Advice for Movers: What I Did To Land my Biggest Tips

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At the end of every moving job, as we’re saying goodbye to the customer and shaking their hand, we’re all thinking about the same thing.

Our tip. And whether or not one is coming.

Tips are a pretty hot topic nowadays, but early on in my moving career, I learned not to expect a tip. I always hoped for one, but no matter how much we work our tails off, or how good a job we do, it’s all up to the customer in the end. 

But it’s not completely out of our control. If we keep in mind a few simple ideas, we can really increase the chance the customer will leave you a well-earned tip.

It’s About Expectations

a couple watches two movers unload a moving truck

Most customers have a bar they anticipate all service companies to clear, which includes movers. They expect us to show up on time, know what we’re doing, take care of their things, and act professionally. They might also expect movers to be in uniform, or at least in matching company t-shirts. 

But this is just the baseline. If we can really knock their socks off and exceed their expectations, they’ll be more likely to tip above and beyond. The unfortunate thing is, we can’t control or predict when we are going to be able to wow our customers like this. Remember, the customer already expects us to do all the things we do every day. To genuinely impress your customer, to do the unexpected, you need an opportunity.

That chance may not always show up in the way you think it would, either. Here are a few stories that show some of what you can do to notice those opportunities and take advantage of them to land the kind of tip you’re looking for.

Making Difficult Decisions About Employees

two movers discuss the job

You might think that gritting your teeth through a job when you have an employee acting unprofessional. After all, you’ll be down a member if you send them back, and the job will take longer. You also might be worried the customer might see you and your company in a bad light, but addressing bad behavior before it gets out of hand will actually improve their opinion in the long run.

For example, I once had a worker whose nickname was Train, as in freight train. And on a Saturday in mid-June, with business heating up right along with the weather, we had a trainwreck.

I don’t know what his deal was that day. He wouldn’t tell me, even when I pulled him aside, out of earshot of the customer and the rest of the crew. Right from the start he had been complaining about the truck, the equipment, and the long carry from the front door to the street because we couldn’t get in the driveway. The other guys on the crew were being “slow and stupid.” The customer “didn’t know (bleep) about packing boxes.” And with the customer standing right there.

So I told him he was done for the day.

 

“Customers, on the other hand, don’t know about the ins and outs of how to pack or move. If you see the opportunity to pass along your knowledge and make their moving experience a little better, it’s probably a good idea to speak up.”

 

I was honest with the customer. I told her that I was sorry for his behavior and that Train, up to that had to that point, been a good, promising mover. Then I told her that I’d made the decision to send him home. This of course meant the job was going to take a little longer. I assured her we’d get the job done, and if we went over the estimate for the move I’d cover it.

The other workers were fine not having Train around. They were actually energized by him suddenly being gone. They did a bang-up job, and we finished in less than an hour over the estimated time, which with one less man meant the final tally was actually under the estimate.

As we were finishing up the paperwork I apologized again for Train, but she said she appreciated how the guys and I handled everything and gave us each an eye-popping tip. 

Be Honest When You Mess Up

a customer talks to a mover about a broken item

While you should always take precautions and follow safety guidelines, accidents do happen, no matter what. And when they do, it’s best to handle them openly and honestly.

Once, we were unloading a customer’s belongings on one of those weird winter days when the weather couldn’t decide what to do. It would be snowing, then sleeting, then raining, then snowing again, with the ground covered with a wet, slippery mix of all of it.

We were about halfway through when two of the crew were carrying a tall, fairly heavy bookcase up the front walk. The guy in the back slipped on the wet slate, and the bottom end of the bookcase slipped out of his hands. It hit the slate with a thud and a crack as a piece of the wooden base split clean off the back bottom corner.

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It might be tempting to write something like this off as damage done in transit, especially because the customer had moved from out of state, so their stuff had traveled a long distance.

Instead, not only did I tell the customer what had happened. I showed her the piece of wood that had broken off. Then I told her she could opt to file a claim, and what might happen from there if she did. 

The weather never let up, but the rest of the unloading went well. And In the end, the customer tipped us very nicely. She made it a point to express her thanks again for telling her about the bookcase and, more importantly, how to get the situation taken care of. 

Use Your Moving Know-How

a mover talks to a customer about how to pack various fragile items on a table

After all the moves you and your workers have done, you get a sense of the best practices and how things should go. Customers, on the other hand, don’t know about the ins and outs of how to pack or move. If you see the opportunity to pass along your knowledge and make their moving experience a little better, it’s probably a good idea to speak up.

Early on during a big move-out, I found a box that had no tape on it; The flaps were just folded into each other. Apparently, the customer had run out of tape. On top of that, several other boxes felt half-empty when I picked them up, and one box from the kitchen started clinking when I moved it.

It was all a disaster in the making. It also would have been 100% the customer’s responsibility if anything ended up broken. And stuff was definitely going to break.

 

“…[W]e can’t control or predict when we are going to be able to wow our customers like this. Remember, the customer already expects us to do all the things we do every day…[and] to do the unexpected, you need an opportunity.”

 

The problem was, I couldn’t exactly re-pack the boxes myself. PBO, as you probably know, stands for Packed By Owner. It’s what we write on the inventory sheet for any box the owner has packed themselves. If we don’t write PBO, the customer can claim that we packed it, meaning we are responsible for his poorly-packed glasses and cups which are now in a million pieces.

Writing PBO means the customer is responsible for that box and all its contents, from beginning to end. It’s a legal term that protects us from liability for the customer’s negligence or inability, and it comes with very precise implications.

When my guys were taking a quick mid-morning break I explained all of this to the customer, including the part about my not being able to actually (or officially) pack anything without charging him for it. I could, however, give him a half-used roll of tape from the truck and give him some up-close advice on how to pack his boxes securely. 

In the end, the customer was happy and still entirely responsible for his boxes. I made sure he was absolutely clear on what PBO meant, just to be sure. And then he slipped me a fifty.


Ultimately, it is up to the customers how much they tip — or even if they tip at all. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t always maintain a good, professional attitude or stop looking out for ways to go above and beyond. 

As these stories have shown, sometimes problems can become opportunities to really make your crew and business shine. Customers will appreciate it, and it will definitely increase your chances of getting a little extra thank you in the form of a tip at the end of the job. Good luck!

The Facts (and Myths) About Safely Transporting Your Flat Screen TV

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My friend Arnie is the kind of person who does everything full-tilt. So it was no surprise when he told me he was getting a massive new flatscreen TV for his Super Bowl party. But there was a problem. He had no idea how he was going to get that beast all the way home from the store in one piece.

“Can I lay it down flat in my truck?” he asked. “Or is the liquid plasma stuff inside the screen gonna get all messed up and totally destroy my new baby?”

If you’re planning on getting a new flatscreen TV during all the great Black Friday deals, you might be wondering the same. It’s a question I get all the time. The short answer? “No, you can’t lay it down. And no, the plasma won’t mess up your TV.” 

The long answer is below, along with some other tips about getting your new TV home in one piece.


Transporting Flat Screens: Opinions vs. Facts

a man looks at different types of TVs in a store

Here are a few common opinions I found about moving a flatscreen TV, from typically credible places:

  • “Never lay a TV flat when transporting it. I speak from experience.” (avforums)
  • “There’s no real issue with transporting LCD’s laying down. They don’t have a pane of glass like plasmas do.” (MacForums)
  • “Manufacturers recommend storing the TV upright, rather than flat or on its side (Techwalla)

While there’s definitely an agreement that transporting flatscreen TVs horizontally can lead to damage, there’s some anecdotal advice that says this only applies to certain types of televisions. But is that really true?

First, let’s look at the two basic types of flat screens.

  1. Plasma screens consist of a double layer of glass holding millions of tiny cells containing microscopic fluorescent ‘lamps’ that produce an image. It’s a similar sort of technology that light bulbs use. Older models of flat screens are more likely to be this plasma type.
  2. LCD (liquid crystal display) screens contain millions of pixels, made of sub-pixels that are like windows with shades that let in different amounts of red, green, or blue light. These produce light in varying percentages to form the picture we see.

(Note: A third type, the LED (light-emitting diode) display, is basically an LCD screen, but with LED backlighting.)

If you want to read up on some finer points between TV types, here’s a handy guide.

 

“Whether you’re picking up a used flat screen TV or buying one new, be sure to set it vertically in your vehicle, right side up, with sufficient padding on all sides to keep it firmly and safely in place.”

 

So, despite what my pal Arnie was afraid of, there’s nothing inside either type of TV that’s going to get ruined, or settle at the bottom of your screen. As long as it remains properly vertical, your TV will be just fine no matter how many years it stands on your table, hangs on your wall, or sits in the moving truck if you’re moving long distance.

But, when it comes to keeping your flat screen safe, it doesn’t really matter which type it is. Both are susceptible to damage if transported or stored improperly. 

But why is it bad to lay a flatscreen TV down flat? a broken tv that's cracked down the center

Because flatscreen TVs are designed to sit upright. More specifically, your TV is constructed to fully support that screen when it is vertical, but not at all when it’s horizontal. If you lay your TV down, the absence of support in the middle of the screen can cause cracking or distortion around the edges if left that way over time. 

It’s fine to lay your TV down temporarily — like to attach accessories or clean it — but if you drive down the road with your TV laid flat you’re risking serious damage. A few bumps and jolts are all it takes for that screen to start sagging in the middle and cracking or warping under its own weight. 

This is why glass-delivery trucks have those vertical racks on the sides, and why we movers always load mirrors and picture frames vertically.

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Transport your flatscreen TV the right way

Whether you’re picking up a used flatscreen TV or buying one new, be sure to set it vertically in your vehicle, right side up, with sufficient padding on all sides to keep it firmly and safely in place.

If you are buying a used flat screen from someone who doesn’t have the original packaging anymore, take the time to protect it properly. A few thick blankets might work in a pinch, but if you can, packing your TV like it’s a mirror applies just as well.

Your TV, your wallet, and all your friends at your Super Bowl party will be glad you did.

2023 Study: Where and How To Earn the Most Money From a Moving Labor Side Hustle

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Key Findings

  • In 2023, a typical moving company earns between $90 and $150 per hour on average, or from $244 to $407 per move
  • The average amount a moving labor company earned on HireAHelper in 2023 is $113 per hour 
  • Mover earnings in 2023 are highest in Birmingham, AL where average hourly earnings on a labor-only move reached $146
  • Vermont is the state where movers earn the most on average in 2023 – $193 per hour
  • The state with the greatest demand is Mississippi, with 434 moves per moving company registered in the state
  • Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX has 392 moves per moving company registered in the metro, the most favorable demand ratio in the country

When we released our last study of starting a moving labor company as a side hustle, it was a great time to get into the business. Home sales were at an all-time high, and the number of Americans who moved that year inched up for the first time in a decade. 

However, after only one year, the housing market has cooled off. And even though sales of newly built homes are still up 6%, home sales as a whole aren’t as high as last year.

The cost of moving has also grown 4% in 2023 (ahead of inflation rates), and this is actually good news! It means movers’ earnings have most likely also increased. So if you’re interested in adding a side hustle to your income, starting a moving labor company is well worth considering.


What Is a Moving Labor Company, and Can It Work as a Side Hustle?

Most of us think of movers as people who pull up in their own truck, pack and load people’s possessions, drive them to the new location, and unload everything there. While that is true of some moving companies, it certainly does not represent all of them.an illustration of an anthropomorphized moving box filled with money

Full-service movers (as they’re called in the industry) do exist, but considering they tend to offer the whole service package, they also charge significantly more. (These are the huge van line companies.) As most people are keen to spend as little as possible on moving, “moving labor” companies have become increasingly common.

Moving labor companies are often responsible for loading, unloading, and, sometimes (though rarely), packing up people’s possessions. And, because people who move tend to book their own container or moving truck to save money, no driving is involved!

Why is labor-only so profitable?

Sounds interesting? Here are a few more reasons why moving labor is a good choice for a side hustle.  

  • You don’t require a special mover’s license in most states
  • No need to invest in your own truck or spend money on gas 
  • With almost half (48%) of all moves taking place on the weekend, you can keep this side hustle alongside your main job or your studies
  • Despite being at their highest last year, moving costs (AKA your potential earnings) have increased again in 2023

First Move: Getting Started and Where To Find Customers

Much like with any business, you’re going to need to put some effort into setting up your moving labor company and attracting customers.

The first thing you’re going to need is another crew member, as two-person crews are industry standard!

That’s because helping people move becomes much faster and easier when it’s not just you lugging all the heavy items in and out of the truck. Based on our stats, over 80% of labor-only moves are carried out by teams of two people. 

We’ve put together this handy table that compares typical avenues new moving labor companies can pursue on their way to establishing themselves in the industry.

Platform Pros Cons
Craigslist Most popular classified ads website with millions of visitors daily

Typical starting point for people looking for movers

Costs money to post ads as a business

Customers can be flakey, often looking to pay as little as possible, and can end up being very hard to service

Yelp Popular with people looking for local businesses

Business owner tools let you upload logo/team photos to boost credibility

No actual online booking, you just get “leads” 

You’ll have to deal with lots of messages, emails, and phone calls from people just looking for a quote

HireAHelper Completely free to register, no membership fees or cancellation fees

Your very own landing page for customers to see your rates and availability

Insurance and 7-day-a-week customer service for you and your customers

A fee is charged per every order booked through the platform in exchange for the customer assistance and other benefits
Own website Entirely up to you how to present your company, brand, and services

You keep all the money you earn, no fees or commission rates

You need to create, design, and maintain the website

All the customer service, marketing, and insurance falls on you


Website, domain, and hosting all cost money

If you’re serious about your side hustle or are considering getting into the moving industry fully, there’s nothing stopping you from pursuing multiple or all of the above options at once. There might also be other options or uniquely popular places/websites to find customers where you live.


Fast Facts About Moving Company Earnings in 2023

Here are some estimates on moving marketplace earnings.

Keep in mind that companies like HireAHelper will provide you with your own company profile, customer service, and claims coverage with no listing fees whatsoever. For jobs on sites like Yelp, you’re totally on your own — so factor the cost of breaking even a single item without someone to cover it for you into your calculations.

When do I need to be free?

If you’re a student or already have a job, you’re probably not going to jump into the moving industry as a full-time gig. And that’s exactly why being a mover is such a great job.

Almost half (48%) of all the moves booked via HireAHelper in 2023 took place on either Saturday or Sunday. So, if you’re free on a weekend, you can take on jobs when the demand for moving services peaks.

 

“…you should also remember how supply and demand of moving services will impact your future jobs. Demand where you live will determine how much you can charge for services and how easily you can grab a share of the market.”

 

How much revenue do movers make per hour?

In 2023, the average amount a moving labor company earned on HireAHelper is $113 per hour (after fees). That rate is based on the service of two movers loading and unloading a customer’s belongings and does not include potential tips

According to Forbes, local movers usually charge between $50 to $250 per hour in 2023. Yelp’s most recent estimates have a midpoint of $147 per hour. ConsumerAffairs, on the other hand, puts the cost for a local move at $80 to $100 per hour, with the move executed by a team of two people.

Based on HireAHelper figures, a typical labor-only loading and unloading type move takes two hours and 45 minutes, which equates to $289 you and your partner can earn per move (or about $145 per person on a two mover job).

Let us assume that, as a newly founded moving company, you won’t be able to charge rates like that immediately. Even so, if you charge $250 per move, and can pick up four to five moves over the course of one weekend, you and your partner-in-moving can make $1250 total ($625 each). Not bad at all, in this economy!


Cities & States Where Movers Earn the Most

As is the case with almost any product or service, the price people are willing to pay for moving services varies depending on where in the country you are. Check out the map below.

Top Cities for Mover Profits

Based on moves booked via HireAHelper.com from January through September 2023, the city with the highest average earnings for movers is Birmingham, AL where hourly earnings for local moving labor companies averaged $146 per hour. Movers in Buffalo, NY and Boston, MA both made an average of over $140 per hour so far in 2023.

Other cities in the top 10 include two cities in OhioCincinnati, OH ($135 per hour) and Dayton, OH ($131 per hour). Salt Lake City, UT ($129 per hour) and Milwaukee, WI ($128 per hour) round off the list.

Top States for Mover Profits

Those are the top cities, but what about the top states?

At the state level, the top three highest average hourly earnings are in Vermont ($193 per hour). West Virginia ($170 per hour) and Iowa ($162 per hour). It’s worth bearing in mind that these states aren’t the most populated, meaning the number of moves/market size wouldn’t figure to be especially large.

On the flip side, movers in states such as Nevada ($89 per hour), Texas ($96 per hour), and Arizona ($100 per hour) had comparatively lower average earnings. In contrast, these are the states with significantly higher moving activity and therefore have significantly more opportunities to enter the market.

The same can be said are other states with lower hourly earnings like Florida and Georgia (both $109 per hour), and North Carolina ($110 per hour).

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Movers Wanted: States and Cities With Greatest Demand for Moving Services

It’s good to keep your eye on earnings, but you should also remember how supply and demand of moving services will impact your future jobs. Demand where you live will determine how much you can charge for services and how easily you can grab a share of the market.

To understand where the demand for moving services and their supply is most favorable, we looked at the number of people moving annually (the demand), and the number of companies in the moving industry (the supply) in each state and major metropolitan area.

Among metropolitan areas, Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, TX stands out as having by far the highest number of moves per registered moving company — 392. Another Lone Star State metro, Lubbock, TX, is in 9th place with 177. 

 

“Based on our stats, over 80% of labor-only moves are carried out by teams of two people.”  

Charleston, WV is in second place with a ratio of 278 moves per moving company. And as mentioned earlier, West Virginia is also the state where mover earnings are among the highest in the country. 

Two metros from Arizona, Yuma, AZ (252) and Prescott, AZ (240), make the top 10 with their favorable moving demand-to-supply ratio. One of the most populated metro areas, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ranks in the 12th spot with 168 moves per each locally registered moving company.

Looking at the size of opportunity in the moving services market at the state level, Mississippi (434) and Kansas (431) are clear winners with over 430 moves per moving company registered in each state.

Arizona (322), Arkansas (311), and New Jersey (306) are towards the top of the ranking, all with over 300 moves per moving company.


Convinced? Here Are Some Practical Steps to Get Moving

If you think you have what it takes to help people move, we have some resources for you.

First off, here’s a guide for starting up your own local moving labor company. Within, you’ll find all you need to know about how to register a business, pricing your services, finding customers, tools you need for your new side hustle job, and a lot more.

Have your own truck and want a license to do the driving part of the job as well? Here’s a guide for starting a full-service moving company, explaining all the steps for starting a moving business with links and references to the licensing authorities in each state. 

Once you’ve got a handle on things, you can also list your company on HireAHelper to help you start getting those first customers.

 

Sign up here!

 


Sources and Methodology

General mover earnings were estimates were compiled using indicative rates from HireAHelper, Yelp, Forbes, and Consumer Affairs.
Mover earnings by state and city were calculated based solely on data from moves booked and completed through the HireAHelper platform and their partner sites. Earnings figures are indicative of the amount earned minus fees.
The number of moving companies was calculated using the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Business Survey (count of companies listed under “Transportation”) and Yelp API (number of companies listed as “movers”).
The number of moves was taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, specifically the Annual Social and Economic Supplements as available through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.
Illustrations by Maria Trigueros

How To Improve Your Business by Keeping Your Moving Crew Happy

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Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Virgin Airways and four hundred other companies, doesn’t think that success in business means putting customers first.

“Clients do not come first,” he says. “Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.

So how do we create a happy, satisfied crew? There are as many ways as there are businesses, but keeping your people happy comes down to a handful of things. 


Five Ways To Keep a Satisfied Crew

1. Solid Communication 

a mover speaks on the phone to other crew members

The moving business is always, well, moving! So there need to be constant and clear conversations about what’s going on, from the office all the way to the job site. Be straightforward about what you expect from your team (like cleaning out the trucks at the end of the day), and what they can expect from you (like keeping the trucks in good working shape with regular repairs and maintenance forms). 

 

“Moving is a physically demanding job that requires constant teamwork. Lead by example to foster a culture where everyone is willing to step up and help out their fellow crew at every turn.”

 

As a business owner running operations, it’s critical that your crew understands that they can come to you with questions, concerns, and complaints. So regularly ask them how things are going and if there’s anything they need — while keeping them informed of issues they need to watch for and handle, on each and every job.

Pro Tip: Be consistent with contact, no matter what else is happening. Early on in my operations manager days, when the crush of the summer was on us, I got into the bad habit of only calling my crews when there was a problem. They learned pretty quickly to avoid answering their phones!

2. Safe Working Conditions

a moving crew uses a hand truck to safely move a fridge

It’s imperative to protect your number one asset: your crew. Provide them with the equipment they need to do their job safely — hand trucks, straps, ramps, dollies, piano boards — and make sure it’s all in good working order. Also, give them all the training they need to carry out their strenuous work without damaging anything or hurting themselves. 

Maintaining safe working conditions extends to your crew members’ personal well-being too. They may seem superhuman to your customers, but your crew needs to take periodic breaks, keep themselves hydrated (especially in the heat of the summer rush!), and get adequate rest between jobs. Communicate with them to make sure they are taking care of themselves, and outline clearly how often they should be resting. 

It creates mutual trust when your crew knows you care about their well-being. For example, years ago I had my four strongest movers working on moving someone out of their home. The customer insisted that two men had originally hauled a piano down several flights of stairs, so four should be able to coax it back up. I decided on the spot that we would have to find another solution; I wasn’t going to risk my workers getting injured. The customer wasn’t happy, but my crew saw that they mattered — to the company and to me.

HireAHelper is a nationwide marketplace where you can compare and book local movers to help you pack, load and unload your moving truck or container.

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3. Competitive Compensation

This shows you value your crew and their hard work, and encourages retention. Compensation can include overtime pay, performance bonuses, appropriate raises and promotions, and paid training. Paid sick leave, properly administered, shows your crew that you care about both their well-being and their financial situation. Having your workers come in when they aren’t well because they need the cash from the job will not only put them out of action longer, but can also put them in harm’s way if they’re nauseous, dizzy, or exhausted. Not to mention, spreading illness can and will affect everyone — including customers!

 

“They may seem superhuman to your customers, but your crew needs to take periodic breaks, keep themselves hydrated (especially in the heat of the summer rush!), and get adequate rest between jobs.”

 

If circumstances allow, consider offering your crew assistance with managing their finances with an eye on the future. 401(k) and IRA accounts are two ways to save a percentage of one’s paycheck that can be relatively easily implemented. Thinking long-term isn’t just a matter of money; the effort can have a tremendous positive impact, even on the crew members who aren’t participating. Just knowing you are interested in their future creates a lasting sense of loyalty.

4. Positive Company Culture

two movers shake hands and talk in front of customers

This might seem like a complex, vague problem to tackle — what counts as “company culture”, anyway? — but it’s manageable. Depending on what your crew responds to best, you can pick and choose which (or all) of these points to focus on: 

  • Share your company vision: Verbalize what you want to do and accomplish. Write it in big bold letters and put it where everyone can see it. Put it into action with every decision you make and every action you take, and encourage your crew, by word and by deed, to do the same.
  • Exercise and promote collaboration: Moving is a physically demanding job that requires constant teamwork. Lead by example to foster a culture where everyone is willing to step up and help out their fellow teammate at every turn.
  • Instill respect: Your crew should show kindness and regard for both customers and each other. Until they say otherwise, addressing all customers as Mr. and Mrs./Ms./Miss is a surprisingly effective first practice. And so is instructing your crew that they should treat each other with the utmost professionalism even in high-stakes and stressful environments. 
  • Consider your crew members’ personal needs: Just like you, they have life circumstances and family responsibilities outside of work. Issues that, if properly addressed, can make a difference not only on the job but in the life of someone who shows up for you every day. Understanding and being flexible about your individual crew members’ well-being outside of work can be as powerful as anything you do for them on the job.
  • Show your appreciation: Recognize honest effort and good performance, both in front of the group and one-on-one. Being recognized for one’s efforts makes a person feel appreciated. And feeling appreciated, more than anything else, is what drives performance and creates satisfaction.

5. Connection

One of those things that you can’t see but is still very real. This is the sense of belonging your workers feel when they’re satisfied and attached to their job. 

This is not something you can directly foster, but you can create it, by putting into action those other ideas up there. In other words, when it appears, you can take it as a sign you’re doing something right. Connection is also a good thing to ask your crew about in order to gauge their feelings about the job. Do they feel like they’re an important part of the company whole, or an important part of their team?

Use their answers or how their answers change — to gauge how well you’re implementing any of the other tips and concepts to help improve your business. And when you finally get that sense of connection, you’ll know you’re well on your way to having a happy and fulfilled crew.


As Richard Branson would say, “If your employees are happy and enjoy what they do, they will be productive. Consequently, the customers will enjoy their experience with your company and keep coming back for more.

Or at least write you a positive review! 

How To Get the Most Out of Your Customer Reviews if You’re a Mover

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If you’re a business with any kind of online presence, your customers are talking about you … somewhere. And you can bet people are reading it!

Customer reviews can make or break your business — especially for moving companies. In general, 93% of consumers read reviews before making a purchase. Meanwhile, 49% of consumers say they trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations.

If your online profiles show a string of negative reviews — or even just comments from customers that were never acknowledged or addressed — you are almost certainly losing out on bookings. Once you understand how you can leverage them to your benefit, you’ll quickly come to embrace customer reviews, even if they’re negative! Here’s how.


Where Do Moving Customers Leave Reviews?

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Reviews on HireAHelper.com

Aside from your website, there are a number of places where customers can leave reviews about their experience working with your company. You could have reviews out there that you never even knew about. 

Here are some common sites that feature customer reviews:

  • Google My Business: Google is often the first place people go when they are researching a company. By creating a Google My Business profile, you allow your customers to leave reviews directly on your Google listing.
  • Yelp: Yelp collects business reviews for virtually all industries, including moving companies. (But no customer service!)
  • Facebook: If your moving company has a Facebook business page, customers can leave reviews there. These reviews are visible to anyone who visits your page.
  • Better Business Bureau (BBB): The BBB is a legacy source of business reviews, and they have a specific category for moving and storage companies.
  • Angie’s List: Angie’s List is a well-known site where customers can leave reviews for all types of service providers, including movers.
  • HomeAdvisor: HomeAdvisor is a platform where homeowners can find and vet contractors for all kinds of services, including moving services.
  • HireAHelper: As the largest mover marketplace on the internet, there are over a quarter of a million mover reviews on HireAHelper. They handle nearly all customer communication and coordination for you, but you get to personally respond to any reviews left by customers if you want.

How Do You Improve Your Customer Reviews?

movers reviews

Yes, all businesses should encourage customers to leave reviews.

It’s important to respond to them in a thoughtful and respectful manner, regardless of whether they’re positive or negative. However, there are some steps you can take to improve the quality of reviews and increase the number of positive ones.

moversRespond to ALL reviews

Responding to reviews shows appreciation for the customer’s time and effort — not just to them, but to everyone reading.

And make sure it’s an original response — no matter what — and never copied and pasted! It conveys that your moving business values their input and is listening to their experiences and feedback. You will ultimately leverage these reviews to improve your business and increase revenue.

However, it’s crucial to handle your original responses with care. A poorly crafted or defensive response can severely damage your reputation. Ideally, responses to customer reviews should be professional, courteous, and aimed at resolving any issues.

Responding to positive reviews

Who doesn’t love a happy customer? But there are still some important things to remember:

  • Yes, make sure you take the time to respond to positive reviews. And even though it’s a positive review, maintain a professional tone in your response.
  • Be sure to personalize your responses by addressing the reviewer by name. This shows you value them as an individual and not just a customer number. It’s also important to express sincere thanks for the time the customer took to leave a review. You can say something like, “Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a fantastic review.”
  • If the review includes specifics about what the customer liked, reinforce those elements in your response. For example, “We’re thrilled to hear that you loved our moving service, especially the part about…”
  • Encourage the reviewer to return to your business, and that you appreciate recommendations to friends and family.

HireAHelper is a nationwide marketplace where you can compare and book local movers to help you pack, load and unload your moving truck or container.

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Responding to negative reviews

Here’s the hard part of dealing with reviews … no matter how much time and effort you put into running your business the right way, there are bound to be a few dissatisfied customers. Maybe one of your movers accidentally chipped a table, or perhaps your customer was just having a bad day and decided to take it out on your review page.

Here’s what to do:

  • Act quickly: Respond to negative feedback as soon as possible. A swift response shows that you care about customer satisfaction and are serious about resolving their concerns.
  • Always begin by acknowledging the customer’s concerns and offering an apology for their experience. Even if you believe your business did nothing wrong, you can still express regret that they had a negative experience. Empathy can go a long way in diffusing a negative situation. 
  • It’s natural to feel defensive when you receive a negative review, but it’s crucial to address negative reviews constructively and empathetically. It can turn a dissatisfied customer into a satisfied one and show potential customers that you’re dedicated to resolving issues. (Remember that your response is public and will be seen by future  customers!)
  • Definitely don’t delete negative reviewsone study found that 62% of consumers say they won’t buy from a brand they think censors online reviews. (In other words, people are suspicious of 100% 5-star reviews, and for good reason!)
  • If the customer has mentioned specific issues, quickly hone in on them in your response. This shows that you have carefully read their review and are responding to their particular situation. Then, propose a way to resolve the issue, whether it’s a partial refund, further conversation offline, or some other solution.
  • Remember to thank them! Yes, even for negative reviews. The feedback can help you improve your business, and showing appreciation for that can help repair the relationship with the upset customer.

The Hidden Benefits of Customer Reviews

mover reviews

Reading your customers’ reviews is about more than feeling warm and fuzzy when they have something nice to say. There are a number of benefits of customer reviews for a moving business, whether positive or negative.

  • Drastically improve sales: Maybe not a “hidden” benefit, exactly, but positive reviews will help seal the deal with future potential customers. The more positive reviews you accumulate, the more business you’ll likely book. Simple, right?
  • SEO benefits: “SEO” stands for “search engine optimization”. Basically, search websites like Google, Bing and Yahoo consider customer reviews in their algorithms for what websites they show when people search for stuff. Having lots of reviews will help your business rank higher in result pages when people are searching for local moving companies. Huge!
  • Customer engagement and retention: You want customers to engage with your brand, and reviews are one of the best ways to do this. Your efforts are not only appreciated, but they result in more brand recognition and ultimately, return business.
  • Super direct feedback: Reviews provide honest feedback about your moving business, which you can use to identify areas of improvement.
  • Credibility: Having reviews at all significantly boosts a business’s credibility and reputation. How many times have you Googled something just to check if it was a real thing? 
  • Customer knowledge: Reviews can also provide you with valuable insights into your customers’ preferences, needs and expectations. You may be surprised what areas continue to be brought up that maybe you deprioritized, or weren’t even aware about!

How To Encourage Customers To Leave Reviews

So how can you encourage your customers to leave reviews to boost your business marketing efforts? Here are some ideas:

  • Just ask: Sometimes, the simplest way to get reviews is just to ask. You can do this at the end of a transaction, via email, or even on social media. Explain how much you appreciate customer feedback and how it helps your business.
  • Make it super easy: Be sure the process for leaving a review as simple as possible. Provide direct links to your review profiles in emails or on your website. If the process is too complicated, customers will almost never leave you a review.
  • Incentivize reviewers: Offer a small incentive to encourage customers to leave a review. Some people give small discounts, gift card giveaways, or things like that. Just don’t get carried away and seem like you’re attempting to purchase their review.
  • Follow up: After you complete a move for a customer, follow up via email or text message to ask for a review. You can use this opportunity to thank them for their business and request their feedback. (It’s worth noting HireAHelper automates this for all your HireAHelper jobs, so your reviews will come in like clockwork.)

What To Do After You Get Reviews

mover reviews

So now you have plenty of customer reviews to work with. Good job! But what, exactly, can you do to use those reviews to boost your business after you get them?

  • Share reviews on social media: Sharing positive reviews on all social media platforms can help spread the word about your great customer service or products.
  • Highlight reviews on your website: Consider creating a dedicated “Testimonials” section on your website. This can be one of the first places prospective customers visit to determine if they want to book your movers (Don’t have a website? Setting up a free profile on mover marketplace websites is that much more important if you don’t have a nice one of your own!)
  • Use in marketing materials: Positive customer reviews can be used in your marketing and promotional materials, whether it’s a brochure, email campaign, or online advertisements.
  • Inform service development: Positive reviews can give you a sense of what you’re doing right, what customers appreciate most about your moving services, and what makes your business stand out. This information can be instrumental in developing new services or refining existing ones.
  • Motivate your team: Positive customer reviews aren’t just a great tool for growing your business internally — they’re also helpful for motivating your team internally. Sharing positive reviews with your team can boost morale and show your team that their efforts are recognized and appreciated by customers.

Keep in mind that you should request permission from customers before publicly using their reviews, particularly if you’re using them in a broader marketing campaign or sharing them in a public space beyond the platform where they were originally posted.


On the surface, customer reviews might seem inconsequential or even be a bit of a nuisance. If your moving business is already doing well, you might not think it’s important to invest time into responding to customer reviews and fostering more of them.

However, ignoring reviews could mean leaving money on the table. Customers are going to review your business whether you engage with them or not, so you might as well take advantage of the opportunity to improve customer service, increase credibility, and drive more sales.

Los Angeles Moving Guide

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Category: Local Moving, Moving Advice, Moving Checklists & Planning

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Whether you’re planning a local move in Los Angeles, or arriving to L.A. from another city, you probably already know that your experience can go a lot of different ways depending on the choices you make during your planning phase. A little information can go a long way toward eliminating stress before, during, and after your move.

As someone who’s moved around L.A. and across the U.S., I can assure you that as challenging as moving may be in this city, there are steps you can take to make it much easier. And this is the perfect place to start: A guide to saving time and money when you’re moving in Los Angeles, based on HireAHelper’s data from completing nearly 19,000 household moves across L.A. County.

Hiring Los Angeles Movers

two movers loading a moving truck

The most important factor in how smoothly your move will go is who you hire to help you. Just like in any city, in L.A. you’re going to find a mix of reliable, less reliable, and downright shady movers, so you’ll want to do your research. As a general rule, make sure they’re insured and licensed. It’s also helpful to look through reviews from prior customers and choose a company with lots of positive feedback across platforms.

Los Angeles Moving Options

If you’re moving to Los Angeles, you essentially have three ways to move:

  1. Do It Yourself (DIY). This is the most cost-effective way to move because, as it says on the tin, you’re pretty much planning to do everything yourself: packing boxes, loading your rental truck, and renting that truck in the first place. And while some people in their younger years can get away with bribing friends into helping them with some of that work in exchange for pizza and beer, I can attest that it gets harder and harder to go that route when your friend circle consists of harried adults with packed schedules and back problems.
  2. Hybrid. This type of move is meant to be the best of both worlds — DIY plus hiring a little help. You’ll save some money by renting the truck and doing the driving yourself, and you’ll also find professionals to help with the heavy lifting. This option is also useful if you’re using a storage container to transport your stuff. Professionals are experts at packing trucks and containers, and they’re quicker at it than you’ll be, so you might end up saving yourself time as well as money.    
  3. Full-Service. With full-service moves, you’re not only paying a company to transport your items, but also to load and unload your belongings. They can even help with packing! If it’s within your budget, full-service moving can take a lot of the weight off your shoulders — and when it comes to moving, that pressure can be quite literal. If you’re moving long-distance or across the country, this option is particularly useful, as you can rest assured all the details are taken care of so you can focus on other aspects of your move. A word of caution, though: since you’re dealing with someone else’s timeline, this option is also the least flexible.

Planning Your Los Angeles Move

a woman sits on a chair with a laptop. She's surrounded by packed boxes as she plans a move

After choosing which option above best fits your needs, it’s time to plan the rest of the details. Here are some questions to sort out before hiring movers or otherwise finalizing your Los Angeles move.

How Much Do Movers in Los Angeles Cost?

According to HireAHelper’s data, hiring a moving company in Los Angeles costs $517 on average. This amounts to approximately $172 per hour (using the average time frame for a move). Of course, the price of moving can vary depending on various factors, including how many movers you’re expecting to help and how big of a house you’re moving.

 

“Consider [a medium rental] the Goldilocks of trucks, because it’s “just right” for most standard moves…[and] could fit anywhere from a one-bedroom to a three-bedroom apartment (up to 1,200 square feet).”

 

If you have an outsized number of belongings for your space, if you own any oversized or overweight furniture, or if you have anything especially fragile or difficult to move, make sure to mention this to your movers upfront, as this might factor into your quote. It’s better for everyone to know what to expect before the big day arrives!

The best way to budget is to look at quotes specific to your own move. You can start with this moving cost calculator.

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How Long Does Moving in Los Angeles Take?

If you’re moving an entire house, it’s possible that the move will take almost a full day. On average, moves can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours to complete. But generally speaking, the average Los Angeles move is about 3 hours.

How Many Movers Do I Need for my Move in Los Angeles?

Most moving companies will send a minimum of two movers for jobs that will take at least two hours. They might have specific requirements about how many you can, or must, reserve, depending on your move type. You can learn more about how to determine the number of movers you might need here. That being said, most L.A. area moves require two movers, according to data from HireAHelper.

What Size Truck Do I Need When Moving in Los Angeles?

a moving truck full of boxes and furniture parked in front of a line of homes

The size of your moving truck all comes down to the size of your move — and that’s usually roughly estimated in terms of how many rooms you’re moving. Here are some of the standard moving truck sizes to consider:

  • Small Truck (10–13 feet): Technically, this size truck could work for all move sizes if you don’t mind making multiple trips, but if you’re hiring hourly moving help, it’s best to reserve small trucks for moving studio apartments, or about 400–600 square feet of living space.
  • Medium Truck (14–17 feet): Consider this the Goldilocks of trucks, because it’s “just right” for most standard moves. Depending on how much stuff you’ve actually got, this could fit anywhere from a one-bedroom to a three-bedroom apartment (up to 1,200 square feet).
  • Large Truck (18–24 feet): If you live in a full-sized home with up to four bedrooms (1,200–1,800 square feet of living space), then you’ll definitely want this larger truck size.
  • Extra-Large Truck (26+ feet): While I don’t know too many people personally with a minimum of five bedrooms in Los Angeles, I do know they exist. If this describes your home, it’s good to know there are extra-large moving trucks that can hold households of up to 2,400 square feet.

When Is the Best Time to Move in Los Angeles?

a view of the Los Angeles skyline at sunset. Behind the skyscrapers are the San Gabriel mountains.

HireAHelper has collected the following data for the best times to move:

  • Best Time of the Month to Move: The 13th is the least busy day of any calendar month to move in Los Angeles.
  • Best Time of the Week to Move: Los Angeles’s least busy day of the week to move is Sunday.
  • Best Time of the Day to Move: The least busy time of day to start a move in Los Angeles is around 7 a.m.
  • Best Month to Move: This one really depends on your personal situation, like when your lease is up or how much cash you have on hand. If you’re looking to save some mula, Curbed reveals you might be able to get the best deals on rent in L.A. in November. On the other hand, if you care more about real estate scarcity, the best months for unit availability in Los Angeles are November and December, according to RentHop.

Good Luck with Your Move!

Even for the luckiest people, moving in Los Angeles is no walk in the park. My hope is that this guide can save you some headaches and spare your wallet. When you’re ready to take the plunge, explore your moving options with HireAHelper.com.

How To Get a DOT License for Your Moving Company

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One term that gets tossed around, especially if you’re a commercial vehicle driver, is “DOT License”. Which is intriguing, since no such thing exists. This is because a DOT License is a pretty broad term, and refers to any license required to drive commercial vehicles or carry certain goods.  

The reason why it’s so vague is that between the federal government and the state-level transportation agencies, there are countless rules and laws governing the moving industry. And among these rules and laws, there are approximately one gazillion different terms for the licenses, permits, and authorizations necessary to operate a moving company.

In the end, they all get shoved under one heading: DOT License 


What Is a DOT License?

a front view of the entrance to the United States Department of Transportation in D.C.

In general terms, a DOT License allows you to legally operate a commercial motor vehicle. But to be accurate, there is no such thing as a “DOT License”. 

While the federal government, through the Federal Motor Carrier Association (FMCSA), enforces rules and regulations regarding trucking and transportation throughout the country, each state determines its own motor vehicle licensing standards. Not surprisingly, these standards and the terms they use vary from state to state.

In other words, “DOT license” is an umbrella term for any license dispensed by the Department of Transportation that’s required to drive — in your case — a moving truck commercially.  

So I Don’t Need a DOT License?

a man in blue overalls stands in front of a loaded moving truck. There are a few boxes and a ladder next to him, and he's writing on a clipboard

As a mover, you need to obtain and maintain motor carrier authority: a license that allows you to transport someone else’s belongings for a fee. The terms used to refer to this authority vary from state to state, but every state requires a mover to apply for and obtain authorization before engaging in providing moving services. 

 

“…[A]s the owner of a moving company, you are also subject to the federal rules, laws, and regulations for operating authority set forth by the FMCSA, even if you never cross state lines.”

 

Note that motor carrier authority is different from a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which instead permits the carrier to operate certain larger types of trucks. As an example, operating a straight truck with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 26,000 pounds in the State of Colorado requires a Class B CDL. Driving a 15-foot UHaul in Colorado – and in every other state – requires only a regular everyday driver’s license. So, depending on the state, you might need multiple licenses if the trucks you’re typically driving call for it

Either way, if you are transporting someone else’s belongings as part of a business transaction, you need motor carrier authority, which in Colorado means obtaining a Household Goods Movers permit.

How Do I Obtain a DOT License?

two workers in blue overalls sit in the cab of a moving truck

Again, you aren’t getting a DOT License per se. What you need is that motor carrier authority. And just like the terms for motor carrier authority differ across the various states, so does the process of obtaining that authority. And you can also check out how to start a moving company for more information on the basics. 

Do note that as the owner of a moving company, you are also subject to the federal rules, laws, and regulations for operating authority set forth by the FMCSA, even if you never cross state lines.

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So while there’s no such thing as a DOT license, as a mover you do need to be licensed by the DOT. Find out what your particular state calls it, and get moving down your road to full motor carrier authority.

2023 Study: The Shocking Rise of Eviction- and Foreclosure-Related Moves

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Key Findings

  • Over 200,000 Americans had to move due to eviction or foreclosure in 2022 
  • The number of eviction/foreclosure-related moves rose 56% from 2021 to 2022
  • California (+411%), Florida (+187%) and Massachusetts (+105%) saw the highest increase in moves following evictions and foreclosures 
  • Single parents (43%) and single mothers (79%) were more likely to move due to eviction or foreclosure than their married or childless counterparts
  • Black (+23%) and Hispanic (+14%) people were more likely to be among those forced to move after losing their home compared to white Americans
  • One in six (16%) of renters report being “very likely” to get evicted in the next two months in 2023  

One of the most striking and worrying findings from our latest migration report was that last year, the number of Americans who moved due to “foreclosure or eviction” was 56% higher than the year prior.

To better understand this trend, we delved into these worrying figures to see who has been the most affected, as well as to highlight where in the United States the number of moves resulting from evictions and foreclosures is rising most rapidly.

evictionsEviction- and Foreclosure-related Moves on the Rise

Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, a big reason for this jump in evictions and foreclosures was due to the fact that America’s homeownership and homelessness problems are getting worse.

These numbers were made worse in large part due to rising inflation, as well as federal rent assistance running out. These factors caused foreclosures and evictions to spike in 2022, which left thousands of Americans in need of a new home they can afford. (More on this below.)

How many foreclosures were there in 2022?

Based on data from ATTOM, a private real-estate data agency, there were 324,237 foreclosures in the U.S. in 2022.

(It’s worth noting that while this is more than double (+115%) the number of foreclosures in 2021, that figure is still lower than pre-pandemic levels.)

How many evictions were there in 2022?

While foreclosure statistics are more readily available, hard data on evictions is notoriously sparse due to being recorded inconsistently, often in hand-written form, or not recorded at all.

 

“While a few cities (such as Los Angeles) extended eviction moratoriums through to 2023, for the most part, all those protections are now gone in virtually all U.S. states.” 

 

According to the data from Eviction Lab, an eviction data research agency out of Princeton University, eviction filings saw an 81% uptick in 2022. (However, that stat only covers 32 cities across the ten states they are currently able to track.)

How have these trends affected moving within the US?

While the total number of eviction/foreclosure-related moves is lower than it was in the mid-2010s (it’s been falling steadily since 2017), that all changed dramatically last year.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that as many as 204,000 Americans were forced to move in 2022 after being evicted or having had their property foreclosed — which resulted in a rate increase of 56% — the highest since the pandemic started. 

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Why Foreclosures and Evictions are On the Rise: End of Federal Protections and High Inflation

If eviction- and foreclosure-cited moves jumped 56%, then it follows that the growth in the number of evictions and foreclosures must have also spiked significantly … right?

 

“Black (+23%) and Hispanic (14%) people are much more susceptible to being evicted or losing their homes to foreclosure than their white counterparts.”

 

But according to some experts, they didn’t. Statistically, both evictions and foreclosures were actually artificially reported as “low” in the preceding years of 2020 and 2021, because would-be eviction and foreclosure moves were uniquely held at bay by pandemic-related protections instated by the U.S. government for both homeowners and renters, at both the federal and state levels. With those protections now fading away, that rate couldn’t sustain itself.

On top of that, people had to simultaneously deal with historically high inflation and mortgage interest rates, making their financial situation even more precarious. 

What were the pandemic-era protections for renters and homeowners?

As part of the legislative pandemic response in the United States, the CARES Act provided new foreclosure moratoriums and mortgage forbearance options for homeowners at the federal level.

Meanwhile, renters received help in the form of rental assistance and a moratorium on all evictions. But most of these protections ran out in the middle of 2021, just as America was economically moving past the pandemic.

While a few cities (such as Los Angeles) extended eviction moratoriums through to 2023, for the most part, all those protections are now gone in virtually all U.S. states. 

The States Where Eviction and Foreclosure Moves are Spiking Most

Figures from the U.S. government’s Current Population Survey suggest California is the state where the number of moves forced by eviction and foreclosure jumped most significantly.

Another state experiencing a drastic rise in the number of foreclosure- and eviction-related moves was Florida. In the Sunshine State, the year-over-year growth rate of such moves was up 187% in 2022.

Massachusetts is the third and final state where eviction/foreclosure moves doubled year over year, rising by as much as 105% in 2022, compared to the year before.

Unfortunately, eviction-only data does not exist at neither the state nor federal level, making it next to impossible to make city-level comparisons. However, it’s safe to say that states that rank high on foreclosure-related graphs may also be unfortunate candidates for eviction-related ramifications.

 

“The U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey found that in February 2023, 16% of renters said they were likely to be evicted within two months.”

 

People of Color and Single Parents: Demographics of Eviction and Foreclosure Movers

Reflecting the demographics of eviction movers, it’s people of color and single parents who are much more likely to report being at risk for eviction in early 2023.

Single parents are 43% more likely to be among those moving due to eviction and foreclosure than those married or those without children in the household. For single mothers, the over-representation rate sits at 80% more likely to be evicted and foreclosed on.

As frequently reported, single parents and especially single mothers were much more likely to drop out of the labor force to take care of children during the pandemic. They were also much more reliant on COVID-related protections from the government, without which many now struggle to afford their home.

Consistent with findings of previous studies, Black (+23%) and Hispanic (14%) people are much more susceptible to being evicted or losing their homes to foreclosure than their white counterparts.

Age-wise, members of Generation X (+33%) are most over-represented among those who had to move after losing their homes. Interestingly, millennials were 16% less likely to be among eviction and foreclosure movers in 2022.

Renting on the Brink: Risk of Eviction is Rising in 2023

Detailed statistics on the number of Americans getting evicted or losing their home to repossession may not exist, but we do have a good indication of how many are on the brink of losing their homes.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey found that in February 2023, 16% of renters said they were likely to be evicted within two months. About 4% of those who own their home reported being likely to have their home repossessed.

In volume, that’s 1.3 million renters and 175,000 homeowner households that may have to relocate due to being unable to keep up with rent or mortgage payments.

While the share of homeowners grappling with the risk of foreclosure is at a one-year low, the share of renters falling further and further behind in rent arrears is at a 5-month high.


Sources and Methodology
The number of eviction- and foreclosure-related moves over time, by state, and by demographic was collated from the Annual Social and Economic Supplements of the Current Population Survey, carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau and available via IPUMS.
Data on the risk of eviction and foreclosure over time and in February 2023 was taken from Household Pulse Survey, carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau to produce data on the social and economic effects of coronavirus and other emergent issues on American households.
Singular stats on evictions and foreclosures were taken from Princeton University Eviction Lab and ATTOM respectively. 
Illustrations by Alice Mollon

How To Avoid an Eviction: Eviction and Foreclosure Help Guide

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Category: Buying & Selling a Home, Movehacks

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Americans forced to relocate due to evictions and foreclosures went up 56% from 2021 to 2022, according to HireAHelper’s latest migration report. Unfortunately, that increase comes as no surprise, considering that federal legislation banning eviction during the pandemic expired in 2021.

That surge in eviction filings continues to affect households: A U.S. Census Bureau survey showed that as recently as February 2023, 40% of respondents felt they were at risk of eviction in the next eight months.

If you feel you might be at risk, here’s everything you need to know about how to avoid an eviction — or if you own your home, how to avoid a foreclosure.

How Does the Government Define “Eviction”?

eviction

An eviction is a process by which a landlord is legally enabled to force a tenant to leave a rental property.

This differs from…

a foreclosure, which is when a money lender seizes a property from the homeowner because they have fallen behind on their mortgage payments.

What happens when you go through the eviction process

The laws governing evictions and foreclosures vary by state, and the timelines and legal processes vary on a case-by-case basis. But as a general overview, here’s what the eviction process typically looks like:

  • You will receive an eviction notice (this is both mailed and posted on the property)
  • You have 30 days to respond by either vacating and/or paying any outstanding fees (such as overdue rent)
  • If you don’t pay your overdue fees and/or vacate, the landlord will likely file a complaint with the court
  • You’ll be officially notified of the date that you’ll need to appear in court
  • At your court appearance, you’ll be able to make a case as to why you shouldn’t be evicted
  • A judge will make a ruling on your case (you might be court-ordered to pay your fees and/or vacate; if you fail to do so, law enforcement can get involved to uphold the judge’s ruling; or you might win your case, in which case the eviction notice will be voided and removed)

 


“A U.S. Census Bureau survey showed that
as recently as February 2023, 40% of respondents felt they were at risk of eviction in the next eight months.”

 

 

What happens when you go through the foreclosure process

Meanwhile, the foreclosure process can be a little more varied, but often looks like the following:

  • You might begin accruing late fees just days after you miss a payment on your mortgage
  • 30 days after a missed mortgage payment, a borrower (aka homeowner) is considered “in default” of their payments (at this time, it’s important to reach out to the bank or lender and attempt to communicate any hardships or make arrangements to avoid further penalties)
  • Approximately 3-6 months following a missed mortgage payment, lenders can begin the foreclosure process. 
  • Accessable also to the public, you will receive a notice of foreclosure which will outline whether the foreclosure type is judicial, power of sale, or a strict foreclosure (the foreclosure type dictates the timeline, options, and proceedings for the homeowner)

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Your Renter’s Rights and Homeowner’s Rights

renters rights

While it’s a great idea for tenants and property owners to get legal counsel if they face an eviction or foreclosure, it also helps to get educated on your rights as a tenant.

Renter Rights

“Renters rights” refers to a broad set of protections for tenants. They help prevent landlords from evicting tenants anytime they simply want to, specifically without cause. While you should study up on local tenant rights in your particular region, and your particular situation, here are some things to know:

  • There are strict processes governing evictions. Your landlord can’t just lock you out of your apartment or force you to leave out of the blue! Steps they must take include providing notice in writing and giving you the chance to appear in court (see above).
  • If you’re taken to court, you don’t necessarily have a right to a government-provided attorney like you would in a criminal case. Be prepared to seek legal counsel on your own.
  • Evictions don’t happen overnight. There’s usually a fair and reasonable timeline governing the expectation that you vacate your home, even if your landlord has grounds to ask you to leave. Timelines vary by state and region, as well as your unique situation.
  • Your lease is the guiding contract in eviction disputes. You should be able to produce this document and use it to prove you’re living within established guidelines.

Homeowner Rights

Homeowners have rights, too, of course. Here is what to know if you might be facing foreclosure:

  • You have the right to remain on your property while seeking to dispute or prevent foreclosure. This is true up until you are court-ordered to vacate, at which time you are given a certain date to vacate.
  • You have the right to retain an attorney, but one might not be granted to you for free the way one is in a criminal court case. You should look into laws in your area and see what’s available to you in your financial situation.
  • Many services try to swoop in when people are facing foreclosure and take advantage of the situation by pretending they can help or offering too-good-to-be-true foreclosure resources. Just so you know, you’re protected by law from harassment, scams, or egregious sales tactics. Your legal counsel can help with cease-and-desist notifications, but simply making these entities aware that you know your rights can go a long way.
  • You have a right to participate in all meetings, settlement conferences, and court hearings regarding foreclosure of your home.
  • Most importantly, you have the right to settle your balance on your home and retain ownership up to the date that it is foreclosed on.

How To Stop an Eviction

eviction

If you’re concerned about being forced out of your home, but you’re not yet facing this reality, you can still take action.

Here are a few steps you can take now to avoid a foreclosure or stop an eviction:

  1. Communicate your intentions: “Well, of course I want to stay in my home,” you might be thinking. But your intentions might not be that obvious to an institution like a bank or property management company. It can be helpful to reach out to a real person and explain that you would like to try and resolve the situation at hand. Even if you need a little time to sort things out, you’re more likely to keep matters from escalating in the meantime if you communicate your intentions early (and then, of course, back them up with actions).
  2. Be proactive — and act fast: In many cases, eviction and foreclosure cases can be resolved by taking action to resolve the issue at the center of the case. This might be a matter of paying off an outstanding balance or making repairs. The sooner you demonstrate your willingness to resolve the matter, the more likely your landlord, lender, or the other party will be open to pausing proceedings and working with you.
  3. Consider taking out a loan: Many times, evictions and foreclosures come down to money issues, like late payments. Taking out money from a third-party to settle the matter is not always a possibility, or the smartest move. However, let’s say you missed a mortgage payment during a time of financial hardship, but you’re now gradually getting back on your feet. Taking out a loan that protects your investment and allows you to avoid moving fees might be worthwhile in the long run, since you know you’ll be able to pay it back (while still continuing to make mortgage payments on time going forward). Financial consultants can help you determine if this is the right choice for you. Bonus tip: For unbiased advice, seek out consultants who aren’t attached to a particular loan institution.
  4. Learn about free resources in your area. There are many government and not-for-profit resources that can help you navigate the complexities of an impending eviction or foreclosure. Learning what’s available in your specific state and city can save you a lot of headaches and heartaches. Experts with deep knowledge of the intricacies of your state’s laws can point you toward websites, forms, legal counsel, financial experts, and others to either stop an eviction or at least get help with the process along the way.

How To Avoid a Foreclosure

foreclosure

If you’ve already been served an eviction notice, or if you’re facing a potential foreclosure, there are still a few things you can — and should — do right away.

How to stop a foreclosure should always include these crucial things:

  1. Seek legal counsel. It helps to know your rights so that you’re not taken advantage of. However, you’ll also want to prepare the best possible defense in case you need to appear in court. Your landlord, a property management company, or a lender will surely bring an experienced attorney to these proceedings; you’ll stand the best chance by coming with one of your own — or consulting with one in advance.
  2. Consider your options for moving. Even if, understandably, you don’t want to leave, planning ahead can save you some money and anxiety, if worse comes to worse. Your plans might involve staying with friends or family for a while or getting a short-term rental in the area. You might want to get in touch with moving or storage companies and request quotes, just to get a sense of how much it will cost to move and what your options will be.

Knowledge Is Power

It’s stressful and scary facing the possibility of losing your home, but you can take some comfort knowing that there’s an entire process that needs to play out before that happens, and you’ll have a lot of opportunities to try and stop the eviction or foreclosure from progressing before it takes place.

The most powerful tool in your arsenal is knowledge. Understanding the legal processes involved and knowing your rights can mitigate your anxiety — but, more importantly, it can help you prepare the best possible strategy to avoid an eviction or foreclosure altogether.

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