary
  • Feed them lightly

If you want to learn all the little details of how to move with a pet, check out this guide.


Got more questions?

We’ve got plenty of info in the form of reviews from customers of Penske, Budget and U-Haul on Moving101, as well as some alternative companies to look into for comparison shopping.

The Moving Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Move

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Updated: New info for 2021

The moment you know for sure that you’re about to move, life seems to turn on its head.

You instantly have a million questions on what to do next, but often feel like you have no place to turn for those important answers. That’s where we come in! This moving checklist will ensure that you get all of the essentials done so you stay on track for a stress-free move.

Create a Timeline to Tackle Your Move Using Our Moving Checklist

Moving is a process. It shouldn’t (and can’t) happen overnight. Our checklist provides a detailed and resourceful step-by-step guide as you start your journey to a new place, big or small. What should you be doing now? What should you be doing the month, week, or even day of the move? Heck, is there anything extra to do after the move, besides unpacking? We’re here to answer all of those questions for you!


6 Weeks Before the Big Move

Moving Checklist: 6 Weeks Out

How do I plan to move out? And what are my moving options?

Before you begin this moving checklist, we highly suggest you read this Moving 101 guide to get all of the details on your moving options. Essentially, moves fall into one of these three categories:

  • Do-It-Yourself Move: You rent the truck (or find a friend’s truck), load it up, then drive it all to the next location by yourself or with friends.
  • The Hybrid Move: You hire help to load and/or unload the truck, you drive and rent the truck.
  • Full-Service Move: You can relax while the movers take care of loading and driving. The movers you choose will depend on a number of factors, including budget and timeline. Our sister company Moving Place can be a great alternative to traditional full-service moving companies, because they take care of every detail of your move at reasonable prices.
  • Moving101 has charts and up-to-the-day costs to help you find the right move for your situation. Plus, you can use the Moving Cost Calculator to get your budget in order from the very start.

When should you schedule movers?

For the absolute best prices and flexibility, start perusing available movers and trucks now, at roughly six weeks out.

If you are renting a truck for your move, make sure to compare your options. U-Haul isn’t the only option anymore. Budget and Penske are just two of the rental truck competitors that have their own fleets available all over the country.

Now, you don’t necessarily have to stress about actually booking movers just yet … you have until about three weeks before the move to do it comfortably. And if you’re just booking labor-only move helpers from HireAHelper, you also have plenty of time to secure them – you don’t necessarily have to start worrying until two weeks before the move. After that, though, movers and trucks become harder to come by.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

How do I prepare to move to another state?

However, if you are booking a Full-Service Move, complete with movers, a truck and even a container, then booking now at six weeks out will keep you right on track. This is especially true if you are moving to another state, where things like state laws and paperwork for movers going across state lines come into play. This month-and-a-half timeline is more likely to ensure the things you need on moving day are available and reserved just for you!

Consider renting a container for your things.

Container moves are a perfect way to move in some situations, especially ones where your new property is not ready yet. This container guide lays out the pros and cons to help answer whether or not a container move is a good fit for you. Did you know most moving companies will store your container for one month for free? Yes, this guide has the scoop to help you decide what’s the best plan for your situation.

Get rid of the stuff you don’t need now before you think about packing.

Purging before a move is a great idea for a number of reasons. Not only will you have less to pack up and move, but you’ll also have less to unpack and organize in your new place. The easiest way to slowly purge is to keep a small box or bag in every room of your house (especially in the closets). Items you find that are broken, missing or just never used should be added to these boxes and eventually donated or thrown away. You can also have a garage sale or sell your old items online, which will help you make some last-minute cash right before your move. For items you end up donating, be sure to save the documentation from the donation center so you can use it as a tax write-off at the end of the year.

What exactly can I do with my old stuff?

When it’s time to finally sort through the items in those donation boxes, here is a list of items you can donate to particular spots in your city. And if you have any random items to get rid of (a mattress, outdated appliances), we’ve got you covered too. Read up at those links!

4 Weeks Before the Big Move

Moving Checklist: 4 Weeks Out

Start notifying businesses about your upcoming move.

Four weeks before your move is a good time to start notifying the necessary people or companies about your relocation. These parties include:

  • Utility companies
  • Local schools
  • Homeowner’s insurance company
  • Current landlord
  • Bank/credit card companies
  • Government agencies
  • Anywhere you hold subscriptions
  • Anyone else who may be sending you important documents over the next few months

Not only do you want to notify them of your move, but of course you will need to give them your new address to them if you will still be using their services. When it comes time to change your mailing address, this step-by-step guide was extremely helpful for us.

Start collecting moving boxes now.

No moving checklist is complete without helping you figure out what kind of moving boxes you want. And there are plenty of ways to get them on the cheap … or even FREE if you do a little research. This checklist outlines all of the places you can score free boxes, and here’s a list of places you can try to at least get a deal on the ones you do purchase. But always remember that wherever and however you get your boxes, be sure they are clean and in good shape. No matter how cheap they are, there’s no value in getting your stuff dirty or crushed.

HireAHelper Free Moving Box Checklist (click to expand)

Since you still have plenty of time before the move, you don’t need to be frantically throwing items into boxes. Four weeks is plenty of time to start packing your stuff with an organized game plan. Will you pack items from one room together? Will you pack items of the same size together? Whatever method works for you is great, just be sure you are labeling your boxes as clearly and as detailed as possible so the unpacking process is even easier! If you’re not sure what labeling system is best for you, we really love this trick because it makes moving day efficient.

Purchase furniture to be built or delivered. 

Buying furniture now is a great idea so it can be ordered and delivered to your new home just as you’re about ready to set things up. Instead of lugging over that king-sized bed or oversized buffet, sell those items on Craigslist and look for new items that will fit. If they’re back-ordered or will take time to ship, that’s perfect because you still have a month to go!

Remember: if you have them shipped to your new address, you won’t have to worry about moving them. For items you end up buying on Craigslist, be sure to set up the pickup date on your moving day so that you can utilize the truck you have already rented! You can use this same trick at stores like IKEA. You can do all of your shopping and arrange to pick up these large pieces on your moving day so you can get the most bang for your buck for your moving truck rental.

3 Weeks Before the Big Move

If you decided to rent a truck, figure out which one and how big it needs to be about now.

Now that we’re three weeks out, it’s time to book your truck. The kind of truck you rent will be different for each move, but it will mostly depend on how much stuff you’re moving from point A to point B. You may want to shop around to find the best deal and see which day will be the least expensive. This post guides you through all of these important truck rental factors.

Okay, who exactly should I hire to move my stuff?

That’s the easiest question on this list! Just check out HireAHelper for all of your heavy-lifting needs. You can find local movers to help you on moving day so you won’t have to lift a finger. It’s suggested that you book your Helpers about 2-3 weeks in advance, so now is the time to get this checked off your to-do list.

It’s (officially) time to start packing.

It’s finally time to start packing up. And since you already figured out where to get boxes on the cheap, you can go ahead and pick up all of your moving supplies. Don’t forget to consult this post for a list of all of the supplies you will need for packing (plus tips to pack them up efficiently).

Make sure you know what you’re not allowed to transport on moving trucks.

Yep, you can’t bring it all! Here’s an entire list of things you should keep off the truck come moving day. Be sure to have a game plan to get these items to your new place.

How do I pack strange objects?

Moving Checklist: 3 Weeks Out

Let’s face it, not everything you own is going to fit nicely into a cardboard box. But we’ve got you covered with step-by-step instructions to pack up even the most unusual objects, such as these: 

1 Week Before the Big Move – What should I do a week before moving?

Do the mandatory cleanups of your old place.

It’s always nice to leave your old property in good shape for the new homeowners, but for renters, it’s imperative to do a few things before you leave in order to increase the chances of getting your security deposit back. After your place is emptied, make sure to patch and paint any holes in the walls so you don’t get charged for this simple repair. If there is anything else your landlord requires (like getting the carpets professionally cleaned), be sure to coordinate this before you head out.

What else should I pick up at the store?

Call us crazy, but we think a fanny pack, now fashionably called a “sling bag,” may be the best thing to wear come moving day … and here’s why! Now’s the time to find a sweet one so you’re all prepped and ready.

Also, consult this list so you have the seven items you absolutely need for moving day.

Prioritize the right cleanups for your new place.

Cleaning is the next big one on our moving checklist. If you can get into your new house, we highly suggest you head over there before you actually move everything in to give the new space a good, deep clean. Here are five areas that need some TLC right away. You can also setup time for a locksmith to come over to your new place to re-key the locks shortly after your move.

A Successful Moving Day

Moving Checklist: Moving Day

Be fully prepped with all the right stuff.

  • Put on your handy dandy moving day fanny pack and make sure you have these moving day essentials all ready to go.
  • If you booked a container, it should be fully loaded before moving day … especially if you have a morning pickup for your container.
  • If you rented a truck, make sure you get to the rental place early to avoid a line. Start your day on the right foot and totally on time! Also, if you hired Helpers, make sure you allow yourself at least an hour for picking up the truck so you can get back in time. You don’t want to waste any valuable time with your hired help!
  • The best thing you can do is to have a talk with you and your moving team at the beginning of the day. Go over all of the key pieces of information so everyone is on the same page from the start. You need to be a confident leader!

If I hired movers what should I do?

Sit back, be a manager, and watch them do the heavy lifting. Yes, this may feel a little awkward, but it’s what they’re there for! (Plus, for insurance reasons, you’re usually not allowed to help anyway.) Don’t be afraid to speak up if you want them to do something differently, like wrap the piece of furniture with one more pad for safety!

If I didn’t hire movers what should I do?

Get ready to hope your friends show up! Maybe do some stretches so you can avoid injury and mentally prepare yourself for being on the downside of a couch in a stairwell praying your friend holding the top doesn’t let go! At the very least, it’s going to be a long day, so stay hydrated and nimble. You’ll be extra excited to check this off the moving checklist.

Unload and label your stuff in the most efficient way.

If you used our labeling tips to make a game plan for which room each box should be delivered, then you’ll want to label the doors in the new place based on the key. This will keep things organized and will ensure that your Helpers get the right boxes in the right rooms of your new pad.

Should I tip my movers? If so … how much?

There’s a lot of debate on whether you should tip your movers or not, and if you do tip…how much should you cough up? For more clarification, check out this post and then make your call.

Following Up After the Big Move

Moving Checklist: Hiring Movers

Get rid of or utilize all your moving boxes correctly.

Chances are you’ll have a lot of leftover boxes. Here are some ideas to make the most of all of that cardboard:

If you can keep those boxes around for your next move, your future self will thank you. But if you don’t want to repurpose or don’t have the room to save them, please, don’t forget to recycle them! Here’s a searchable database that’ll let you know the closest place to recycle anything of yours that can be reused, including those moving boxes!

Meet your neighbors online!

Nothing like starting off on the right foot with the people you’ll be living next to for quite some time. Check out this post on neighbor etiquette, download the Nextdoor app (must have!), and then muster up the courage to head next door and say, “hello.”

Unpack (efficiently). 

Of course! We’ve got industry tips to make your unpacking party more manageable and more enjoyable. (Yes, it can be fun, but make sure you don’t hurt your back!).

Can I finally relax?

Yes, it’s time to celebrate! You definitely deserve to focus on this celebration step before moving on to the few remaining steps! After your move, we think it’s important to take a deep breath and celebrate in your new home. You’ve earned it!

What’s next?

Now the fun finally begins … getting settled into your new home! Consider painting the walls one of our favorite neutral colors, adding some smart home accessories, and even try tackling some of these DIY projects to transform your new home into home, sweet home. 

Two Ways to Take This Moving Checklist With You

    1. Tried and True Printer Friendly PDF – A ready-for-paper checklist. Pencil sold separately.
    2. Digital Friendly *Expanded* Version – Download/screenshot/save to your camera roll.

Illustrations by Dola Sun

Can Movers Help You With Other Stuff Besides Moving?

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If you thought moving companies do nothing but put all your stuff on a big truck, you’d be right—if you were living sometime in the distant past.

Today’s moving companies are constantly expanding their range of services and offering them all à la carte. That half-job or heavy lifting you need help with? Sure, you can try begging and bribing your friends, or you can call up a few movers in your area. You might be surprised at what they can help you with.

So What Else, Exactly, Can Movers Help With?

More than you can probably imagine. Heck, you don’t even need to be moving to have them give you a hand! More and more, people are turning to moving companies for all kinds of tasks too big to tackle alone. Movers make great day laborers, for things like:

Clearing out your garage or basement

  • Having a couple of sets of hands to move stuff while you figure out whether it goes to the curb or your cousin’s house or back into the garage can save you an entire weekend (if your garage looks anything like mine)
  • This also applies to attics, sheds, or anywhere

Hauling individual furniture from Point A to Point B

  • From your house to the curb; from your bedroom to the basement; to that cousin’s house; to the municipal trash dump; to your local secondhand store or consignment shop

Moving everything out of the room you are repainting or remodeling 

  • And then moving it back when you are done

Hauling stuff to your home from the furniture store

  • Or from your second cousin’s house, or from the garage of the guy selling that big beautiful piano on craigslist

Movers can (and often will) also take care of those jobs tangential to a move:

Even if you’ve managed to tackle your entire move on your own, you may be left with a mountain of unwanted cardboard boxes and unusable packing paper that you just don’t want to deal with. Movers, however, see gold in those mountains. So try giving them a call.

Protip: Most movers tend to charge for a minimum of two hours of labor, due to scheduling their business hours. This is not by any means a hard and fast rule, but make sure you ask before you book your help.

Can I hire movers to JUST help me load and unload my U-Haul?

You betcha!

Renting a truck or a moving container and hiring moving labor for all the heavy lifting is a huge trend—and for good reason. You save a ton of money by renting your own truck, and you save your back by hiring movers.

À la carte movers often:

  • Bring all the equipment
  • Have all the knowledge necessary to do the job right
  • Pack stuff you need packed, wrap stuff you need to be wrapped
  • Load it all up safely and securely

You drive your U-Haul (or Penske or Budget), or have your portable container delivered, and a fresh crew of movers unloads everything at your new home. This is what we call a Hybrid Move. As far as moving goes, it’s the best of both worlds. And it’s what HireAHelper movers do best.

Get an instant quote for local TV mounting services.

Protip: If you are moving locally, your movers may be able to rent you moving blankets for a small fee. But if you are moving out of the area, you might be able to rent them from your rental truck company. You may, however, have to buy them. Just please don’t move without them!

Can my movers do my entire move?

Yes, of course. Your traditional Full Service moving company will handle the whole moving enchilada if that is what you want, including packing up your entire home, right down to your last box of biscuits. This is the easiest way to move. It is also by far the most expensive.

Movers Know Best

Of course, we can’t tell you what’s best for you. But we can say with total confidence that movers know how to best handle your stuff. Whether it’s a single item job or a few pieces of heavy furniture; whether you’re moving one room or one door down or one hundred miles away; whether you need loading help, unloading help, or both, hiring moving labor is the best and most economical way to make sure your belongings are taken care of.

If you’re not sure what to do, that’s cool. Calling a mover and asking a few questions costs nothing. And it could end up saving you a lot.


Illustrations by Rob Wadleigh

A Pro’s Guide to Moving Heavy Furniture Without Hurting Yourself

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Chances are, there are near by movers who can help you move that fridge, bed, or whatever else makes your back ache by the mere thought of picking it up. But if you can’t find the right help, or if you and your back feel up to the task, then keep reading—we’ve got you covered!

The First Step to Moving Heavy Furniture

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Okay, that’s a little weird, but moving heavy furniture is the same idea. You gotta really, really prepare.

Before you roll up your sleeves and start picking stuff up, you’ll want to do a few things:

  • Clear as wide of a pathway as you can
  • Measure that your furniture isn’t too big to go through that path
  • Mark a clear, physical end point where you will drop the item

The last one will probably be near your moving truck or storage container or, if you’re particularly strategic, a staging area (meaning your driveway, sidewalk, or the garage during sketchy weather) in order to better “Tetris” your stuff.

Disassembling Furniture

The great news is that many movers across the country will offer to disassemble any furniture that might need it in order to be moved. All you have to do is ask if your local mover offers the service.

If you’re disassembling furniture all yourself, there are plenty of basics to know when taking off table legs, moving desks, or detaching a flat screen tv.

The Most Important Basics When it Comes to Disassembly

  • When removing table legs, immediately reattach whatever nuts and bolts were holding the leg in place after the leg is off. This keeps screws from disappearing 
  • Always use a screwdriver with a magnetic head when unscrewing flat-screen tv mounts, as losing important screws is extremely easy to do
  • Dresser mirrors always get removed and properly packed up. Any undetachable dresser mirrors require tons of special attention to move
  • Dining room chairs aren’t often designed to be taken apart easily, if at all. But if you have chairs with exposed bolts or screws, you may be able to disassemble them

The above just scratches the surface of what professional movers with experience know about moving furniture and disassembling furniture. You’ll learn plenty, just like I did, by trying to do it yourself.

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“The IKEA-Exception”

The furniture in your home didn’t just grow there, right? It had to have been carried in.

But the one exception to the “furniture doesn’t grow there” concept is IKEA-like furniture, or in other words, most anything you had to assemble yourself.

Full-Service moving companies will generally refuse to move customer-assembled furniture made of pressboard. This is because such furniture was designed to be assembled, put in place, and never ever moved again. Any customer requesting their pressboard bookcase (or pressboard anything) be professionally moved usually has to sign a waiver stating they understand it will very likely get destroyed and the movers will assume zero responsibility for the destruction.

If you have any pressboard furniture or any furniture that – be honest with yourself – is generally cheap and flimsy, consider selling it or giving it away. Moving it costs time and money and will more than likely turn it into an unusable piece (or pieces) of trash.

Wrapping Furniture

how to move heavy furniture

At some point during the move-out process, you’ll need to wrap your furniture so it doesn’t get scratched, gouged and cracked into oblivion.

Cloth furniture pads (also known as “moving blankets”) are what movers use, and we highly recommend them. Wrapping your furniture before you carry it through your home and out the door can help protect it against incidental dings in the doorway and, quite possibly, holes in your walls.

No true professional mover will ever dream of transporting heavy furniture without furniture pads.

Protip: Moving pads can make it hard to keep a firm grip on your furniture. I always preferred to wrap everything in the staging area, or right there on the truck.

The Most Important Basics When it Comes to Wrapping Furniture

Wrapping a refrigerator or a bookcase is pretty straightforward. Wrapping a non-rectangular item like a sofa or a chair can be a challenge.

  • The key is to secure your furniture pads neatly and tightly, covering every surface except, in general, the bottom side
  • You mostly need to just make sure the pads don’t come off. Some movers use shipping tape to keep their pads in place, while others use shrink wrap. Both are effective but costly (not to mention a little wasteful). That’s why other movers use big rubber bands called “mover’s bands”. They are versatile and reusable for applications far beyond moving furniture (like, say, wrapping an office chair)
  • To secure those pads, whether you use tape, shrink wrap or those big rubber bands, just remember: avoid putting tape or shrink wrap directly on your furniture’s surfaces

How Many Furniture Pads Do I Need?

For reference, furniture pads the pros use measure 72” x 80”, give or take.

End tables, small bookcases, and dining room chairs usually only need one (1) pad; most furniture needs two (2), while things like sofas, really large dressers, even some big headboards need three (3) apiece.

How many furniture pads do you need, then? Your best bet is to go from room to room, check how many things you have that need to be wrapped, note how many pads each item will require to cover their surface, then tally it all up. (To be safe, you might want to tack on a half dozen more!)

How Do Pros Move Furniture Through Doorways?

how to move heavy furniture

Angling

If your sofa is too wide to fit through a doorway in your home, there are a few things you can do.

The simplest is to tilt it 45 degrees (more or less) so the front edge of the seat cushions and the top of the back of the couch are aligned vertically. This will make the bottom rear edge of the couch look like it is sticking further out, but all you geometry lovers out there will appreciate how this actually makes the couch narrower.

Curling

If your couch is still too wide, try standing it on end and curling it through.

Laying down a blanket first will help you smoothly and safely slide your couch through the doorway. Ease the top back edge through first, then curl the sofa around the side of the doorway closer to the seat cushions as you slip the rest of the couch through. (You can also push it through seat cushion edge first.) This same strategy can be used when trying to get oversized easy chairs through a seemingly too-narrow door.

Detaching

If you find you need a few extra inches of clearance before your sofa will pop through that doorway, try removing the legs or feet.

Even though they are sometimes nothing but short squares of wood, I’ve found on many occasions that taking them off is the difference between success and a damaged door jamb. On occasion, I’ve had to actually remove a door from its hinges in order to get a couch out the door. While not difficult, you will need a flat head screwdriver and a hammer to coax those hinge pins out, and a couple of extra sets of hands to keep the door in place until those pins pop free.

Moving Furniture Up and Down Stairs

how to move heavy furniture

Hauling large pieces of furniture – more importantly, heavy pieces of furniture – down a flight of stairs is a dangerous proposition if you don’t take it slow (and smart).

  • Make sure you have a strong friend (if not two) on the lower end as you go down (or up) the stairs. Take those steps one at a time. Rest as often as need be, simply by laying that dresser or bookcase down, right on the stairs. Just make sure it doesn’t start sliding!
  • Watch for walls, banisters, and hanging light fixtures
  • It’s easy when you’re watching your feet to forget about everything else. And that, I can tell you, includes your knuckles!
  • When sliding items around corners on landings, use a blanket underneath
    • When doing so, put a blanket down to make the sliding process easier and to avoid damaging that dresser and/or the floor. If the floor is carpeted, the item is really heavy, or if the surface it is resting on is uneven, try walking that thing forward – using small, slow, easy steps

Using Wheels to Move Your Furniture

how to move heavy furniture

If you aren’t The Hulk, a little extra help in the form of wheels can make a huge difference. Here are what the pros use:

  1. 4-wheeler: A 4-wheeler is great for moving large, heavy items over long flat distances. Two main things to watch for: your piece of furniture is resting firm and balanced, and that the wheels, usually black rubber, aren’t marking or scuffing your floors.
  2. Hand truck: A hand truck has two wheels and a metal plate on which to rest your furniture, and a long upright surface with handles. Their soft-ish wheels let you move heavy items up and down stairs and across uneven surfaces all by yourself. However, we highly recommend having a second set of hands at the lower (bottom) end of that piece of furniture any time you are negotiating stairs.
  3. Appliance dolly: An appliance dolly is basically a heavy-duty hand truck with a strap to secure in place the refrigerator, washing machine, dryer or whatever. Despite its name, an appliance dolly can absolutely be used to haul furniture.

This All Seems Hard. Are There Furniture Movers Near Me, Just In Case?

Most likely, yes!

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Start by searching HireAHelper’s massive network of local movers to find movers near you to tackle the big stuff. You don’t necessarily need to hire an entire moving crew if you just need to move your heaviest items.

Normal moving rates will apply, usually starting at a couple hundred bucks for two experienced professionals for two hours. They will usually bring all the necessary equipment, too!

If you just aren’t sure you want to move heavy furniture yourself, relax. Professionals know how to do everything in this article. If you’re doing a long distance move, our sister company Moving Place can provide you with movers, transportation and everything you might expect from a full service move at a fraction of the price.


Illustrations by Marlowe Dobbe
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