Get an instant movers quote on HireAHelper.com →

Moving During Delta: How COVID Affected American Moves in 2021 (so Far)

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Moving Advice, Moving Stories

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Findings

  • 21% of people who moved from January through July 2021 said they moved due to COVID-19
  • During the first three months of 2021, every third move was due to COVID-19
  • 37% of COVID-related moves were people moving due to going remote
  • One-in-five (22%) moved after selling their home in a favorable real estate market
  • Around 18% moved because they didn’t feel safe where they lived
  • 17% moved because they couldn’t afford their housing and had to relocate
  • For the first time in years, more people moved into New York City (+51%) than left it

 

When we looked at how Americans moved during the pandemic at the end 2020, people reported about one-in-four moves were due to COVID. Moreover, most of those surveyed who said they moved due to COVID were driven by concerns for personal health and safety, financial hardship, and the need to take care of family.

How have things changed in the world since? Well, 2021 has been an ever-shifting landscape for moving so far.

delta covidA rapid rise in vaccinations at the start of the year was followed by a dramatic drop in the number of cases, as people started seeing friends and family socially again and public life began to reopen. And yet in July, despite the 52% majority of Americans being fully vaccinated, cases and hospitalizations were on the rise again, and today, there is even talk of a fourth wave.

Meanwhile, among factors directly related to public health, employers are deciding whether to go fully remote or to ask everyone to go back to the office (or go for something in-between). Elsewhere, the real estate market continues to exceed all expectations as prices climb higher than ever and homes are selling at a record pace.

Okay, so how have these recent events affected the way Americans move? To find out, we analyzed a sample of over 57,000 related moves booked through HireAHelper.com and our partners from January through July of 2021. We also surveyed these customers to understand why Americans said they moved throughout 2021.

Defying Delta: Americans Continued to Move at 2019 Rates Despite Ongoing Pandemic

During this time in 2020, overall moving came to an almost grinding halt. Likely due to a fear of infection, many opted to move by themselves, booking activity was low, and cancellations were through the roof. 

As we found out through the data later, many moves simply ended up being postponed for later in the year when it was safer. Towards the end of 2020, the overall number of yearly moves actually evened out as the busy summer “moving season” shifted towards the end of the year.

In 2021, we have a different story on our hands. As the number of newly discovered COVID cases dropped, the number of moves grew at a slow but steady pace. Then, as national vaccinations began to pick up the pace, so did the moves. By April-May 2021, many more Americans were moving than the year previous.

This trend continued into the summer months, despite the surge of the Delta variant, otherwise known as the latest variant of the coronavirus which became the dominant strain in the U.S. in early July.

Whether due to the proliferation of the vaccines, the unwillingness to postpone moving plans any longer, or just harsh economic realities, Americans seem to be moving much more actively in 2021 so far. 

Get Help Unloading Your Rental Truck

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Remote Work, Real Estate, Return to Safety: Why Americans Said They Moved in 2021

As noted at the top of the article, 21% of moves made by our customers in 2021 were due to COVID-19, and more specifically the Delta variant.

That’s somewhat down from 25% at the end of last year, but still higher than the 15% of moves forced by the COVID pandemic we saw in early 2020.

Apart from being fewer in number, other things different about this year’s COVID-related moves are the reasons behind them.

In mid-2020, people who moved because of COVID claimed they did so out of financial hardship, to be closer to family, or due to feeling unsafe where they lived. By the end of 2020, the top reasons were similar: feeling unsafe, loss of job or income due to COVID, taking care of family.

 

“Financial hardship and concerns for safety gave way to remote work (37%) and taking advantage of the housing market by selling a home (22%) as the top COVID-related reasons to move in 2021.”

 

This year, however, things changed. Financial hardship and concerns for safety gave way to remote work (37%) and taking advantage of the housing market by selling a home (22%) as the top COVID-related reasons to move in 2021. 

This isn’t to say that concerns for health and safety are completely gone. Almost all COVID-related moves still happen for those very reasons, but the shift is clear. In 2020, pandemic-related moves were about sheltering in place to adapt to the new reality. In 2021, Americans seem to be making the most of the opportunities the pandemic presented despite all the hardship it brought about.

The Change of Reasons: Covid-related Reasons for Moving Throughout the Year

Sure, across seven months, many people moved to work remotely or after selling their homes in the booming real estate market. But that’s not always been the case in 2021. Let’s look at the most common COVID-related reasons for moving in 2021, over time.

Feeling unsafe due to COVID spread held at 10% of all pandemic-affected moves for five months, dipping to as low as 5% in June. But then the Delta variant happened. By July, as many as 15% of all pandemic-related moves were people concerned for their safety from the rapidly spreading infection.

Moving to work remotely is the reason that only became more common as the months went by, accounting for roughly 20% of all COVID-related moves in 2021. Selling a home peaked in May-June time, when this reason contributed to 15% of all COVID-related moves.

One reason that became less and less common as the year 2021 went on is moving due to losing jobs and income to COVID. Last year, as many as 35% of moves forced by the pandemic were down to financial hardship. In July 2021, financial hardship only accounted for 8% of stated reasons for a move.

Back to the Office? New York City Had More People Move in Than Out for the First Time in Years

We’ll leave the traditional review of where people are moving to and from for our annual report, but there was one curious finding that emerged from our analysis of moves in 2021 thus far.

According to the data, reports in the media, and figures from other companies in the moving industry, one trend always shines through; when you look at America’s biggest cities, such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, more people typically leave them than move in.

This has been true for years, but now we may have an exception on our hands. 51% more people moved to New York City than left New York City in the first seven months of 2021. 

In fairness, except for NYC, all the other major U.S. cities are showing the same trend they have in recent years—more people are leaving them than moving in. 

Whether this is a sign of an impending “big return to the office”, an indication that people started feeling safer, or a blip in the data remains to be seen. (We’ll round up all the moving trends in our annual report, likely to be published in January 2022.)

Return to Normal? Moving in 2021 Looks More Like It Did Before the Pandemic

Not only are people actively moving again, how and when they’re doing it resembles pre-pandemic patterns more than it does last year’s trends.

Take when people move, for example. In 2020, due to the spread of COVID-19, many people were forced to either cancel or postpone their move. This is why we saw 30% fewer people moving during “peak moving season” of May-July and 30% more in September-October time.

That’s not what 2021 looks like so far. If we look at when people moved this year and compare it to the last two years, we’ll see that the 2021 curve resembles 2019 a lot more than it does 2020. 

Another indication that moving in 2021 looks a lot more like 2019 than 2020 is how big the moves are again.

In 2020, likely due to many moves headed towards temporary, smaller accommodation, the size of an average move stood at 1,595 square feet, down by 282 square feet from 2019. 

But in 2021, the moves are big again—bigger than 2019 in fact. A typical move so far in 2021 was 1,793 square feet.

Based on the data, it looks like despite the surge of the Delta variant (or possibly in tandem with it), Americans moved in larger numbers in 2021 than in 2020 thus far.

As coronavirus continues to mutate and the overall vaccination pace slows, it’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen in the coming months. Whether moves will continue unimpeded or we’ll be forced to slow down and shelter-in-place again remains to be seen.

One thing we know for certain is that protecting your health and safety is still critically important when moving. If you are thinking of moving, be sure to check out our guides to moving during the pandemic and when states reopen to make sure your move goes safely, as well as smoothly. 

2021 Mid-year Moving Stats Infographic

covid infographic

Sources and Methodology
HireAHelper’s COVID Moving Study analyzed moving data in the U.S. booked through our online platform in 2021. Year-on-year comparisons of moving activity between 2021, 2020, and 2019 cover the period of January 1st through July 31st 2021.
Unless otherwise stated, all percentages, breakdowns, and summary statistics are derived from the data captured by HireAHelper.com and its partners.
Data on reasons why Americans moved came from HireAHelper customer surveys conducted in July 2020, December 2020, and September 2021.
Illustrations by Chelsea Beck

Real Moving Scam Stories (and What To Do When It Happens to You)

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Moving Advice, Moving Stories

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last year, 230 moving scams were reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB)—nearly double the number reported in 2019.

That might not seem like a lot, but consider the BBB estimates that only about 10% of scams actually get reported. And if you were one of those victims, even one scam would feel like one too many. 

Here’s the story of one couple who ended up the victims of a terrible moving experience, what they did, plus what you can do to avoid fraud on your next big move.

How Moving Scams Happen

When Mary and Will* needed to move long-distance across the state of Georgia to St. Simons Island, they didn’t realize how tough it would be to find movers.

The larger moving companies weren’t returning their calls due to high volume, and local movers couldn’t accommodate the over 300-mile move. (The couple also looked into moving container companies, but the cost didn’t fit their budget.) Yet eventually, a Google search connected them with a moving company called Nation Relocation. 

This company responded quickly to Will’s call and sent someone out to do an estimate. “That meeting went well enough, so we had no reason to distrust the company,” Mary explained to HireAHelper. “As a retired Army family having had only great moving experiences, it didn’t cross our mind that this one would be any different.”

Suspicions mounting

The problems started when the owner of the moving company was leaving Mary and Will’s home after one day of packing. The mover veered the moving truck off the driveway and onto the lawn, breaking a sprinkler head and leaving a large divot in the lawn. Afterward, he dismissed it as not his fault and quickly left with all his employees.

moving scamsThe emergency repair to the sprinkler cost the couple $642. “When he came back the next day to finish packing, my husband presented him with the invoice for the emergency repair and he asked him if he was going to pay for it,” Mary recounted. “His response was ‘that’s not going to happen.’”

Still, Mary said they expected that the move itself would be handled properly, having no past bad experiences. Unfortunately, things only got worse from there. After the couple’s items were unpacked in their new home, they discovered extensive damage to their belongings. An antique mirror that has been in Mary’s family since the 1940s was alarmingly handled. ”There was literally one sheet of packing paper wrapped around it for protection,” she said. Additionally, an antique vase that was given to Mary by her late mother-in-law was wrapped in a thin sheet of paper and jammed into a box with heavy items.

Also damaged were the couple’s flatscreen TV, washing machine, two bikes (one was damaged beyond use, and another simply disappeared), a brand-new cabinet, antique furniture and dishes, and more. In fact, entire rooms of items went missing during the move, including a 24-foot extension ladder, compound miter saw, electric chain saw, circular saw, hand sander, power drill, kitchen chair, car jack, garden wagon, moving dolly, and 40-50 DVDs.

“The owner was belligerent and disrespectful and showed little care for our personal property, both in hearing about damages as well as how things were packed,” Mary recounted. The couple filed a written claim with the company over a week before our interview, but they still haven’t received a response.

Not an isolated incident

Mary and Will are far from the only people who have been scammed by a moving company. 

In just one of a plethora of potential examples, Konami Moving and Storage, a moving company operating out of Las Vegas, made headlines when multiple customers came forward with claims they were taken advantage of during their moves. One local TV news station interviewed a woman who claimed her belongings were actually held hostage by the company, as they refused to return them unless their customer paid an exorbitant, undisclosed fee. Another customer shared that he was out $4,500 after half his items went missing and several more were broken as a result of working with Konami. A look at Konami’s online reviews reveals many other angry customers complaining of everything from damaged property to extortion.

On July 28th, a multi-agency investigation led to the arrests of five people in connection with a multi-state moving scam, including Konami Moving and Storage.

With a national increase in home sales driving heightened demand for movers, some experts warn that moving scams like these will increase. Thus, it pays to know the warning signs coming from a fraudulent moving company.

Get Help Unloading Your Rental Truck

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

How To Avoid Becoming the Victim of a Moving Scam

If you hire movers, it may feel stressful when virtual strangers enter your home and handle all your items. While the vast majority of moving companies employ courteous and professional workers, there’s always a chance you could get stuck with ones who aren’t.

From avoiding being overcharged to making sure your belongings aren’t damaged or stolen, here are some important steps you can take to stay safe.

1. Get several quotes

One way to make sure you aren’t getting ripped off or working with a questionable company is to look at more than one quote for the move. (This is very simple to do entirely online using a mover marketplace.) This can help you compare offers and be sure you’re getting a good deal.

Some red flags to look out for when comparing quotes:

  • One number is way lower than everyone else’s quote: If any one quote is significantly lower (or higher) compared to the others, it’s a sign there’s something amiss. You want to get the lowest price possible, but avoid anything that seems too good to be true.
  • It’s hard to get concrete details: This includes pricing, license numbers, insurance information, and more. “If there is any pushback from requests for this information, that could be a red flag that you are working with a fraudulent moving company,” explains Kristen Bolig, founder of SecurityNerd.
  • They won’t put it in writing: It’s best to avoid any verbal agreements that don’t include a written contract. Without the terms of your contract in writing, it’s easy to change or go back on what was originally promised.
  • A large down-payment is required: Be wary of companies that want you to pay a lot of the principal before the move takes place. This is a practice amongst scammers who take the money and run.

2. Check out the company’s online presence

Most businesses want to make it easier for potential new customers to find them and for existing customers to engage with them… not harder.

It’s expected that any legitimate moving company will at least have a basic website and additional listings on websites like Yelp or HireAHelper that feature pictures, company details, and reviews. A complete lack of online presence, as well as a history of name changes, is a red flag that a company may be hiding something.

 

“Movers need to be licensed with the state, and if they’re doing interstate moves, they need to be federally licensed too.”

 

For example, the aforementioned Nation Relocation (whose website is not currently active) has also done business under another company name: “Region Relocation”. “They have no social media presence either, and it is the opinion of myself and multiple others whom they have scammed that they’ve done this intentionally to minimize their traceability and their accountability footprint,” Mary said.

3. Look up verified customer reviews (that means the moves really happened)

Before choosing a moving company, see what past customers have to say about them. A couple of negative reviews are to be expected, but a long history of dissatisfied customers should make you look elsewhere.

“Looking back, we would have started our market research earlier in the moving process and looked at online reviews and Better Business Bureau reports,” Mary said. Nation Relocation, for example, has a one-star rating on Yelp, with multiple customer complaints ranging from damages to harassment. Meanwhile, Region Relocation has an F rating from the BBB fueled by 48 customer complaints.

4. Keep a detailed inventory

To be sure that none of your items go missing without you realizing it, keep a detailed list of what was packed. For high-value items, you may also want to take photographs. “Moving can be hectic, but being organized will help mitigate any risk of theft,” Kristen Bolig advises. “Keeping inventory of your belongings will allow you to know if anything is missing once the move is done.”

5. Lock your most expensive valuables

As an added measure against tampering or theft, Bolig recommends using lockable moving boxes and totes for extra security. Just be sure that if you do, you properly pad anything fragile so it doesn’t break during transit.

6. Consider buying moving insurance

Though moving insurance can’t bring back irreplaceable items that were broken, lost or stolen, insurance can ensure that you don’t take a major financial hit from the loss. “This kind of insurance covers the costs of any damaged or lost items during a move,” Bolig said.

Though your moving company may offer its own protection, you may want to purchase insurance through a third-party in case the company ends up being fraudulent. “Even if you do fall victim to a scam, you can have this insurance to fall back on,” Bolig said. 

Generally, the more useful third-party liability coverage costs around $1.25 per pound. So if you move 2,000 pounds of belongings, you could expect to pay $2,500. It’s a significant added cost, but depending on what you’re moving, it could be worth the peace of mind that you’re financially protected against moving damages.

Get Help Unloading Your Rental Truck

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

What To Do if You Just Got Scammed

Of course, no one wants to get ripped off, but it still happens. So if despite your best efforts, if you end up getting scammed by a moving company, here’s what you should do.

1. Let your state’s Consumer Affairs Division know what happened

There are a few benefits to doing this. For one, investigators can help you track down missing belongings or get compensation for damaged items. Plus, they can take unlicensed and illegal movers off the streets so no one else falls victim. Movers need to be licensed with the state, and if they’re doing interstate moves, they need to be federally licensed too. Cross-checking these licenses and reporting an unlicensed mover is a quick way to get an investigation started.

2. Call your local police station

The police are sometimes limited in what they can do when a moving scam occurs. At the very least, you should file a police report for any damages or harassment you experience. In some cases, depending on state laws, the police can actually mediate a dispute. For example, if a moving company holds your belongings hostage in demand for more money, the police can step in and help you get your stuff back, especially if it involves an interstate move. But again, the level of involvement by police will be dictated by state law, so do your research and learn what’s allowed where you’re moving

3. Consider contacting a news outlet

One of the best ways to put pressure on a company to resolve your complaint (and protect future customers) is to contact a local newspaper or TV station and see if they’ll do a report on your incident. This does involve putting yourself and your misfortune in the public eye. But if you don’t mind taking the spotlight for the greater good, it can be worth it.

Ultimately, when choosing a moving company, it’s important to trust your gut. If anything about the quote, contract, or communication feels off, it’s probably a sign that you should work with someone else. When in doubt, trusted, established moving services with consumer-friendly policies are always the better choice.

*Names have been changed in order to protect the couple’s privacy.
Illustrations by Marlowe Dobbe

The 5 Best Los Angeles Movers (According to You)

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Local Moving, Mover Spotlight

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

During my time in Southern California, I’ve seen more and more of my friends happily jumping into new stages of their lives. And because I’m a great friend, I’ve helped most of them with their moves. 

While I do my best, my abilities (and those of my friends) are a far cry from professional movers. (Los Angeles, in particular, requires next-level agility to load and unload, and carry furniture through tight apartment buildings.)

And unfortunately, not every single moving service in Los Angeles is equally great. With that in mind, we put together a list of the top five ranked movers in Los Angeles using tens of thousands of verified reviews from people in LA who were in the same boat as you are.

The 5 Best Movers in Los Angeles by Reviews

Without further ado, let’s get right into the best of the best, rated by thousands of people in Los Angeles and ranked using an algorithm that combines both affordability and quality.

1. Rigo’s Moving & Storage, Inc.

Price: $169/hr. for two movers after 2 hours min. 

Services available: Move help/day labor/movers with a truck

Equipment available without fee: 

  • Furniture dolly
  • Hand truck
  • Rope
  • Plastic wrap
  • Hand tools for assembly.

Hours: Monday-Sunday 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Policies: 

  • No same day moving requests
  • Next-day moves will have a special price
  • No refunds for unused time
  • Availability to stay min. 2 hours overbooked time

Why customers love them:

Rigo’s Moving & Storage, Inc. is based in Los Angeles and serves the greater Southern California area. They are not only the best voted moving service providers in Los Angeles, but they are also one of HireAHelper’s top mover’s nationwide, among those with most jobs completed in the entire HireAHelper Network. They guarantee that every job is done by professionally trained movers and plenty of tools to make moving day go as smoothly as possible.

2. Patriot One Movers

Price: $129/hr. for two movers after 2 hours min. 

Services available: Move help/day labor

Equipment available without fee: 

  • Face covering and gloves
  • Furniture dolly
  • Hand truck
  • Hand tools for assembly

Hours: Monday-Sunday 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Policies: 

  • Accept same-day requests at regular rates
  • Next-day moves at regular rates
  • Refund up to one hour of unused time over minimum
  • Availability to stay at least. 2 hours over pre-booked time

Why customers love them:

“Reliable, dependable and honest” are the first words Patriot One Movers uses to describe their services, and the fact that they’ve been in business for a whopping 13 years seems to back up that claim. (Not to mention, they have hundreds of glowing 5-star reviews!) Patriot One Movers handle moves up to 50-mile radius of North Hollywood, CA.

They also maintain a very flexible policy that doesn’t charge extra fees for same-day or next-day jobs.

3. Excellent Movers

Price: $112/hr. for two movers after 2 hours min. 

Services available: Move help/day labor

Equipment available without fee: 

  • Face covering and gloves
  • Furniture dolly
  • Hand truck
  • Hand tools for assembly

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM / Saturday: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM / Sunday: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Policies: 

  • Same-day requests at a 15% extra rate
  • Next-day moves at regular rates
  • Do not refund unused time
  • Can’t guarantee availability past pre-booked time

Why customers love them:

They specialize in all types of moving help, from “Movers + Truck” services to simply rearranging heavy furniture around your home or office. They’ve handled moves for nearly 300 people in the Los Angeles Area, and have an impressive record of 5-star reviews. Though as a trade-off for such high reviews, make sure you carefully plan your move if you decide to go with them since they don’t refund unused time.

4. Lucky Movers

Price: $89/hr. for two movers after 2 hours min. 

Services available: Move help/day labor/movers with a truck

Equipment available without fee: 

  • Face covering and gloves
  • Furniture dolly
  • Hand truck
  • Rope
  • Plastic wrap
  • Hand tools for assembly

Hours: Monday-Sunday 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Policies: 

  • 20% extra charge for same-day requests
  • Next-day moves will have regular rates
  • Refund up to one hour of unused time over minimum
  • Availability to stay at least. 2 hours over pre-booked time

Why customers love them:

Lucky Movers Company can take care of your commercial or residential move at a very reasonable budget. They offer the full package, including labor, packing, wrapping, and unwrapping. They also cover a large swath of land, with service in the Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. They state they have the flexibility to accommodate many moves, from detailed scheduling to a forgiving cancellation policy. 

For them, they say a happy customer is their best form of advertising, so you may be able to get one of those 5-star reviews yourself.

5. Helpful 5 Moving Co.

Price: $125/hr. for two movers after 2 hours min. 

Services available: Move help/day labor

Equipment available without fee: 

  • Face covering and gloves 
  • Furniture dolly 
  • Hand truck 
  • Hand tools for assembly 

Hours: Monday-Sunday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Policies: 

  • 20% extra charge for same-day requests
  • Next-day moves will have regular rates
  • Refund any unused time over minimum
  • Can’t guarantee availability past pre-booked time

Why customers love them:

You don’t necessarily have to choose between budget-friendly or top-notch professional moving help. Helpful 5 Moving Co. are fully trained and equipped for LA moves. We’ve read the reviews, and a very important detail emerged: they are always on time!

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Moving in Los Angeles, by the Numbers

First, the movers you ultimately pick will depend on not only the price, but the move you need. Here’s what moving within Los Angeles takes, in terms of time, cost, and services to choose from.

Average moving cost in Los Angeles

If you opt to hire professional labor, you should expect to shell out an average of $485 for a move in Los Angeles.

This number is based on thousands of local moves booked within Los Angeles, and includes data from both labor-only jobs, as well as more expensive moves where the movers offer local transportation. (The actual amount you pay, of course, will ultimately depend on the size of your home, distance traveled, heavy items, and whether or not you need a vehicle.)

 

“…the movers you ultimately pick will depend on not only the price, but the move you need.”

 

But when you move matters too. Summer moves tend to be more expensive than any other season, and bookings fill up quickly, so expect to maybe pay a little extra for locking down a crew during these months. But if you’re somehow free to choose when to move, doing it in the spring or winter will usually net you a better deal.

Average moving requirements in Los Angeles

On average, most people moving in LA usually hire two movers for three hours.

Yet knowing exactly how many movers you need will depend on multiple factors. If you get a quote from someone over the phone, you’ll be asked questions like:

  • How many square feet is your place?
  • How many rooms does your home have?
  • How far is your door from your loading truck?
  • How many stairs are there?

This chart is a pretty accurate estimation of how many movers you’ll need going by the size of your house. (It was built using the data from hundreds of thousands of moves nationwide!)

Average moving transportation option in Los Angeles

The average move in LA opts to use a 24 foot-long truck.

Some movers in LA will offer the mover plus moving truck combos, but that will mostly depend on the kind of move you’re looking for.

It might also be convenient to rent a moving container for any storage needs, so it’s important to do more research. Some companies like PODS have specialized City Services designed to navigate metropolitan areas with crowded streets, parking limitations, and tight space. This might be a good option if your moving origin or destination is located in the heart of LA. 

If you’re unsure about the size of truck or container you will need, check out this rental price guide and comparison.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Still haven’t decided on a mover?

There’s nothing more comforting than starting a new stage in your life knowing you’ve got a trustworthy mover who knows all the insider tips and tricks for a seamless move. (I mean, this is LA we’re talking about.)

Since there is no one-size-fits-all solution for moving, we recommend taking the time to gather some quotes from these (or other) professionals, and see which one feels best for you based on availability, prices, equipment offered, and any added value they might provide. In the end, we’re sure your stuff (and your non-mover-friends) will appreciate it.

How Your Renters’ Rights Can Lead to Rent Relief (and a Better Lease)

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Money Saving, Movehacks, Moving Checklists & Planning

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It often feels like you hear a ton about bad landlords, a tiny bit about good landlords, and almost nothing about the people in between… you know, the ones who neither are your best friend nor take advantage of you as a renter, but who just do their jobs.

But we should be talking about the typical landlord a lot more! Not only are they the most common experience, but interacting with the leasing system is a great opportunity to take advantage of your rights as a renter. 

What are my renters’ rights?

They’re what you automatically get just by upholding your responsibilities as a renter.

Uh… what are my responsibilities as a renter?

The terms of your rental contract, and to pay rent. That’s it.

Is that really it?

Maybe you’re way ahead of me on this, but it took me a second to figure out that I didn’t owe my landlords literally anything beyond my monthly rent check and the terms and conditions I’d agreed to in my lease.

My landlords weren’t my parents, they weren’t my friends, and it turns out you don’t even get a gold star for being an A+ tenant who only ever asks for one thing fixed in seven years. (Why my toilet started suddenly and endlessly flushing of its own accord early on a Sunday morning, I will never know.)

But while you can’t get awards for being the best tenant, you do get rewards just for being a good tenant—or even just being a tenant at all. (See what I did there?)

These rewards are called “renters’ rights“.

Back up! What exactly are ‘renters’ rights’?

Hopefully you’re already well aware of this, but if you rent a property in America or its territories, there are lawful protections in place that are designed to help people who sign rental agreements. Renters’ rights extend from the federal level—meaning laws that universally apply to every state, U.S. territory, and the capital—all the way down to laws applicable only at the local level.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Those rules and regulations differ vastly between areas, so it won’t be possible for us to get into the logistics of every single state in this one article, sadly.

But what I will do is cover the federal guidelines, plus lay out some of the specifics of my home state of California (plus my hometown of West Hollywood) in order to give you an idea of what sorts of things to be on the lookout for.

And don’t worry, I’ll also show you how to gain access to this information for your very own state, city, and even your neighborhood.

What are my federal renters’ rights?

Broadly speaking, in America, your overall federal renters’ rights (which you can click and dive into if you’re curious) are designed with three main goals in mind:

  • Provide a template for landlord-tenant agreements that can be adopted at the state level
  • Safeguard every renter’s right to a habitable space
  • Ensure that no American tenant experiences discrimination

Maybe you’ve heard this stuff before, but the first step to taking advantage of your rights as a renter is understanding them, so let’s dive a little deeper.

 

“Renters’ rights extend from the federal level, all the way down to the local level.”

 

A habitable space literally means “suitable or good enough to live in”, with specifics determined by your state. But examples of breaches might include:

  • Lack of running water
  • Faulty wiring
  • Poor maintenance
  • Pest infestation
  • Holes in the wall, ceiling, or floor

In terms of no American tenant experiencing discrimination, the Federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial status
  • Disability

This is enforced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

renter rightsNever be shy about reporting rental discrimination infractions

If you’re having issues in any of the above areas, you don’t have to just suffer through it; the federal government is there to provide support in just these sorts of situations without retribution. 

If you feel you’ve been experiencing discrimination from a landlord, you can (and should!) file an online complaint here. For habitability issues in federal housing, you can call (800) 685-8470, while those living in non-federal housing should contact state services (which we’ll get into next).

What are my state-level renters’ rights?

With the federal rights covered above, now we can zoom down to the state level to see what specific rights (often called “tenant rights”) you’re entitled to within the state that you live in.

Tenant rights cover a massive range of topics, and may (or may not) include written rules for matters such as:

  • Utilities
  • Rent control, and/or rights of low-income citizens
  • Security deposits
  • Air conditioning
  • Lawyers
  • Insurance obligations
  • Thresholds for maintaining renter or landlord status
  • Disaster relief
  • Military members
  • Specific parameters for things such as evictions, repairs, late fees, or lockouts
  • And much, much more

There are a lot of ways to go about figuring out your own state laws, but the two easiest ways are:

  • Google [your state] + [renters rights/tenants rights]
  • Select your state from the list below and explore (try to stick to “.gov” websites)
Alabama Illinois Montana Puerto Rico/U.S Virgin Islands
Alaska Indiana Nebraska Rhode Island
Arizona Iowa Nevada South Carolina
Arkansas Kansas New Hampshire South Dakota
California Kentucky New Jersey Tennessee
Colorado Louisiana New Mexico Texas
Connecticut Maine New York Utah
Delaware Maryland North Carolina Vermont
District of Columbia Massachusetts North Dakota Virginia
Florida Michigan Ohio Washington
Georgia Minnesota Oklahoma West Virginia
Hawaii Mississippi Oregon Wisconsin
Idaho Missouri Pennsylvania Wyoming

Where I live in California, for example, I’m led to a 121-page document that lays out everything I need to know as a renter, which includes a lengthy section on my rights as a renter.

Here are just a few of the things Californian renters are entitled to:

  • Strict limits on security deposits and late fees
  • Information about rent control ordinances that could limit or prohibit rent increases
  • Limits on their landlord’s ability to enter their property
  • The circumstances under which they’re allowed to withhold rent payments
  • Specifics about what “habitable” means in California
  • The right to know whether someone died in their unit (!) within the last three years
  • Information about procedures their landlord will have to follow if they want to evict them

What are my current place’s renter rights?

It should all be on the paper you signed (digitally, or in person).

In other words, your lease. This is the most relevant piece of literature for any renter. You should always read it carefully before signing.

Here’s the thing though: an unsigned contract is your chance to ask for amendments. You can get items struck that you know (from your research) aren’t legal, and potentially even request a rent reduction. (Hey, there’s no harm in asking!)

But even if you’ve already signed your lease, now is as good of a time as any to go back through it and make sure your landlord is holding up their end of the bargain.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

What can get me a better personal lease?

Great question! And the answer is almost as long as the state-wide list of stuff up there.

It’s often a matter of getting creative with your asks. There are no guarantees, of course. But there are a bunch of us who’ve saved hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars with gentle negotiation and a little bit of tenant rights research. 

Okay, so beyond my rights, what kinds of rent relief and additional perks are we talking here?

I’m talking about renter perks like

  • Rent reductions
  • Security deposit waivers
  • Full-on lease rewrites
  • And beyond!

But usually only if you ask! Ask, ask, ask!

Changes in your lease are all about doing your research and collecting supporting evidence that you can bring to your landlord or managing company as proof that you should get what you’re asking for.

How to Get Rent Relief Through a Better Lease

I’ve compiled a great list of tried-and-true techniques, as well as a few lesser-talked-about tactics for increasing the value of your rental lease.

  • Keep an eye out for empty units in your building

A friend of mine who lives in a Brooklyn two-bedroom had her roommate move out during the pandemic, and she couldn’t afford the rent on her own. Yet she’d noticed there were multiple open units in her building that hadn’t been rented for months, so she asked if her landlord might be willing to negotiate the price.

He asked what she’d be able to pay, and the two of them ended up settling on a price that was a whopping $1,000 less per month than she and her roommate had previously been paying, all because she’d been a good tenant and he didn’t want to lose her (or her monthly rent check).

  • Scope out any issues with nearby public transportation 

When I moved in with my boyfriend after his lease ran out in 2018, his landlord wanted to increase the rent by a little over $100 per month. But when I pointed out that the subway nearest to our apartment in Astoria was scheduled to be closed for the next few months—meaning a significantly longer walk to the train—he agreed to keep the rent where it was. 

 

“Beyond your official, written protections, there are often goodies within reach for those who pay their rent on time, communicate well with their landlords, and are generally good neighbors.”

 

  • Look for impending demolition or construction notices

Something else I pointed out to our Astoria landlord was that construction was starting on the empty lot next door, which was going to be a noisy nuisance during the day—when I’d be home working as a freelance writer or trying to sleep after a late-night bar shift. Who knows whether the deciding factor was the train or the construction, but either way, he agreed! I’m glad I was ready with both.

  • Get a reduction for a newly-obstructed view

A friend of mine who lived in Washington D.C. watched nearby construction completely change the view from his high-rise apartment. In response, he was able to get his rent decreased by $400 per month just by bringing it up with his landlord! (If something is going to affect the amount your building can rent units to new tenants for, existing tenants should be able to take advantage of that change as well.)

  • renter rightsBe the tenant you wish to see in the world 

Beyond your official, written protections, there are often goodies within reach for those who pay their rent on time, communicate well with their landlords, and are generally good neighbors.

Take a moment to think about what kind of renter you are. There’s no more shame in being a mediocre renter than there is in being a mediocre landlord; it all just comes down to how much more attention you want. If you’re currently getting away with something like an unapproved subletter, a secret pet, tons of wall damage, or late rent payments you haven’t been dinged for yet, you might not want to ask for anything additional for risk of losing the benefits you’re already skating by with. But it’s truly up to you.

  • Google your specific neighborhood’s laws

Depending on your area, you may be covered by local city or even neighborhood laws that offer protections beyond what’s included in that document.

In my city of West Hollywood, for example, we have this great Rent Stabilization Ordinance that ensures that rents can only be increased once annually, and then only by a set amount. Currently, it’s capped at 2.25%, and rent increases of any kind were specifically prohibited during the pandemic. (As were evictions, but that hasn’t stopped my landlord from putting notices on doors and hoping people don’t know their business, so stay alert!)

  • Make the most of a crushing recession (or, y’know, a global pandemic)

A friend who lived in New York City in 2008 balked at a proposed rent increase at the height of the recession. Thinking quickly, she looked up the city’s cost of living increase for the year, which was so low that it didn’t justify the jump in rent. She called her leasing office to plead her case, letting them know she wasn’t able to pay the new number. She was able to talk them out of charging her more—at least until the next year.

  • Come up with your own contract ideas, then give them a shot (seriously)

At the end of the day, a living arrangement is anything that multiple individuals legally agree to. It’s very probable you don’t know what’s going on in the life of a landlord. How much slack they have and what they have to work with will be different for every single person.

Here are other things that might lead your landlord towards granting rent relief

  • Overall rent decreases in your area
  • If they have other problem tenants who are taking up a lot of their resources
  • A change in your own income, like losing your job or suddenly finding yourself without a roommate or partner to split the rent

Basically, if it comes down to a choice between a rent reduction or having to find a new tenant who may or may not be more reliable than you’ve been, you’d be surprised at how many landlords will choose the first option. This is true especially right now, with rent costs plunging on average in the wake of COVID-19.

Remember, we as tenants have more rights and negotiating power than you might realize. Use them.

Illustrations by Kyle Smart

Millions Moved During Covid, Here’s How That’s Working Out

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Moving Advice

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

While lockdowns kept us in one place during the COVID pandemic, many Americans still moved during this global crisis—many, because of it.

Among those surveyed who moved in 2020, 25% report their move was due in some part to the pandemic, per the HireAHelper American Migration Report. Respondents say their reasons for moving varied, from financial hardships, to downsizing their living arrangements, to a growing need to look after their families.

While we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, the U.S. appears to be on a path to recovery. Many Americans are choosing to get vaccinated (though the percentages remain alarmingly skewed by political affiliation), lockdowns and mask mandates have lifted in many communities, and employees are returning to previously closed worksites.

Looking back over the span of the pandemic thus far, how have so-called “pandemic moves” worked out for those who made them?

To find out, HireAHelper spoke to people who moved during the pandemic to get a closer look at the unique obstacles and opportunities that drove their decisions to move.

The Challenges of Deciding to Move During COVID

A pandemic hardly creates the ideal circumstances for a dream move. Those who moved due to situations caused by COVID were slightly more likely to have regrets about their move (31%) compared to those who moved for other reasons (30%). (See the data here.)

But while there were many reported negatives to moving in 2020, it’s not all regrets, either. People reported many ways the pandemic changed the landscape of their lives overnight, including ways that introduced new pressures, challenges, and obstacles—as well as rare and fortuitous opportunities. 

The Tense Household Relationships

As lockdowns took effect, many households reported their living arrangements were thrown into chaos and upheaval.

College students and adult children moved back in with their parents. Parents of young children struggled without child care. Couples who were now working from home together suddenly had to navigate being officemates, as well as roommates and partners. 

 

“Among those surveyed who moved in 2020, 25% report their move was due in some part to the pandemic.”

 

“I wasn’t doing well at home in quarantine,” admits Darlena Phan, a 26-year-old accountant. She and her fiance were living with her parents in order to save money. This placed them in Huntington Beach, CA when the government COVID lockdowns began. “Not sure why, but the family dynamics really deteriorated and I couldn’t stand being around my parents 24/7 anymore.” 

Darlena and her fiance had been saving towards a down payment to buy a home in 2022. But these new family conflicts pushed the couple to consider sliding their move date up, despite their unreadiness.

Others found their partnerships were struggling to bear the new pressures of pandemic living. Dating site Dating.com reports that two-thirds of its current users experienced a breakup in 2020. 

Dannie Fountain, an HR professional living in Chicago, began the lockdowns living with her then-partner. But the mounting pressures and stress associated with the pandemic led the romantic partnership to “implode,” Dannie says. By May 2020, the relationship was over, and Dannie was forced into actively searching for her own place.

Reported Uncertainty Around Work Arrangements

Moving during the COVID-19 pandemic also meant making big work decisions—without the usual information needed to do so.

Those considering a move reported having to navigate unclear remote work policies, worries about furloughs and layoffs, and even uncertainties around unemployment benefits.

With work and living arrangements disrupted and thrown up in the air, people considering a move were left to make that decision based on nothing more than guesswork. 

Maxwell and Steph Miller had long wanted to move out of Utah to a more progressive state, where they hoped to also buy a home. When Maxwell’s job as a web developer transitioned into a work-from-home position, they saw an opportunity to finally make the move of their dreams: relocating to the northwest, to Vancouver, WA. 

 

“Her breaking point came after a ‘huge’ Halloween party another tenant held in the courtyard, with no masks and counter to citywide safety precautions.

‘I needed to leave the apartment to go grocery shopping, and literally had to walk by at least 20 people in close-body contact,’ she says.”

 

But while Maxwell’s employer committed to remaining remote through summer 2021, the work-from-home policy was still temporary with no permanent exceptions. This complicated the home buying process for the Millers when their loan was outright denied due to the company’s unclear policy. 

“Everything about this move has been out on a limb,” Maxwell says. “There have been no guarantees.” Though the couple was able to secure lending to buy their townhome shortly thereafter, there remains a chance Maxwell’s employer could end its remote policy—leaving him looking for a new job in a new city.

Fountain faced similar frustrations when shopping for an apartment after her breakup. Her employer now operated remotely, and originally planned to be back in-office by July 2020. Because of the open-ended remote work policy, Dannie prioritized commutability when searching for an apartment—even though she has not been required to return to the office since.

COVID Safety Concerns and Measures

covid movingOf course, much of the impact of the pandemic was related to the virus itself, and the safety concerns it introduced. Among those surveyed who moved due to COVID in 2020, 13% reported being spurred on by feeling unsafe in their current locations due to the spread of COVID. 

It was this feeling of unsafety that led Fountain to her second Covid-related move—just six months after her first. As a young professional, she had chosen a cohabitated apartment complex with a private room, yet shared common spaces. 

Within a few weeks of moving in, however, Dannie realized her complex was not enforcing COVID safety regulations. Due to this, she often felt uncomfortable leaving her room to use the shared living spaces, unsure if she could maintain a safe distance from roommates, or if the rooms were being properly sanitized. 

Her breaking point came after a “huge” Halloween party another tenant held in the courtyard, with no masks and counter to citywide safety precautions. “I needed to leave the apartment to go grocery shopping, and literally had to walk by at least 20 people in close-body contact,” she says. 

Dannie complained to the property managers and was told there was nothing they could do. She decided it was time to look for a new, safer situation—she found a new apartment by November 2020, months later.

The Hidden Opportunities of Moving During COVID-19

Dannie, Darlena and Maxwell all expressed that moving during COVID was more stressful. But this crisis also opened up rare opportunities to achieve their goals, including moving to their dream locations, or buying their first homes. 

While the economy as a whole struggled in 2020, many individual households reported being financially healthy during the pandemic. Stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits boosted some households’ cash savings. On top of that, historically low interest rates on homeownership in America made this a prime time to get a mortgage, while many housing markets offered previously unheard-of deals on rental rates.

Fountain dreamed of living in a specific, well-located, higher-end apartment complex in Chicago. But with studio apartments leasing for $3,000 per month within this complex, it was simply outside her budget, pre-pandemic.

After her first COVID move, however, Dannie decided to check again and discovered the rental rates of this apartment complex had dropped 60% to just $1,200 a month. Thrilled, Dannie signed a lease—and her dream apartment became her reality.

For Darlena Phan and her fiance, low mortgage rates made it possible to buy their first home in Riverside, CA earlier than planned. “We only had 10% down, but we calculated that we would save more money with the lower interest rate than (by) avoiding (private mortgage insurance),” she points out.

Government stimulus checks helped boost Maxwell and Steph’s savings, and new remote work policies made it possible for them to qualify for a mortgage without switching jobs. Combined, these unique circumstances gave the Millers room to plan and pay for their move across state lines, a situation not possible before COVID-related policies.

The relocators we spoke to largely agreed that their decisions to move, even during COVID, were worth it. People moving by and large report that their COVID-timed move was a net positive; among those surveyed who moved during the past year, 82% say it improved their life for the better.

“It was 100% worth it because the cost of everything has simply gone up,” Maxwell admits. “If we hadn’t done it then, it would never have happened.”

Illustrations by Tara Jacoby

How To Save Money If You’re Moving in the Summer

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Money Saving, Moving Checklists & Planning

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

So, you’re one of the bold souls that’s moving during the summer, huh?

Don’t worry, you are nowhere near alone. The first thing to know is that you are one of literally millions of Americans who are also planning a summer move. The second thing is that this fact means demand for moving services skyrockets from late May to early September… right along with what it’ll cost you to move.

If you didn’t know summer is a crazy time to move, take heart. There are some key ways to save both your summer move and your sanity.

First, match your budget to the three main moving options

There are a bunch of different ways you can move in the summer (and in general). I like to classify them into three broad categories, based on the level of effort and budget people typically have:

moving options
Learn about all the most affordable moving options on Moving101

DIY Move: This is for those who want to take the bull by the horns. You don’t need to hire a moving truck or movers to help load and load, but you might call family or friends to give you a hand. This is the cheapest way to move, since the expenses may be limited to some moving material and pizza. 

Hybrid Move: Mix and match the services you actually need: packing, loading, unloading, and/or renting a truck.

How does it actually work? Let’s say you have all your packing covered, but you don’t want to risk your back by carrying heavy boxes to the moving truck you rented. But at the same time, you also don’t need some giant $4,000 operation. Your best option here is to hire a couple of movers for two hours to do all the heaviest lifting for you. This involves a little more planning, since you may have to get quotes from different places and keep everything on a tight schedule, but it’s still significantly cheaper than going the Full Service route.

(Protip: marketplaces can cross-check your local prices for you.)

Full-Service Move: This option is for those with little time but bigger budgets (or on someone else’s budget, such as corporate relocation). You can hire someone to take care of everything, from packing your stuff to unpacking in your new home. You pay more for your stuff, but then all you really have to do is sit comfortably and watch your moving team take care of everything.

If you’re moving long-distance using any three of these options, you should probably consider if moving containers might be cheaper, as well as if you want to do the long drive yourself. The nitty-gritty details of organizing a long-distance move are collected on Moving 101, which compares all the top moving companies. Check real-time pricing with exclusively verified reviews.

(Stop trusting those bogus moving company reviews off of random Google searches… trust me.)

Make your moving date flexible if you’re adding any kind of moving service

Give yourself as wide a window as possible to make your move. This is absolutely imperative if you want even a shot at saving money.

Some good news is that you don’t have to call around for hours by yourself. A reputable mover marketplace website can give you your pick of vetted movers that have open availability at any point throughout the busy moving season; book one of them for loading and/or unloading a truck or moving container. You can even hire local movers with their own truck they can drive without too much of a scheduling crunch, if it’s for a local move. (There may be hope for your last second long-distance move, too)

If you get movers, a Mover Marketplace eliminates a huge chunk of the typical money sinks

When it comes to moving labor, the highest risk for no-shows, broken trucks, falling behind schedule, or even outright scams occurs in the summer. (This knowledge comes with decades of experience.) If you want to minimize the risk of all that wasted time and money, booking through a well reviewed company like HireAHelper means:

  • You will have a Customer Service Representative overlooking your entire move, so you’ll personally have someone in your corner in case anything goes wrong
  • You are covered in the case of any accidents
  • You will know how much you will pay from the get-go, since a trusted marketplace doesn’t do the “hidden fees” or “additional markups” thing
  • You don’t need to release payment until the job is actually done

For the best possible quote, I recommend starting to organize your move at least 6 weeks in advance. To help you actually do such a scary thing, read this ultimate moving checklist. Every little thing, from when exactly to book your movers, to how to get settled in as little time as possible is all there, so you can be sure no tiny detail will slip through the cracks.

To save money on truck rentals…

rental truck

Trucks require their own special logistics. If you decide to rent one, keep these things in mind to try and shave down your quote:

Do a night pickup

Instead of trying to go pick it up first thing in the morning along with the rest of the world, arrange to pick it up the night before you need it.

This lets you get started as early in the morning as you want, beating the possibility of lower (and thus more expensive) inventory, heat, and the traffic. If you do pick up your truck after dusk though, do bring a flashlight so you can check the truck for existing damage so they can’t nail you for the scratches and dents that were already there. Also check exactly what supplies, if any, are on the truck. You don’t want them to forget the hand truck you requested—and you certainly don’t want them to charge you for taking something that was never there in the first place!

moving truck prices
See real-time moving truck prices on Moving101

Expand your rental store search parameters 

Check locations that may be a bit outside of town. If the company is serving a smaller community than your own, they may be more likely to have a truck available on the day you need it. Also, make sure to check places besides U-Haul; Penske and Budget Truck are often highly competitive, if not cheaper altogether, depending on your circumstance.

Long-distance move? Ask if they need a specific drop off 

If you are moving one-way (i.e., dropping your truck off at a location other than the place you picked it up), see if they could use you to drop it off at any particular location in the general area of your new home. Behind the scenes, these truck rental companies have to figure out how to make sure they have enough trucks at each location each day to cover all their reservations. If you can help them out, they’ve been known to sometimes give a nice discount.

Get Help Unloading Your Rental Truck

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Ask people about their moves on social media

Every local area is honestly completely different. Luckily, people love giving recommendations almost as much as they love giving opinions. You can get both by reaching out on whichever social media platforms you use. Ask your connections what (and who) they know regarding movers, rental trucks, and portable storage companies. Look up reviews of local moving companies near you someplace you can confirm they are real.

Mover near me
HireAHelper.com/movers-near-me

Don’t stop there! Social media can also be a great way to sell, donate, or just give stuff away, which will lighten your load. Search for groups in addition to reaching out to your personal connections. When you do post stuff, always include something like “if you know anyone who could use a free dining room table and chairs” or “please feel free to tag/pass this along to someone you think might be interested or able to help”.

Protip: Garage/Yard Sales can be tremendously time-consuming and wildly unpredictable as far as actually getting rid of stuff. If you go for it, consider leaving prices off the less valuable stuff and let people give you whatever they think is fair. (There’s a level of psychology involved that we won’t get into.)

Stop going food shoppingsummer move

Okay, maybe don’t stop shopping completely. But in most scenarios, there is no value in transporting canned vegetables and dry pasta to your new home. This is advice for any season, but crucial during the hot summer months.

Whether due to gas or a Full-Service quote, the ultimate cost of your move is based on how much your stuff weighs. You’d be better off just giving that extra food to your neighbors.

We have a few suggestions for getting rid of all the food in your kitchen, from planning weekly menus using exclusively what’s in your pantry, to throwing a “house cooling” party for your friends. Read how to professionally dwindle your pantry here.

Eliminate stress by reducing the things around you that get stressed

pet moving

Get your kids and pets out of the way before they get in yours. You have no idea how much time (and thus, money) this saves.

It’s not like kids are known to make moves more efficient. And a pet is not used to seeing strangers coming in and out of their homes with large boxes, so there’s no way of knowing how they might react. It’s better to either keep them in a secured locked space, or take them over to a friend’s house while all the movers get everything loaded.

Here are some guides on how you can effectively get children and pets ready to start their new lives in a new place, making a stressful summer move as easy as possible. 

Summer moves are no picnic, they do require an extra level of organization due to the high demand for moving services. If all else fails, just do a ten-second search to see what options are available to you right this very moment.

2021 Study: Are They Real? The Truth about Moving Scams

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Moving Stories

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Findings

  • A total of 230 moving scams were reported to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in 2020, which is 91% higher than reported in the previous year (130)
  • Americans lost up to $2 million to moving scams last year, according to the estimates from the BBB
  • As many as 148 moving scams are already filed in 2021, twice as many as were reported by the same time last year
  • Only an estimated 10% of moving scams are reported, meaning the real figure of moving scams is likely in the thousands
  • Roughly 1 in 13,000 moves in 2020 were affected by a scam, which is about as likely getting struck by lightning in your lifetime
  • Alaska, Oregon, and Montana are the worst states for moving scams (1 scam for around every 6,000 moves or fewer)
  • Utah and Missouri are the states least affected by scams (1 scam for around every 30,000 moves or greater)

 

Any scam you ever encounter or, even worse, fall for is a real bummer… to say the least. The Federal Trade Commission received 2.2 million fraud and scam reports in 2020 alone, with an estimated total of $3.3 billion lost to fraudsters. The majority of scams reported revolve around tactics like identity theft, credit card fraud, and suspect online shopping.

And though it pains us to admit it, the moving industry isn’t scam-free either. Suspect movers with hidden fees, contracts written in bad faith, and exorbitant deposits abound.

In this analysis, we zoom in on these moving scams to examine their prevalence in the industry, tally up the amount of money Americans lose to moving fraud each year, then see if the situation has changed much over the last few years (and explain what you can do to fight it).

What Exactly Are Moving Scams?

There are a wide variety of fly-by-night tactics that are more typical of those flyers you see on telephone poles, as well as Craigslist ads. Typical scams in the moving industry include (but aren’t limited to) situations where moving companies:

  • Hold your possessions “hostage” and refuse to deliver them unless you pay them a ridiculous amount of money
  • Change company names to avoid associations with previous scams 
  • Don’t mention additional fees, then charge them
  • Charge premium insurance by default
  • “Lose” valuable items and refuse to investigate or explain the loss
  • Don’t show up after they receive a deposit
  • Provide blanket estimates without asking to evaluate the size of your move

A Worrying Trend? Moving Scams up 91%, Year-Over-Year

Looking at the figures from Scam Tracker—a Better Business Bureau (BBB) analysis tool which allows people to report and track scams and fraudulent behavior they experience within the U.S. and Canada—it appears moving scams are largely on the rise.

Some 230 moving scams were reported in 2020 alone, which is 91% more than the number of scams filed with the BBB in the previous year. And so far in 2021, the number of scam reports has already reached 148, despite us only being halfway through the year. That’s higher than the total number filed by Americans in all of 2019 (121).

Partially, we can chalk up the rise in scam reports to the rising popularity of the BBB’s website and its initiatives, but it would be unreasonable to wholeheartedly deny the fact that scams are becoming more prolific.

Considering millions of people move in the United States every year, 230 scams a year doesn’t seem like such a high number. (And it isn’t, in scale.) However, citing the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau suggests that only about 10% of scams are reported.

With that percentage in mind, we can estimate that a more realistic number of moving scams last year is an estimated 2,300, while the number of scams in 2021 at the halfway point is currently estimated to be around 1,500.

Hidden Figures: Americans Lost up to $2 Million to Moving Scams Last Year

moving scamThe total number of scams alone doesn’t tell us much about the impact they might have on people who fall victims to various kinds of moving fraud. Another way to gain an understanding of a moving scammer’s impact is to look at the amount of money lost to moving scams over the years.

 

“…the Better Business Bureau suggests that only about 10% of scams are reported.”

 

Based on Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker, the reported amount lost to moving scams in 2020 was $207,000 and about $114,000 so far in 2021. 

Bearing in mind the high potential for scams going unreported, we can estimate that the amount lost to moving scams is in the region of $1.1 million during the first six months of 2021, and $2 million in 2020.

In that regard, the financial impact of moving scams seems to at least be in slight decline from the peak of $3.2 million lost in 2018 (when accounting for underreported scams). 

As Likely as Being Struck by Lightning: How Common Moving Scams Really Are

The rise of moving scams and the potential millions of dollars lost to scammers in the moving industry is, by all means, a concerning trend. But if we look at the number of moving scams relative to the number of moves taking place in the United States each year, it’s true that moving scams are rather rare.

 

“Moving scammers are most common in the Western and Northern ends of the United States, with the states Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado all having the worst moves to scams ratio.”

 

Even if we take into account the fact that 90% of moving scams go unreported, the data suggests that only 1 in 15,000 moves that took place in the U.S. last year were afflicted by scams. For the sake of using a famous comparison, your chances of getting struck by lightning over the course of your lifetime are 1 in 15,300.

Where Are Moving Scams Most Common?

Still, rare as they might be, moving scams are actually more prevalent in certain states than others. Moving scammers are most common in the Western and Northern ends of the United States, with the states Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado all having the worst moves to scams ratio. 

On the other side of the scale, moves in states like Utah and Missouri were the least prone to scams, in that the ratio of moves to scams in these states is greater than 30,000 to 1.

State Moves Per Scam State Moves Per Scam
Alaska 3,494 Utah 37,931
Oregon 4,040 Missouri 32,941
Montana 5,963 Connecticut 26,370
Washington 6,077 Virginia 25,594
Wyoming 6,186 Wisconsin 23,544
Colorado 6,353 Tennessee 22,108
Pennsylvania 7,527 Louisiana 21,837
Minnesota 7,997 Texas 20,926
North Dakota 8,375 Idaho 19,481
Nebraska 8,945 Oklahoma 19,364

To get the details on the number of moves and moving scams in each state, check our map below, where we’ve assembled the data for the year 2020, the last full year for available data.

Moving scams are a nightmare for consumers and a source of great shame for the moving industry. The number of scams does appear to be on the rise, with a recent BBB report highlighting the suspiciously high levels of fraudulent activity since the start of the pandemic.

We may never know the true extent of the problem, but at HireAHelper, we make sure fraudulent movers cannot exist on our vetted platform of over 2,000 Moving Service Providers across the United States. All HireAHelper moves come with a $1,000 Safety Guarantee, industry-leading customer service, and verification of every single mover review. Nobody deserves to have their life stolen from them, least of all when they are at their most vulnerable. Moving day is tough enough!

If you feel like you may be a victim of moving scams, here’s what you might be able to do to get your life back on track.

Sources and Methodology
The number of moving scams and the associated dollar amount lost was taken from Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker. The number of moves in each state for the year 2020 was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Illustrations by Heather Vaughan

How To Pack a Bike for Moving like a Pro

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: DIY Projects, How To Pack

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This article should probably be called, “How Regular People Should Pack a Bicycle for Moving”. Most people don’t even bother wiping the mud splatters off their bike before they have their movers roll it onto the truck.

But if your bicycle is not in a box, it will either end up lying flat on top of your stuff, or wedged in the middle somewhere. Yet in transit, not only can your bike get damaged, but it can also cause some serious damage.

The pros know this. But lucky for us regular people, it’s not only possible but not too difficult to pack a bicycle in the garage or out in the yard. You just need a short list of simple supplies.

What You Need to Disassemble a Bike

  • A couple of hand wrenches (most pedals require a 15mm wrench)
  • Hex wrenches (i.e., Allen wrench set)
  • Padding, such as bubble wrap, foam tube covers, sheets of foam, or whatever you’ve got
  • Tape, including box tape and some skinnier stuff
  • Scissors (or a pocket knife)
  • A small cardboard box for bike parts
  • Sixty minutes, give or take

And for the absolute best results, you need a good sturdy bike box! Call or visit your local bike shop, as they’ll likely be more than happy to have you take one off their hands. If they don’t have a box on hand, ask when they’ll be getting new bikes delivered and ask them to set an empty box aside for you.

Bonus: Ask them to leave the packing materials in there for you. You’ll see why in a minute.

Other helpful bits:

  • Zip ties
  • Ziploc or other plastic bags
  • Extra cardboard

Packing Your Bicycle, Step By Step

1. Shift the gears to the lowest gear on your bike, so the chain is on the largest (innermost) rear chainring

How do you pack a bike? You have to start on the lowest gear. This pulls the rear derailleur, aka the most expensive and delicate component on your bike, closer to the rear wheel. It also adds an extra ounce of protection against potential impact damage.

Remember: to shift, you need to be pedaling! 

2. Remove the pedals

Now it’s time to use that 15mm wrench. (This might seem scary, but it really isn’t.)

Get a tight grip on the end of the pedal and twist. Note that you’ll have to turn the pedals in opposite directions, left pedal clockwise, and right pedal counter-clockwise. Please take note that removing some pedals requires an Allen (hex) wrench, with the hole on the inner end of the pedal closest to the bicycle.  

Put the pedals in your small cardboard “parts box”.

You’ll notice each pedal should be marked with an “L” or an “R”, which tells you which side of the bike each one goes on when you put your bike back together (since the threads on one pedal run opposite to the other).

Note: Over time, some pedals can become kind of stuck. Some WD-40 type lube might do the trick. If it doesn’t, my working solution is to sit on the bike with the wrench on the pedal, free-end toward the rear of the bike. Squeeze the brakes and push down on the wrench with your foot. But please, be careful not to bang, scrape, or lacerate your leg on your bike once that pedal comes loose!

3. Start adding crucial padding

Use bubblewrap (or whatever you’ve got) to wrap the most sensitive (and dangerous) parts of your bike frame: 

It’s a good idea to tape or zip-tie one of the pedal cranks to the bike frame to keep the chain drive from moving and shifting. Do this before wrapping the derailleur!

Pro tip: If you are superhuman and can rip a piece of tape off the roll with one hand while holding your bubble wrap in place with the other, awesome. For us regular people, it is super helpful to stick a couple of pieces of tape on your forearm or the leg of your jeans before you start wrestling that bubble wrap into place.

In the end, your bike might look as covered as this:

4. Remove and secure the handlebars

With the Allen (hex) wrench, remove the four bolts holding the faceplate in place.

Be careful not to let the handlebars go freefalling when the bolts come out, as this can do bad things to the brake and shifting cable mechanisms—and possibly your knees. Immediately screw the bolts back in to put the faceplate back on when the bars are off.

Since they are attached to the ends of your handle bars, be careful not to yank, strain or otherwise abuse the brake and shift cables while you’re doing this! If possible, tape or zip-tie the handlebars to the right side of the bike frame, like this:

5. Remove the front wheel

Rim brake (left) and disc brake (right) – cyclingnews.com

If you have rim brakes, you’ll need to loosen them first to allow the wheel to come off. Disc brakes need no attention for now.

To get the wheel off, you need to flip the little lever on the left side of the wheel hub and loosen the axle until the wheel comes free. Keep unscrewing the axle until the part on the right side comes off.

Careful: there are two conical springs on the axle, which look exactly how they sound like. Don’t lose them! Simply slide the axle out of the wheel, put the spring and the end piece back on the axel, and put the whole thing into the cardboard parts box with your pedals (and other small parts).

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

6. Wrap the front fork

When you are taking the front wheel off, it’s a good idea to have a piece of cardboard ready so you don’t set the ends of your front fork on the ground where it will get scratched. A foam pipe cover cut to size works well as fork padding, but bubble wrap works too.

7. For added protection, pad the disc brake (if your bike has disc brakes)

If your bike has disc brakes, you’ll have to pad the brake mechanism on the left fork. (Pad the ends of the forks well!) Padding wheel hubs and the elements of your chain drive can be challenging… to say the least. But if you really care about your bike, this is what a professional would do to protect it fully.

Also, taping pieces of extra cardboard to the inside of the bike box where these parts sit lends an extra layer of protection. Go even further by putting extra bubble wrap or foam underneath these extra pieces of cardboard.

If the good folks at the bike shop gave you the packing materials along with the bike box, look for something that looks like the head of a hammerhead shark. This is a specialized piece that will not only protect the ends of your forks, but will hold them in place to prevent them from getting bent or otherwise damaged from pressure or impact. Other pieces may attach to the wheel hubs, not only protecting them but also providing an extra surface area to keep the box from getting crushed against your bicycle.

8. Put your bike in the box

Make sure to turn the front fork 180 degrees so the neck (the part that holds the handlebars) is facing backwards. Slide the front wheel in on the left side of the bike. Keep the front tire on the left side! This is so it doesn’t get chewed up by the chainrings on the right!

Lower your seat so you can put some padding and/or extra cardboard on it and still properly close the box. Left in place, the seat can help keep the box from getting crushed on top.

Note: Some people prefer to remove the seat, wrap it up, and tape/zip-tie it to the bike frame or pack it separately. You do you.

9. Tape up the box

Before you do, you may choose to stick some extra items in there for even more padding and protection. Old blankets work well, as does camping gear like tents or sleeping bags. However, be aware of any sharp points or edges on your bicycle that could tear a hole in the fabric, especially if the bike is going a long distance. Don’t use anything you particularly care about.

Tape the box on all corners and along the top and bottom edges. Tape the carry holes on the sides of the box to reinforce them, like so.

Pro tip: If the box is big enough, putting these extra blankets, tents, or whatever in plastic bags helps keeps dirt and chain grease away.

The Final Pro Tip

If you find your bike won’t quite fit in the box, well, remove the rear wheel too! This will require the removal of the rear derailleur from the frame, which should only typically involve removing one additional bolt or screw. But don’t just leave it hanging! Wrap it well and secure it to the inside of the bike frame where it won’t get smacked around.

Take the axle out of the rear wheel just as you did the front, and just like before, take extra care to protect all those chainrings.

And now the fun part: you’ll have to zip-tie one or both wheels to the bike frame so that all those exposed chain drive components are not resting on the bottom of the box. (And avoid having to do all of this by simply getting a big enough box!)

Packing a bike isn’t as complicated as it seems, it just takes a little getting used to. And if you’re finding yourself too frightened to do all of the above, ask your movers if they can help (they probably have done this before). But if you’re doing this alone and/or for the first time, don’t freak out! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never forget. It’s kind of like riding a…

2021 Study: Do People Actually Regret Moving?

Author:

Publish Date:

Last Modified Date:

Category: Moving Stories

Tags: Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Findings

  • Despite some regrets, 82% of respondents admit that moving has changed their life for the better
  • 30% of Americans that we surveyed regret at least something about their move
  • People who moved due to COVID are most likely to regret their move (31%)
  • Among those who regret their move, “moving away from their friends” (49%) and “leaving the area they used to live in” (40%) are the top regrets
  • A quarter (26%) of people regretting their move felt that way immediately after moving
  • Regretting their moves, 15% of respondents are considering moving back to where they used to live
  • Location (51%), size (41%), and layout (38%) of home are most appreciated aspects of new home

 

Do people actually regret moving? Whether moving for a new job or to retire, moving in with a significant other, or moving back in with your parents, there are many factors at play for making the big jump.

This is why it seems perfectly natural that no matter how hard we prepare for our move, we might regret something about it afterward. 

And yet, most Americans who moved in the last year don’t regret their decision. In fact, most believe it made their life better, despite some reported complex feelings from those who did end up regretting their moves. 

Read on as we break down our most recent survey of over 1,200 people who moved over the last year.

A Regret Shared: Almost One in Three Americans Who Moved Have at Least Some Regrets

While most of those who moved in the past year don’t look back, about a third (30%) have at least a few regrets about their move. 

Millennials are the least pleased with their move, as 37% of them regret at least something about it—more than any other generation. Gen Z, on the other hand, is a lot more optimistic, as only 27% of them found something regrettable about their move.

Why people move might also have an effect on whether they regret it. Those who moved due to COVID, for example, are more likely to experience regret (31% versus 22%).

Similarly, those who moved in search of cheaper housing are somewhat predictably more likely to regret their move (33%) versus those who moved to a new and better home (19%).

Leaving Friends, Neighborhood, and Family: America’s Biggest Moving Regrets

People often claim they don’t like their living situation (e.g., rent cost, landlords). But what does the data say?

In truth, moving is more of a complex trade-off. Moving somewhere for work or study sometimes comes at the price of moving away from family; moving to a bigger, better home often means exchanging a bustling, vibrant city for quiet suburban living. 

 

“While most of those who moved in the past year don’t look back, about a third (30%) have at least a few regrets about their move.”

 

So it’s no surprise that Americans reported these factors (over bad landlords!) as the most regrettable aspects about their overall move. According to respondents who reported having regrets about their most recent move, nearly half (49%) list moving further away from friends over all stated reasons. 

Meanwhile, some 40% miss the area they used to live in, while 38% have regrets about moving further away from family, the latter likely exacerbated by the restrictions on family gatherings brought about by moving during the COVID pandemic. 

moving regretsNearly a quarter (23%) of those who regret moving feel that way because it meant leaving their previous home. This sentiment is most common among those who moved to save money on housing costs.

But other moving regrets are less sentimental and more tangible. For 30% of people who claim to regret moving, it’s not where they chose, but how much they paid for the move that added to their disappointment. And for roughly 10%, it’s the choice of moving company they wish they could do over. (It literally pays to do your research.)

Instant Regret: A Quarter of Americans Who Regretted Their Move Knew It Immediately

When you know, you know, as the old saying goes. As many as 26% of Americans who have regrets about their move developed that feeling straight away. An additional 9% developed regrets after a week. Meanwhile, it took 26% one whole month to realize their newfound predicament.

That New Home Feeling: What Americans Like and Dislike About Their New Homes

Judging by our survey, if there’s one thing Americans make sure their new home delivers on, it’s location. Over 60% of those surveyed reported liking where their new place is, while only 9% aren’t happy with it.

 

“Millennials are the least pleased with their move, as 37% of them regret at least something about it—more than any other generation.”

 

moving regretsHome size (41%) and layout (38%) are the second and third most appreciated aspects of a new residence, while roughly a third pointed out they’re happy about the amenities in their home (32%) and the local area (30%).

The most common dislike with regards to the new place was financial. Almost one in five (19%) Americans who moved in the past year aren’t happy with the cost of their new home. In fact, people who moved specifically to save on housing costs are most likely (69%) to be unhappy with what they’re paying in rent or mortgage for their new place. Knowing this, it’s vital to make sure you compare the moving services in your area for the best possible price.

The Right Move: Despite Regrets, Most Feel Their Move Changed Their Life for the Better

More than 8 in 10 (82%) Americans who moved in the last 12 months feel that the move changed their life for the better. Even 77% of those who have some regrets about their new home or how the move went seem to believe it was the right thing to do.

Much like with regrets, people who moved for certain reasons felt differently about the impact their move had on their life in general. For example, a reduced 69% of those whose move was forced by COVID felt the move affected them positively. 

People whose primary reason for moving was a new or better job are also less likely to feel that way—only 68% of them felt their move had a positive impact on their life.

A small minority (5%) felt the opposite way, saying that moving made their life worse. Only about one in ten (13%) admitted moving didn’t really make a difference to them one way or the other.

Most people have difficulty with coping with and embracing change, even if change is for the better. This is probably why many Americans who moved in the last year have at least a few regrets about their decision, even though the data overwhelmingly suggests moving makes people’s lives better on the whole.

Sources and Methodology
All the figures referenced above are based on a multi-question survey of 1,253 Americans who booked and completed a verified move using HireAHelper.com within the last 12 months.

 

Illustrations by Nero Hamaoui
×

I'm Moving

Moving? Thinking about moving? Whether your move is off in the distance or you already have one foot out the door, you'll learn about everything you should expect through our useful how-to's, cool articles and much more. It's all specially curated for you in our "I'm Moving" section.
Explore
×

I'm a Mover

For rookies or veterans alike, our "I'm a Mover" section is filled with extensive industry news, crucial protips and in-depth guides written by industry professionals. Sharing our decade of moving knowledge is just one way we help keep our professional movers at the top of their game.
Explore