Moving in San Diego? Here’s a Budget-friendly Guide

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Looking for cheap San Diego movers?

I hear ya. Cost is definitely one of the most important factors for people planning a move — however, it’s not the only one! Moving is stressful, time-consuming, and you’re handing most of your stuff over to relative strangers. A slightly higher cost for better quality and peace of mind is worth every penny. 

One of the key things to look for is a trustworthy moving company with professional, responsible movers. This is especially important in California, which has become notorious for moving fraud (especially for out-of-state moves). 

 

“Don’t be afraid to hire additional moving helpers. While it might feel like you’re paying more, if you’re hiring moving labor by the hour, you could wind up shaving some time off the move…”

 

But what does a reliable moving company look like?

For one, make sure that they have their insurance policies up to date and licenses (MC#/DOT) in order. You’ll also want to search for some positive reviews from real former customers. Moving insurance can give you peace of mind as well — so can opting for a moving provider that offers a service guarantee

Below are some must-know’s for moving to and around San Diego!


San Diego Moving Options

movers load a white upholstered chair into a moving van

There are generally three options for moving in San Diego: do-it-yourself, hybrid, and full-service.

  • DIY is going to be your most budget-friendly option. You’re not hiring professionals to help you out, so you just need to pay for your truck, your supplies, and so forth. The tradeoff is all of the extra time and labor your move will require.
  • Hybrid is the option where you pay for help for part of the move, but still do the transportation yourself. In other words, you pay for moving helpers to load or unload your things, while you rent and drive the moving truck.
  • Full-service means that movers come to your house, pack your things onto their own moving truck, drive your belongings to your new place, and unload everything into the proper rooms. There are some options that have you pack your own stuff into boxes first, but typically full-service takes care of your move from start to finish. Naturally, this means it’s the most expensive option

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.


San Diego Moving Costs

The moving style you pick from above will greatly impact how much you pay for your move. Keeping in mind that a number of factors can vastly skew the overall total cost of a move (including things like gas, moving insurance, overnight lodging, and more), here’s a quick overview of how moving costs might compare for these different options:

  • Local DIY move: $175–$475
  • Local hybrid move: $350+
  • Local full-service move: $700+
  • Long-distance DIY move: $1,000–$5,000+
  • Long-distance hybrid move: $1,300+
  • Long-distance full-service move: $2,000+

San Diego Moving Cost by Move Size

a moving truck being packed with furniture and boxes

Your costs will, of course, depend on the size of your own move. In most cases, final price is determined by the total volume of your belongings. But if you’re like me, trying to guess that number before you’ve packed a single box feels like some kind of high-pressure carnival game. The easier way to know how expensive your move will cost is to go by how many rooms you have.

 

“Most people in San Diego use a 20-foot truck to move their stuff. Naturally, people with less furniture might get away with something smaller…[while] those with very large homes might want to go for a large truck (18–24 feet long).”

 

Below, you’ll find cost estimates for different move sizes (including both loading and unloading) in San Diego:

Size Movers Needed Number of Hours Square Feet Avg. Move Cost*
Studio/Small Apt 2 4 Up to 800 $632
2–3 Bedroom Apt 2 5 800–1,200 $787
2–3 Bedroom House 3 7 1,000–1,500 $1,370
4+ Bedroom House 4 7 1,500–2,000 $1,960
*Labor only for a short-distance local San Diego move. This doesn’t include truck rental costs.

Of course, you’ll want to account for any additional factors, like whether your building has a lot of stairs (movers often charge for extra stairs) or if you have fragile or extra-heavy items (not a fridge, more like a hot tub).

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to hire additional moving helpers. While it might feel like you’re paying more, if you’re hiring moving labor by the hour, you could wind up shaving a ton of time off the move — which will save you way more money in the long run.


San Diego Movers FAQ

view of the san diego skyline

Now that we’ve covered the big-picture details, let’s take up some of the finer points. Here are some of the most popular questions about moving in San Diego.

How much do movers in San Diego cost?

In San Diego, an average move costs about $429*

That is the average cost of two movers working approximately three hours in San Diego. (See more averages in the chart above, or get a custom quote directly from HireAHelper.)

*Median cost of labor-only moves purchased within San Diego on HireAHelper.com in 2023

How long does moving take in San Diego?

Most moves in San Diego take three hours per job.

Factors include the size of the home you’re moving, if you’re having movers help with both loading and unloading, and the distance you’re traveling in between. Traffic and time of day also matter — a friend of mine once paid an extra $300 for her move simply because the truck got stuck in rush hour on the highway! Yikes!

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

How many movers do I need for my move in San Diego?

With two movers, you can complete most moves in San Diego in a reasonable time. Adding at least one more mover might expedite the process, which is recommended for larger homes.

Keep in mind moving companies have a minimum number of movers you’re required to hire per job, and that number is typically two. 

What size truck do I need when moving in San Diego?

Most people in San Diego use a 20-foot truck to move their stuff.

Naturally, people with less furniture might get away with something smaller — and, likewise, those with very large homes might want to go for a large truck (18–24 feet long). But for most people, a 20-foot truck should be just right.

When is the best time to move to San Diego?

The day of the week and time of year you choose to move can significantly impact your overall moving costs. Here are the best times to move for budget-conscious planners:

  • Expect to save in February: One reliable truth no matter where you’re moving in the U.S. is that it’s going to be more affordable during the winter — and the same is true in southern California. The most wallet-friendly month to move in San Diego is February.
  • Try to move on Mondays: Another helpful insight is the fact that weekdays, and especially Mondays, are prime moving days, as they’re less busy. Avoid rush-hour windows, like early morning and later in the afternoon, and instead aim to start your move at about 11 a.m.

It’s tough to know exactly how much any move will cost (financially, emotionally, or otherwise) at the start of your planning process. But by breaking down the essential choices about your move and using the data above, you can set realistic expectations and set the stage for a successful moving day.

2023 Study: Where, How and Why Are Americans Moving This Year?

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Key Findings

  • More than half (52%) of all moves in America take place in the summer
  • Our survey findings suggest 40% plan on moving at some point this year
  • ‘Family’ (30%) and ‘Wanting More Space’ (25%) are the top reasons for moving this year
  • A total of 38% are moving for financial reasons, such as inflation, cost of living, and housing unaffordability
  • Climate change is a factor mentioned by 15% of Americans planning to move this year
  • 40% of those moving intend to stay within their city, but 18% are set on moving to a different state
  • More than half (55%) of those not moving this year would move if they had the means

 

Every year, millions of Americans move, and over half (52%) of those moves take place during what we in the moving business call “moving season” — otherwise known as the summer months of May through August.

So what does the moving season hold for us this year? To get a sense of how many Americans intend to move, when they’re going to move, and what drives their moving decisions, HireAHelper conducted a nationally representative survey of 2,000 adults in the U.S. earlier this month.

 

“The state most people have their sights on is California, where 11% would move if finances weren’t an issue.”

 

38% of Americans we surveyed intend to move at some point in 2023, collectively citing “Family“, “Looking for More Space” and “Wanting To Save Money” as the top reasons. A further 35% would move if they could, but find themselves struggling to afford housing where they want to live, or are struggling to afford the move itself.

Let’s delve into the findings and see how Americans look ahead to the 2023 moving season.


Moves in the Making: Four in Ten Americans Plan To Move in 2023

an illustration of someone taping a box. In the corner it's labeled fragileAs we noted earlier, nearly four in ten (40%) of our survey respondents said they are planning to move at some point this year. 

Moving intent is highest among the younger generation, as almost half (49%) of Gen Z respondents reported a planned move for sometime in 2023. And while this intent is still strong with Millennials (42%), it gradually fades with age, and dropping to a reported 27% for Baby Boomers.

Interestingly enough, Parents (41%) are more likely to be planning a move in 2023 than Non-Parents (36%). That said, that only applied to families with one or two kids. For families with three or more children, the percentage of those staying put exceeds the percentage of prospective movers.

Renters (46%) are more likely to be on the move than Homeowners (30%). However, only 25% of renters who are moving expect to own their next home, as 59% of renters reported moving to another rental.

Where are people leaving?

an illustration of white plates and cups being wrapped in brown packing paper. A currently empty cardboard box sits nearbyAmong people living in America’s biggest metropolitan areas, the intent to move is highest in Washington, D.C. (72%) and Los Angeles, CA (55%). There, the majority of residents we surveyed reported having plans to move at some point this year.

In San Francisco, CA (47%), New York, NY (46%), Philadelphia, PA (46%), and Houston, TX (45%), the share of people who reported intent to move this year fell just below half.

Conversely, within the metros of Charlotte, NC (16%), Orlando, FL (32%), and Chicago, IL (32%), the moving intent is the lowest among all metros with a sufficient number of respondents.

At the state level, New Jersey residents seem most keen to move (56%), whereas those in North Carolina (24%) are least likely to relocate in 2023.


Family, Square Footage and Finances: Top Reasons Why Americans Are Moving in 2023

The number one reason for those intending to move this year was reasons related to “Family” (30%), (such as “Being Closer to Family Members,”) with “Wanting More Space or a Bigger Home” (~25%) being the second most popular choice.

 

“Those who do plan on hiring some help for their move are looking to spend an average of $675…[and those] who expect to move without hired help are looking to keep it at an average of $312.”

 

However, if we look at the financial reasons, we’ll find that many Americans are moving either because of  “Foreclosure/Eviction” (7.5%), “Can’t Afford (Their) Current Housing” (10.7%), “(Moving Somewhere With) A Lower Cost of Living” (15.3%), or “Inflation” (17.2%).

If we add up all the respondents that said at least one of these financial reasons applies to them, the total share of Americans who intended to move due to financial pressures rose to 38%.

an illustration of a canvas wrapped in bubble wrap. it's stood on top of other packed boxes. Granted, the higher rates of inflation from 2022 seem to have leveled out, but our findings suggest that financial pressures continue to compel a significant number of Americans to relocate.

The financial reasons above were mentioned at the following rates by these demographics:

  • Families with children (40%) compared to childless households (37%)
  • People of color (44%) compared to white Americans (36%)
  • Renters (41%) compared to homeowners (35%)

Other popular reasons for moving in 2023 include “New Job” (16.2%), which, in fact, is more popular than moving due to “(Becoming) Unemployed” (9.8%).

Curiously, and unfortunately, more people are moving due to an “End of a Relationship/Divorce” (10.3%) compared to those moving due to a “New Relationship or Got Married” (7.1%).

an illustration of boxes being moved with a dollyOne significant reason that’s beginning to factor into the moving plans of Americans is “Climate Change” (14.9%), which is in fact distinct from “Want Nicer Weather” (10.4%).

According to estimates based on U.S. Census Bureau data, climate change affects some 20,000 moves per year, with experts suggesting that figure is set to increase.


Getting Practical: Planned Moving Distance and Estimated Cost

Based on our survey responses, 40% of people who are planning to move in 2023 are staying within the same city, while 33% intend to leave their current city, yet still stay within the same state.

Impressively, 18% of respondents intend to move to a different state. Specifically among those respondents, their reasons given were for “Better Weather” (38%), a “New Job” (34%), “Being Closer to Family” (21%), and “Seeking a Lower Cost of Living” (21%).

Thinking about the cost of their move, 44% intend to spend between $100 and $500 on moving, with an overall average being slightly higher at $530. This estimate includes buying moving boxes, potentially renting a truck, maybe hiring movers, etc.

Needless to say, not all Americans who plan on moving intend to hire movers, but 52% of them do, while 48% either intend to execute the move themselves or haven’t decided yet.

Those who do plan on hiring some help for their move are looking to spend an average of $675 between boxes, truck rentals, and movers. Those who expect to move without hired help are looking to keep it at an average of $312. (This figure is in line with nationwide averages of moving costs.)

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.


Would If I Could: Common Barriers Preventing Americans from Moving

Quite a few Americans are planning to move this year, and the number could have been even higher if it weren’t for certain factors keeping people from moving.

Of those respondents that aren’t moving this year or aren’t sure yet, 55% would move if they had the means and opportunity. The main reason they can’t move? They can’t afford it. People claimed they “Can’t Afford To Move” (58%) or they “Can’t Afford Housing Where (They) Want To Live” (38%).

But it’s not just the financial worries that keep Americans from moving. About a quarter of respondents in our survey who’d move if they could selected “Would Be Too Far Away From (Their) Family” (24%), “Worried About Making a Big Change” (25%) or “Worried It May Not Work Out” (27%), respectively.

Perhaps these concerns, as well as the general decline in the percentage of Americans moving partially explains why, our study found that, on average, Americans now move an average of eight times in their lifetime, down from a 2007 estimate of 11.7 times.


Dream Destinations: Where Would Americans Move if Anything Was Possible

One question we asked in our survey was about the state Americans would move to if money was no object. 

The state most people have their sights on is California, where 11% would move if finances weren’t an issue. Notably, Hawaii and Florida were the dream destinations for 9% of Americans, while New York and Colorado were the top choices for an additional 5% of respondents. 

Texas — a state that’s recently been a popular destination for corporate moves — would also be the go-to place to be for 4% of respondents.

A surprising 4% would leave the United States altogether if they could, but as many as 9% of our respondents would not choose to leave their state, even if money was no object.


Sources and Methodology
All data, unless otherwise stated, have been derived from the findings of the survey HireAHelper ran via Pollfish in May 2023. The survey used a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults (18+) living in the United States.
Survey results were weighted by age, gender, and income using data extracted from the American Community Survey’s five-year data, collected from ~120,000 households.

Illustrations by Nero Hamaoui

Los Angeles Moving Guide

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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.

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

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.

The 8 Best Movers in Los Angeles According to Real Customers

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Are you about to move to the L.A. area? Or maybe you’re leaving the City of Angels for new adventures? In either case, I understand how overwhelming the process of packing up and shipping out can be.

As someone who spent years working in moving and storage, I know that who you choose to help you with your move can make all the difference. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if you’re picking the right Los Angeles moving company.

So without further ado, I give you this curated list of HireAHelper’s top Los Angeles movers (as of Spring 2023). This list is based on real customer reviews. You’ll find companies of all sizes, from well-recognized names to mom-and-pop shops, each with its own strengths and personality.

The 2023 8 Best Los Angeles Movers

Rigo’s Moving & Storage, Inc.

rigo's moving

Price: $113/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.9/5 stars (1,160 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Movers with a truck
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

Rigo's moving
Rigo’s Moving & Storage

Rigo’s is the #1 rated mover on this list and for a reason: they have completed more jobs on HireAHelper than any other moving company. They have a robust FAQs section, which displays their commitment to both customers and employees, and I appreciate that they transparently explain what to expect before and on moving day — this extra touch may seem small, but it speaks to their thoughtfulness and service standards.

What Real Customers Said:

Treating customer valuables like their own: Santiago & Benito are a great team. More attention to detail than I expected. Handled my property as if it was their own. If you’re hiring Rigos ask for these two amazing men.

Satisfaction from beginning to end: Fantastic work! Friendly, communicative, efficient, and ready to tackle the job, which was unloading a 16-foot moving truck into a two-bedroom apartment up a flight of stairs. Appreciated the confirmation call beforehand and all their heavy lifting.”


BC Moving Labor

bc moving labor logo

Price: $140/hour for two movers (after 2 hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (529 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Refund up to one unused hour over their minimum
  • Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)
bc moving labor
BC Moving Labor

Why I Love Them

Having opened its doors in 2016, BC Moving Labor is somehow “new” to the scene compared to others on this list, which goes to show how much valuable experience exists in the LA area. BC says they’re especially proud that they are fully family-owned and operated, which is reflected in their reviews: honesty, care, trustworthiness, professionalism, and hard work. (5 out of 5 stars after over 500 reviews is crazy!)

What Real Customers Said:

Expert puzzle solvers: They were amazing! I just stood there scratching my head at how Bernard could fit things together like a perfect puzzle. They got all my stuff into one large POD!! It didn’t look possible to me. I would highly recommend.”

Pro PODS packers: “These guys are awesome! I’ve dealt with a lot of movers and they were the best yet. Really smart with their packing of my pod, super nice and hardworking. They definitely surpassed my expectations and I would recommend them to anyone. Believe all the good reviews!!”


See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

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Easily book your help online.

 


Excellent Movers

excellent movers logo

Price: $125/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.9/5 stars (484 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 15% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.

Why I Love Them

While Excellent Movers provides no-frills, standard moving services, I appreciate their call out that no job is too small, which is a relief to all you apartment-dwellers out there. Even if you just need professional assistance getting a new sofa into your office, unloading heavy boxes at a storage unit, or unpacking for an event, Excellent Movers is happy to help. 

What Real Customers Said:

Challenge accepted and accomplished: Daniel was great to work with! He communicated very well, was on time and he and his workers did an excellent job. They worked very hard to get our ABF trailer filled, even though it was a challenging load. I would definitely recommend them and I would use them again.”

Stress-relieving rockstars: Thank you so much to Daniel and his crew! Moving is always stressful, but I have to say this is definitely the easiest move I’ve ever done. The scheduling process was super simple, Daniel contacted me the next day to confirm, and the day of the move they showed up early and jumped right in. They took great care of everything, and even went above and beyond to find a solution when an item wasn’t going to fit in the stairs or elevator. Will totally be using them in the future! These guys are rockstars, thanks again!”


Patriot One Movers

patriot one movers

Price: $129/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (654 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Same-day requests at normal rates
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Refund for any unused time over their minimum
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
patriot one movers
Patriot One Movers

Why I Love Them

With more than 13 years of experience, Patriot One Movers is the only business on this list with all 5-star reviews — a lofty accomplishment that shouldn’t be overlooked. They also hold the longest daily hours from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., which can come in handy for long moving days and urgent communications. Not to mention, they may be able to do a same-day request at normal rates! 

When people review Patriot One’s customer reviews, you often find recurring themes of professionalism, efficiency, and friendliness. 

What Real Customers Said: 

Earning repeat customers: First time working with these guys they were early and came prepared [and] brought tools and their own dolly etc. Worked quickly and efficiently. They were amazing! I’m using them again the following weekend for the second part of my move. 100% would recommend them to anyone.”

Words of praise from a seasoned mover: “This was my 14th move in the last 10 ten years, and Patriot One was THE best movers I’ve had. I was late arriving to my new home, and Frank was very accommodating and understanding of the situation. He was prompt and helpful when arriving the next morning, stayed with our truck because we had to park in a “no-parking zone”; he really put us at ease! The two movers he brought were the NICEST guys. They made sure everything was EXACTLY where I wanted it (even humored me by moving the rug and couch to the perfect spot). I can’t say enough good things about them. I really felt like my things were in great hands and treated with care and respect. You can feel confident with them and quickly check-off an item on your moving to-do list.”


Lucky Movers

lucky movers logo

 Price: $89/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (774 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 20% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.
lucky movers los angeles
Lucky Movers in Los Angeles

Why I Love Them

Lucky is the only company on this list that encourages customers to “call, email or text us” after booking a job. This friendly, open communication provides reassurance — especially for customers who are new to moving!

I also enjoyed their personality in their FAQs — from sharing that they enjoy the “workout” aspect of moving, to training their crew members to “pack a (PODS) or truck like playing the Tetris game.” Lucky Movers has a standout voice and seems to have a culture that embraces fun. 

What Real Customers Said: 

Flexible around the holidays: Ivan and Jose at Lucky Movers were awesome! They were patient with us as we had 2 moving date changes, and stuck with us on our Christmas Eve move. On time, careful with our belongings, polite, efficient, they were the whole package! We can definitely recommend Lucky Movers to anyone who has an upcoming move planned!”

Strong communication: Highly recommend these guys to help you move. They were great about keeping me in the loop as to when they’d arrive at my house, and got there when they said. Were careful with my stuff, and got my POD loaded in no time. Definitely will use them again.”


We the States Moving

We the states logo

Price: $75/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars (437 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Same-day requests (w/ 5% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time, no guaranteed availability beyond the prebooked time

Why I Love Them

We the States Moving is the most affordable company on this list and the only profile that contains a message in the “About Us” section from the owner, Jon — a thoughtful, personal touch.

Jon brings years of experience in the moving industry and supports a wide range of services, from state-to-state moves, to rearranging furniture in medical offices and spas.

What Real Customers Said:

Professionalism from start to finish: Jon did an incredible job. He figured out a way to pack 2 U-Boxes and we can’t believe he fit everything in there! He was a professional and really knew what he was doing. I would hire him again in a heartbeat. Thank you for the amazing service!!”

Accommodating last-minute arrangements: We the States Moving proved a lifesaver. I was tasked with an impromptu move and needed movers the same day, no scheduling. Well, through Hire A Helper, I found We the States Moving and they answered me promptly. They arrived on time, went right to work, did not slow down, packed and stacked my possessions with great care, and provided me with packing tips for future reference. I am forever grateful for We the States Moving for bailing me out at the last minute. I highly recommend them and would use them again.”


Black Eagle Moving

black eagle moving

Price: $100/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 5 out of 5 stars (151 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least two hours over the prebooked time
Note: No refund for unused time, no same-day requests.
Black Eagle Movers
Black Eagle Movers

Why I Love Them

Black Eagle has been on the scene for fewer than 10 years, but that’s been plenty of time to back up its service commitment. They make it very clear in their FAQs that the customer’s needs for their move are their first priority. 

Black Eagle also highlights that they have two-valued, highly trained teams of movers, emphasizing their commitment to quality and intimate approach.

What Real Customers Said:

Problem-solving on the spot: They arrived as scheduled and managed to find my apartment in a huge maze of a complex by themselves. I showed them what I had and they made a plan of action that went efficiently. I have a large library and ran out of boxes for books the day before, but they improvised a safe and easy way to get them in the container and for the journey. They also wrapped all of my furniture for protection and used far less space in the container than the last movers I used. Friendly, experienced, and fast. Highly recommend, particularly if you are using a container for the move.”

That magic touch: Enrique and his team have a magical power. They can take your pre-move stress levels and make them disappear! Arrived on time, packed everything beautifully, and seemed to make space in my U-Haul appear out of nowhere. I would highly recommend Black Eagle Movers!”


Thunderhorse Moving

thunderhorse movers

Price: $100/hour for two movers (after 2-hour minimum)

Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars (302 reviews) [as of Spring 2023]

What They Offer

  • Loading and unloading
  • Day labor
  • Movers with a truck
  • Next-day requests at normal rates
  • Ability to stay at least one hour over the prebooked time
  • Same-day requests (w/ 5% charge increase)
Note: No refund for unused time.
Thunderhorse Movers
Thunderhorse Movers

Why I Love Them

Thunderhorse is one of only two companies on this list that offers movers with a truck (Rigo’s is the other). They also call out their piano-packing expertise — undoubtedly a valuable service to musicians.

With long daily hours (8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week), available trucks, and middle-of-the-road pricing ($100/hr.), Thunderhorse is a well-rounded contender.

What Real Customers Said:

A happy homecoming: I moved here from Oregon and this crew of 3 amazing gentleman got the job done quickly in the worst heat wave. They unloaded a 26 ft U-Haul and a 16 ft. truck in 3 hours!!! They brought my items and boxes to each room we specified. They were polite, communicative, and extremely hardworking. 10/10 service! I would not hesitate to use this company again. I only hope I tipped generously enough for their hard work. I will absolutely recommend them to anyone I know who needs help moving or unloading.”

Going the extra mile: Jorge and team arrived on time and ready to go. They even brought an extra person to help make sure everything would get done as quickly as possible, which I appreciated. They were very fast and worked hard. I would recommend (them)!”


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From in-state relocations and long-distance moves to loading trucks and unpacking furniture, HireAHelper’s top Los Angeles movers span a range of services — as well as pricing — so you should have luck finding help with your move no matter what your budget and needs are. 

How To Save Money on Your Rental Truck’s Gas

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Category: Money Saving, Movehacks, Moving Trucks

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

rental truck move gas cost

U-Haul

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

 

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

 

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

rental truck gas cost

Penske

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

Budget

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

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

How can I lower rental truck fuel costs? 

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

 

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

 

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

1. Lightening your load will save you a lot

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

2. Fix your travel route

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

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

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

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

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

4. Slow down, lead foot

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

5. Avoid filling up at highway rest areas 

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

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

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

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

6. Ask for the newest vehicle on the lot

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

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

7. Balance your load 

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

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


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

We Asked 12 Professional Organizers How They Made Their Moves Easier

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While moving to a new home is exciting, it is also an overwhelming task due to all the things that need to be done before, during, and after you start enjoying new adventures and experiences. Just thinking about preparing for a big move can make you feel anxious. We reached out to expert home organizers and asked them for tips to help you overcome this task.

Read on to check out our list of easy moving and packing tips.

How do you get organized before moving?

Getting organized for a move requires a project management approach. You will have extensive lists and planning to help you keep your sanity.

  • Start with developing a timeline for your move. Work backward on your timeline to include dates the movers will load the truck, packers will arrive, the time you will be off residence while packing occurs, decluttering, change of address, optional items you will sell or donate before the move, and other items coming out of storage for your move. Record this timeline in your planner.
  • Add team members to your project. This includes movers, packers, professional organizers, childcare help, and other resources. It’s much harder to do this project entirely alone. Be sure to add the cost of all these additional tasks to add to your budget.
  • Start decluttering at least THREE months in advance, if you can. You can eliminate what you don’t use or need at your new residence. This saves you money and lowers your stress.
  • Keep your move organized with labels. Have plenty of markers available to write the contents on your boxes. You can label the boxes with a room name or assign a number to the room. Your movers will appreciate knowing that they can unload in the correct room without your direction because you have labeled the rooms and boxes.
  • Remember the “last in, first out” box, and your personal needs during this move. The last in, first out box should contain all the hardware for beds and the remote controls. These are vital to your happiness during the first 24 hours in your new home. Your personal needs items include medications and stuffed animals that must be a part of your first night in your home.
  • Keep calm and carry on! It will take a little longer than you like to settle in, even with every box unpacked. Happy moves happen with a plan!

-Ellen R. Delap at Professional Organizer

How exactly do you make a schedule for moving?

Moving has been ranked as one of the three most stressful life experiences! The good newsit doesn’t have to be. I’ve been helping people with all aspects of moving for over 15 years, and my biggest tip for less stress and a smooth move is to create a moving schedule with specific dates as soon as you decide to move. 

  • Start with an old-school blank calendar. Even if your whole life is digital, there is something about seeing your key dates on paper – starting with your move date and current commitments – that gives you a realistic overview of what to do when. 
  • Search online for “move checklist for a general sense of the steps involved. Most will have a 6-8 week plan. The checklist I use with clients is 18 pages long to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Customize the checklist to reflect your needs and time frame. If you’re moving locally, there’s less to do; there’s more to do if you’re planning to pack and move yourself and not use movers (Pro tip: unless your move is very small, it’s worth getting a free quote from movers – hiring movers is usually money well spent.) 

  • Make appointments with folks who can helpfrom professional organizers to help manage your move and declutter beforehand to movers to handymen to install your TV and window treatments.
  • Block out time in your main calendar to work on your move.
  • Stick to your schedule – and adjust as necessary. Plan for the unexpected!

By creating a realistic, comprehensive moving schedule, you’ll save yourself time, money, and aggravation and will feel in control of the process. Get started!

-Lisa Zaslow at Gotham Organizers

How do you pack kitchen items?

Use small boxes when packing a kitchen and label the boxes with the roomkitchen, dining room, or pantryand with the contents. 

Pare down your kitchen items as you pack. Get rid of any gadgets that only do one thing (avocado slicer, banana saver, lettuce knife, etc.) Movers charge by weight. If you have a set of china, crystal, or silver you haven’t used in years, get rid of that before you pay to move it! 

Use up the food and pantry items you already have and don’t buy anything in bulk for the last few months in your old house. If you come across expired foods and spices, throw those away as you pack.  

Finally, pack your kitchen in phases

Up to 2 months ahead:

Pack entertaining/party supplies or anything you know won’t need before you move. 

If you are moving far away, think ahead of time about who can use your extra food, toiletries, and cleaning supplies when you leave. Women’s shelters often take these kinds of things, even if they have been opened. 

Up to 2 weeks ahead:

Pack up everything else in the kitchen by category, leaving out the bare essentials. You want to leave enough plates and glasses, napkins, and sippy cups for your family to cook and eat for a day. Pack all but one pot and two pans, two dishtowels, etc. Think about what you’d find in a rental unit. Leave just the basics, nothing extra. 

The day before you move out:

Pack up these everyday supplies and food (if it’s a local move). Label those boxes “KitchenOPEN FIRST.” Once you arrive in your new kitchen, you can open those 2-3 boxes and make due until you have time to unpack fully. 

Nonnahs at Get Organized Already

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Tips for packing your clothes

My favorite tips for packing clothes begin with a plan!

Before I pull anything out of the closet, I make a list of the specialty pieces I may need for where I’m going (e.g., exercise clothes, swimsuit, ski jacket, etc.) I also note if I need multiples, like four pairs of ski socks, for four days of skiing.

Then, I make a note of how many days of clothes I’ll need, how many nights (pajamas), as well as anything else, like underclothes and belts. I’ll also look up the weather, so I know I want to take long-sleeved tops and not short sleeves. I’ll pull out however many of each item and scratch it off my list. I consider myself a “folder”, so I like to fold these items into stacks that will fit neatly into my suitcase or bag. But, if rolling works better for your wrinkle-prone pieces, please do so! Laying out the items in stacks or rolls also allows me to quickly assess whether I need a piece of luggage in a different size. Now that I’ve secured my clothes, I can snugly fit shoes, accessories, and toiletries in the space between clothes’ stacks and other pockets. 

-Amy Trager at Amy Trager

What order should you pack in?

Begin with the home areas that you use the least because you will have to live without these items from now until you have unpacked in the new space. Start with rooms you rarely use or are mainly used for storage, like guest bedrooms, rooms of children away at college, and the basement, attic, and garage. 

Consider whether you really need and want to keep the item. Keep a boxed marked “Donate” by the doorway. Any item that doesn’t make the cut for your new home should go there. As you pack, move carefully stacked, inventoried, and labeled boxes to one side so you can see your progress as items “disappear” and the boxes are filled.

Methodically move cabinet-by-cabinet, or drawer-by-drawer. However, because there may still be weeks (or more) until you move, you will now not only consider whether to move, donate or discard something, but you may need to keep it in place until much closer to moving day. 

If it’s winter, pack the summer clothes and shoes from your closets. In living or family rooms, keep the TV and sound system, but pack up the books, puzzles, photo albums, and games. In the linen closet, pack everything except one change of sheets per bed and a few extra blankets. In the kitchen for your remaining time at home, pack whatever you can live without (e.g., gadgets, small appliances you rarely use, specialty supplies, and items). In your home office, pack all of your files in bankers boxes, and pack office supplies you won’t need daily in a separate container. Box up financial files and essential documents related to the move separately to travel with you; don’t leave them with the movers.

In areas you use most often, envision what you’d pack if you were setting up a vacation cottage for just a few weeks. Only leave minimal cookware, enough supplies to prepare simple meals, and adequate silverware, plates, and glasses to serve your needs for your time away. Then, pack everything else, leaving only your imaginary vacation essentials unboxed until right before moving day!

While packing, if you find something in the “wrong” space, move it to the room that corresponds to where it will go in your new house.

Finally, the only things left to pack should be what you will need for the first few days in your new home. Use a small suitcase or duffel bag for each person’s clothes, accessories, school or work items, toiletries, and medications, plus a box of first-night essentials like chargers, toilet paper, and a new shower curtain. Keep these items and all financial records safely with you during transit.

-Julie Bestry at Julie Bestry 

moving tips

The top 3 most important factors before moving

  1. Take time to declutter before moving. Moving is an excellent opportunity to declutter since everything has to be touched anyway. Ask yourself if you use or love each item and have a place to store it in your new home. If you don’t use or don’t love it or you can’t easily store it, now’s a great time to let it go. You won’t have to pack it, move it, and unpack it.
  2. Organize your packing. If you’re packing yourself, group items that go together in a room into categories and pack them in the same boxes. That way, you can label each box with a category. (For example, a kitchen box might also have the label food storage containers.) That will make it easier to unpack in an organized fashion and, if it takes you a while to unpack, you’ll be able to find the appropriate box if you’re looking for something. If you hire movers to pack, take the time to group categories of items together before they pack so that your boxes don’t contain a hodgepodge of stuff. Try to also label your boxes for the destination room (not the origin room) so that movers can get them into the right room. 
  3. Start early. The earlier you start organizing and decluttering, the less likely you will pay to move stuff you end up donating on the other end. Starting early also cuts down on stress and makes the move calmer. You’re more likely to get the dates you want with movers if you book them early. And if you’re hiring a professional organizing company or move manager to help, the earlier they get on board, the easier everything will be.

-Janine Adams at Peace of Mind Organizing

How do you pack valuables?

It’s going to depend on what the valuables are. If you still have the original packaging for jewelry (or anything!), use that. If any of your valuables are fragile, it may be worth hiring professionals to pack them.

  • See if you can lighten your load of any physical paper you don’t need anymore. For example, if you have care instructions for valuables, can you scan them? Or, if you have a valuation and a scanned copy is enough proof, shred the physical paper.
  • You will want to keep valuables like medicines and prescriptions close and in an “Unpack First Night” box, or in your suitcase or toiletries.
  • If you can’t keep valuables close, mark the box by room instead of by content. For example, “Living Room” instead of “Antique Vase”.
  • Keep track of all your valuables with some system. Take pictures, write descriptions and values. Consider an app like Sortly to keep track of everything.
  • If you’re using a packing cube or driving yourself, invest in a disc lock, as they’re a lot harder to break.
  • Use an inexpensive tracking device like Tile or TrackR so you’ll be able to know where your items are if you’re using a truck.

– Julie Coraccio at Reawaken Your Brilliance

What do you unpack first at your new home?

Be sure to unpack the rooms that you use daily first. Necessity is always first when it comes to unpacking. Think logically about the things that you will use first; sleeping, eating, and taking a shower are the essential and first activities you’ll do in your new home.  

The bedroom: After a long day of traveling and packing, you are going to want a good night’s sleep in your own bed. Reassemble the bed frame, unpack your sheets and make up your bed along with the pillows and bedspread. The rest of your bedroom items can wait. 

Set up the bathroom. You’ll feel instantly at-home if you get yourself settled into the bathroom. Hang a shower curtain, fill the medicine cabinet, and hang your towels. 

Next can be the kitchen, or kids and pet items. 

-Betsy Fein at Clutterbusters

How many days before moving should I start packing?

If you are packing yourself, ideally you’ll start packing as soon as you know you are moving! But as far as three months will make things easier (and cheaper) for you.

People often wait until the last minute and then get overwhelmed. We recommend starting to pack non-essential items (e.g., holiday, guest room, memories, decor, etc.) and queue them up in the garage, or a less frequently used space in the home. Make sure to set aside and identify things you’ll need during the move (e.g., clothing, pet care, personal items, linens, chargers, etc.), and as the move date gets closer, start packing more and more. By the time you are a few days out, the only things left should be furniture and a few bare essentials. This gives space to deal with any issues or emergencies and reduces the overall stress of the move. Be sure to label every box with its contents and final destination!

-Liz Jenkins at A Fresh Space

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How do you move perishable food (i.e., refrigerated/frozen foods)?

Take an inventory of what you have

One month prior to your scheduled move date, create an inventory of the perishable food you have on hand throughout the house (don’t forget the refrigerator in the garage and the deep freezer in the basement).

Create a plan to shrink your inventory

Your plan for dealing with perishable food will depend on a few factors:

  • Whether your move is local vs. long distance
  • Whether you are using a moving company

It’s important to understand that there are sometimes laws that prevent movers from transporting perishable items. So whatever you plan to move will need to be transported by you. Given these limitations, your goal should focus on reducing the volume of refrigerated and frozen food you have as much as possible before moving day.

With your inventory in hand, create a meal plan for the next few weeks that incorporates the food you want to consume. When you’re a week away from your move date, reassess what you still have and determine if anything can be given away to neighbors, family, or friends.

Locate your portable coolers and make sure you have plenty of ice packs on hand if you plan to transport any perishables on move day.

Prepare food for move day

On the morning of your move, set aside whatever food you need for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that day. If you are moving locally, pack whatever food remains in your coolers with ice packs. If it’s a long-distance move, you’ll need to toss whatever perishables remain.

By planning, you can avoid wasting food (and money!) during the move process.

– Natalie Gallagher at R​efined Rooms

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Is there a packing system you recommend for a move?

Make a checklist of your items! – It is the one thing you need to prepare for a move and the best way of not forgetting anything. List all the things you need for your move, for example, purchasing boxes and tape. Include all the rooms that still need to get packed. Don’t forget to add a list of what you need to do before and after moving, like any spaces in your home that need to be repaired or painted. You won’t regret having a list!

Color code boxes and rooms When it comes to packing systems, I am all about setting up color-coding systems for each room, such as red for the kitchen, blue for the bathroom, yellow for the bedrooms and, so on. Then when you start packing, you can tape the box with the corresponding room color. It does not have to be the entire box, but enough to see where the boxes will belong. By giving each room of your new home a designated color with tape or even a sign on the door, it makes it super easy for your movers to put boxes in those areas.

Label boxes by room and sub-section – You can keep it simple with the name of where it will go. However, I like to take it a step further. For example, for the bathroom, instead of writing just the location of where it is going to, I would write “Bathroom Shower Items” or “Bathroom Under The Sink”. This will make it easier to unpack those items in the new home.

-Shanice Bannis at City of Creative Dreams

Should you pack by room or item category?

When packing, you should go room by room. However, this is also a great opportunity to first move items that are in the wrong room to the room that they belong to. Mark each box with the room it will go to in the new space and what types of items are packed. If you don’t have the same number of rooms in the new home, consider that as you label your boxes. Unpacking is much easier the more organized you are during the packing process. 

Start by packing the rooms that don’t have as many daily use items in them. On our last move, I started with the garage. After that, the dining room and the living room. Then came the kitchen; I kept out a small number of dishes and utensils we would need before the move. I continued with the bathrooms and bedrooms in much the same way. I boxed up the items we weren’t using daily and labeled each box for where they would go in the new home and what types of things were inside. When we got to the new house, I put papers on the doors saying which room was which, so the movers knew exactly where the boxes should go. It made our move a much smoother process.

-Julianna Poplin at The Simplicity Habit 

Now you are ready for your big day! Follow these tips (and to shave off tons of time, consider hiring a professional mover) to have a way less stressful move.

How Far Away Are Self Driving Vehicles? (And Where Do Moving Trucks Fit In?)

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Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technology is no longer just “the future”. Today, bringing self-driving vehicles from car shows to the streets is a full-on race for competing companies in the US and abroad.

Earlier this year, we reported about Otto, the self-driving vehicle maker that moved from the warehouse to the highway with their breakthrough autonomous truck. It delivered 50,000 cans of Budweiser from Fort Collins, Colorado down to Colorado Springs with nobody driving it.

Some would argue that the cargo should have been something more significant or important, but (a) for some, there is nothing more important than beer, while (b) for others, in the event something should go wrong, losing a truckload of beer is a lot less significant than losing a truckload of someone’s belongings. Or million-dollar medical machines. Or even really good craft beer.

Regardless of the cargo, now that it’s been proven doable, the race is on! But before we get to how this impacts trucks, there is a significant and important history to detail about the AV industry.

And yes, there’s a legislative sideshow going on that will decide who gets to be on the starting line.

Safety First

Of the estimated 40,000 traffic fatalities in the US last year (yes, that’s four zeros!), roughly 94 percent of the crashes involved human error.

Simply put, we the people are doing a horrendous job behind the wheel. Replacing us error-prone humans with machines that don’t make mistakes, the reasoning goes, will put a huge dent in the number of traffic accidents that occur in the US each year. And the sooner, the better.

7 Embarrassing Lessons I Learned While Moving People

7 Embarrassing Lessons I Learned While Moving People

Lessons I, Kevin The Mover, learned during my earliest days on the job through the mistakes of others (and my own).

US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, in introducing the NHTSA’s revised guidelines for autonomous vehicle development, said self-driving cars could also help the blind and disabled – perhaps acknowledging that the technology would not only increase the level of safety for such drivers but would also give them a higher level of independence.

That’s something that is hard if not impossible to measure.

Interestingly, Chao doesn’t see the value in limiting development and testing to established automobile manufacturers—in other words, he thinks the companies with a known capacity for designing for commercial gain shouldn’t do it all. From the Scribd self-driving guideline book:

States should not place unnecessary burdens on competition and innovation by limiting ADS testing or deployment to motor vehicle manufacturers only…No data suggests that experience in vehicle manufacturing is an indicator of the ability to safely test or deploy vehicle technology [emphasis mine]. All entities that meet Federal and State law prerequisites for testing or deployment should have the ability to operate in the State.

That last bit – “entities that meet Federal and State law prerequisites” – may hope to keep this race from turning into a free-for-all. But again, these are just guidelines. Strong suggestions, maybe. But not laws by any definition. That, we can expect, is already beginning.

The Feds Take the Wheel

self-driving trucks

Last September, the U.S. House of Representatives made a bold move by unanimously voting to put the development of self-driving cars in the hands of federal regulators, not the states.

On the surface, this may seem like just another instance of federal bureaucracy getting in the way, but by cutting off the states’ authority to prohibit autonomous vehicles, the feds are actually hoping to speed up the process of making autonomous drive technology part of the everyday.

In other words, instead of 50 roadblocks, there’s only one.

As Reuters reports, “The House measure, the first significant federal legislation aimed at speeding self-driving cars to market, would allow automakers to obtain exemptions to deploy up to 25,000 vehicles without meeting existing auto safety standards in the first year.”

Wait a minute! Without meeting existing safety standards?!

The States Have a Say

That does sound rather concerning. But as US News & World Report explains that point, the proposal put forth by the House would

give the federal government the authority to exempt automakers from safety standards that don’t apply to autonomous technology [emphasis mine]. If a company can prove it can make a safe vehicle with no steering wheel, for example, the federal government could approve that. But generally speaking, manufacturers seeking these particular safety exemptions must demonstrate that their self-driving cars are at least as safe as existing vehicles.

A car is a car is a car, as far as the government is concerned. As it concerns self-driving cars, however, Reuters adds, “The House bill would require automakers to add a driver alert to check rear seating in an effort to prevent children from being left behind.” (This may or not be bolstered with a device to stop anyone who would forget their child is in the car from ever driving again.)

Furthermore, this bill does not put states entirely in the back seat when it comes to motor vehicle regulation. Registration, licensing, liability, insurance and safety inspections would all still be set by the individual states.

Yep, only performance standards would have to pass through federal review.

States will still have some authority to regulate the eventual use of autonomous vehicles, like requiring a human to be present on any self-driving vehicle. But states are “encouraged not to pass laws that would throw barriers in front of testing and use.”

Disagreement Among Administrations

self-driving trucks

As US News tells us,

Under the Obama administration automakers were asked to follow a 15-point safety assessment before putting test vehicles on the road. The new guidelines reduce that to a 12-point voluntary assessment, asking automakers to consider things like cybersecurity, crash protection, how the vehicle interacts with occupants and the backup plans if the vehicle encounters a problem. They no longer ask automakers to think about ethics or privacy issues or share information beyond crash data, as the previous guidelines did.

That the present administration is not interested in the ethics of the industry is an issue that we will steer clear of.

We will instead add the sentiments of Mitch Bainwol, head of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, who says the guidelines, which are policy, not law, provide a “streamlined, flexible system to accommodate the development and deployment of new technologies.” 

This stands in contrast to critics who suggest these guidelines don’t go far enough to ensure the safety of vehicles being put out on the road. David Friedman, director of car and product policy analysts for Consumer Union, warns that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “needs to be empowered to protect consumers against new hazards that may emerge, and to ensure automated systems work as they’re supposed to without placing consumers at risk.”

Clearly, the autonomous vehicle industry is at the crossroads of safety and economics.

Business: Anything But Usual

The race to get AV technology to the market is more than just selling cars alone. As FTI Communications puts it,

The automotive revenue pool could reach $1.5 trillion by 2030…this in part because AVs will likely have an impact that extends far beyond the automotive industry, into sectors such as insurance, tech, logistics, cybersecurity, delivery services, public sector infrastructure and tourism, to name a few. 

In other words, this has the potential to change economics as we know it. But since the NHTSA has established nothing more than non-binding, non-legal guidelines for the industry, there remains a significant degree of confusion about how to proceed at both state and private levels.

Add to this the current administration’s apparent appetite for growth in traditional manufacturing jobs, including manually driven cars, and we have a recipe for sluggish progress in what could be the greatest advancement in transportation since the invention of the combustion engine, maybe even the wheel.

As far as our industry is concerned, the question remains…

Autonomous Trucks: Now or Later?

self-driving trucksAs the subject of self-driving trucks is not addressed in the NHTSA’s guidelines or the aforementioned House bill, the development, testing and implementation of AV technology for transport trucks of all types have by default been left up to individual states (hence, Colorado’s beer delivery experiment).

Speaking in general terms, Michigan Senator Gary Peters states that “the House bill will facilitate the safe development and adoption of self-driving cars, reduce existing regulatory barriers and establish new regulatory framework.”

He does, however, refer to conversations he has had involving the prospects of self-driving trucks raise a very different set of issues from self-driving cars.

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As we are told, “The Michigan senator…did find some opposition to the idea of pushing freight legislation off to a later date to instead focus more intently on autonomous passenger vehicles.”

One of those opposed was American Trucking Association CEO Chris Spear. Besides issues like cybersecurity, infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication, Spear makes the valid point that since autonomous passenger cars will eventually be sharing the road with freight trucks anyway, these and other issues should be answered for commercial and passenger vehicles at the same time.

“Our industry cannot be subject to a patchwork of conflicting state rules,” US News quotes Spear as he advocates for the federal government to pursue some sort of overarching freight standards that wouldn’t vary state to state.

Compliance with multiple state regimes would be very disruptive to the economy, to these companies, and I think it would be a jobs issue over time if we’re not able to move freight in a productive way, in a safe way and, obviously, in a profitable way.

But Spear does concede that while autonomous cars will likely be hitting the road very soon, autonomous tractor trailer technology is still “decades away” and “not in the foreseeable future.”

To this, Spear said he’s not worried about truckers losing their jobs to technology anytime soon. “We have a 50,000-driver shortage as it stands,” he reminds us. Navistar President and CEO agrees, joking that freight companies “already have driverless trucks, but that’s because they have trouble recruiting and retaining drivers.”

The Space Race of Our Industry, In a Nutshell

There’s a wealth of automotive technology coming out, a lot of it from right here in the United States. But a failure to put the proverbial pedal to the metal could result in missed opportunities for the US to stake its claim at the forefront of the industry.

It could also delay the implementation of autonomous technologies that ultimately could make American roadways safer.

“Whether it’s data-sharing, testing protocols, engagement of all of the right stakeholders – these are all issues that we need to begin to discuss,” says Deborah Hersman, CEO of the National Safety Council and former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

If the trucking sector is left on the side of the road while these discussions progress, it will be even longer before our industry begins to see the safety, as well as the economic benefits, of autonomous vehicle technology.

And because of all that, it may be a long time before you or any other company waves goodbye to your cargo being driven away by a moving truck.


Illustrations by Rob Wadleigh

How 3 Major Moving Companies Got to Where They Are Today

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When you think about success, what comes to mind? “Money,” a lot of us might say. But there are other definitions: “Working for myself.” “Being my own boss.” “Freedom to make my own decisions.”

However any of us defines it, it’s something we can agree we all want.

So how do you get there? Let’s take a look at three individuals in the moving field who each found success traveling different roads. They all had different backgrounds, different circumstances and different outcomes. But in all of them, there’s some wisdom to consider. You might have heard their names. You’ve definitely heard of their companies. They were business owners just like many of you. Now, we get to hear their stories.

Ryder – From Rags to Riches (and Back to Rags)

Ever been in a position where you’re doing most of the work and the guy above you is doing less, but making more? That’s how a guy named James Ryder felt way back in 1935.

Ryder was making a quarter an hour loading blocks of concrete onto trucks in the Miami, FL heat. The guys driving those trucks, however, were making 40% more – a whopping 35 cents per hour! – and they weren’t working nearly as hard.

This motivated young James something fierce, inspiring him to borrow a hundred dollars to add to the thirty bucks he’d saved up and buy a used Model A truck. Simply owning a truck, however, was not the end game, and in 1937 he started a truck leasing business called Ryder System Inc.

Inside of ten years, Ryder the company was taking in $1.5 million a year. Ryder the man, however, was still taking home less than a dollar an hour. His fortunes would improve drastically with time, and by 1960, his personal stake in his company had risen to $11 million (that’s over $50 million in today’s terms).

How did he do it?

Besides plowing ahead for years despite teetering on the edge of financial ruin, his energy level played a huge part in his success. Even after all the wild business growth, Ryder would travel around the country visiting his company’s service locations and, according to one person’s account, “would kiss every secretary and jump into the pit under trucks that were in for repairs wearing a $500 suit and shake hands with the mechanics, saying ‘Hi, I’m Jim. What’s your name?’”

Mr. Ryder seems like the kind of guy who can get along with anyone. Yet, that turned out not to be the case.

In 1978, upset by how his new company president operated the business, James Ryder quit his own multi-million-dollar baby and dove into a new transportation venture called Jartran. This would be the first in a series of failed business endeavors, and Ryder would eventually find himself back where he started: broke.

James Ryder passed away in 1997. The following year, Budget acquired Ryder, and in 2002 began retiring the Ryder name.

We might say that Mr. Ryder’s initial success was due in part to his personable approach to running his business. Rubbing shoulders with his mechanics. Giving bear hugs to the staff in every Ryder office he walked into.

We might also say this may not necessarily be the best approach.

If the normally-invisible boss of a multi-million-dollar company walks into a local branch office and starts shaking hands and passing around hugs, those “regular” employees, who may have ever thought they’d meet the man behind the name on their trucks and signs and buildings, would likely feel honored. Special. Appreciated.

But as an operations manager for a national van line agency, I learned (a little too slowly) that being buddy-buddy with everyone in the office can backfire. There is a balance, and it mandates that you be your employees’ boss first before you are also friends. Establish a relationship based on respect. Having roles and expectations in place helps keep the machine well oiled.

That is, unless you’ve got a really firm handshake.

U-Haul – Taking a Chance and Painting it Orange

In 1945 and fresh out of the U.S. Navy, Leonard “Sam” Shoen decided to move with his wife from Los Angeles to Portland. To their disbelief and dismay, they couldn’t find anyone who would rent them a trailer for the one-way trip.

Sam Shoen saw that he wasn’t the only one in the predicament, and recognized the potential in creating a company that would allow people to relocate on their own, without paying the price of what full-service movers were charging around that time.

Before the year was out, Shoen established a trailer rental business called U-Haul. He painted his trailers black. He rented them out to his customers for the grand sum of two bucks a day.

Shoen rolled the dice with his business early on – though maybe in his mind it wasn’t such a gamble. Essentially, he told his customers that when they were done with the trailer, they should just find a nearby service station and drop off the trailer – which had an information packet inside for the service station owner. In this way, he was inviting complete strangers to become a dealer for U-Haul.

Shoen very well could have lost his trailers to a bunch of unscrupulous strangers. Instead, his gamble worked, and by 1954 he had over one thousand dealers spread out across the country.

And what about painting those trailers black? What happened with that?

You might guess that Shoen switched to orange to make his trailers more noticeable. And you would be correct. But this was not a marketing or advertising ploy. Early on, Shoen was turning through an intersection when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle. The driver claimed he couldn’t see the black trailer because it was… well, black. Whether this was true or not, Shoen decided to paint his trailers orange and white – similar to highway barricades – to make them more visible for safety’s sake. The added marketing benefit was likely just coincidental.

It’s interesting to note that back in the beginning, by entrusting his trailers to strangers, most of them in a completely different part of the country, Shoen was doing what customers normally do: that is, he was placing his possessions in the hands of people he didn’t even know.

If Shoen hadn’t taken that chance, U-Haul may have never gotten off the ground.

Of course, simply by starting a business, we’re all taking a chance. But business growth and success virtually require some amount of risk! What moves have you made, what chances have you taken, in the interests of building your own business? Have you ever passed on something that seemed too risky? Let us know. You’re probably in good company.

Penske – Love Breeds Success, Breeds More Success

Roger Penske was a success on wheels long before he founded the Penske Truck Leasing Company. As a teenager, he bought, repaired and resold used cars. In his 20s, he won four consecutive Sports Car Club of America championships, took home three President’s Cups, and in 1962 was Sports Illustrated’s Driver of the Year. After retiring from racing at the ripe old age of 28, Penske developed his own race team and started winning so many races in so many fields it hardly seemed fair.

Then in December of 1969, Penske bought a car and light truck rental and leasing business comprised of eastern Pennsylvania locations. 12 years down the road, Penske’s venture had grown to encompass 33 facilities generating yearly sales in excess of $40 million.

Penske Truck Leasing now manages a quarter of a million vehicles through a network of approximately 3,000 service and rental locations, giving Roger Penske a net worth of around $1.5 billion.

AP News

Not bad for a guy who started as a teenager fixing up and selling cars.

If it isn’t obvious, the common thread throughout Penske’s life has been his love of cars. Which gives further credence to the old saying “Do what you love to do.”

We’re going to go out on a limb here and say we’re pretty sure no one carries furniture up and down stairs because of the sheer love of it. But we are quite confident that there is something about running a moving company – and a moving labor company – that everyone in the HireAHelper community loves. There have got to be all sorts of reasons you men and women do what you do. There may be as many reasons as there are you.

How do we know there’s something each of us loves about this business? Our customers – your customers – tell us every day. Will any of us ever make Forbes’s list of billionaires? Wouldn’t that be nice! We will, however, settle for a few millionaires.

But seriously, while money is one way to measure success, it isn’t the only determinant. Satisfied customers. Awesome employees. Pride in the progress we make.

However you measure it – and however you find it – there’s nothing better than waking up one day, after years of firm handshakes, risks and love, and saying to yourself “Yeah, I made it.”

How to Survive a Rainy Weather Move

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So you’re completely prepared for your upcoming move; You’ve got all your bases covered, you’ve taken care of every last detail and everything’s going to go perfectly according to plan.

Then you check the weather forecast. So much for your perfect plan, right?

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