2021 Study: Which Colleges & Universities Do Freshmen Travel Farthest For?

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Key Findings

  • 4 in 10 (43%) Americans who began college in 2020 moved away from home, the highest rate since 2005
  • Nationwide, roughly 31% of all college students have left their home state to attend college
  • In 39 out of 50 states, more students attend college within their home state than attend out-of-state universities
  • Californians (17%) and Texans (20%) among least likely to go to college out-of-state
  • People from New Hampshire are most likely to study out-of-state (75%)
  • With exception of Washington D.C., institutions with the biggest out-of-state admissions are Dartmouth College (98%), Brown (95%), Yale (93%), MIT (93%), Notre Dame (92%), John Hopkins (90%)
  • Average distance traveled by a student to study in a top 200 college is 293 miles
  • Schools with the farthest pull are CalTech, MIT, and Stanford—students avg. more than 1,000 miles to attend

 

Over two million people enrolled in colleges and universities in the fall of 2020. While that figure represents a 13% decline compared to enrollment in 2019, the total percentage of newly enrolled students who relocated to go to college last year was 43%. That’s a five-year high!

In light of that figure, we broke down college relocation data to find out where Americans are moving to attend college, as well as how likely they are to move out-of-state in pursuit of a college degree.

We also compare schools by how many out-of-state students they attract (and more!) to determine which top-ranked colleges have the greatest pull by admission among applicants across the United States.

Fewer Americans Are Going to College, but More Are Moving To Pursue Higher Education

Given the kind of year 2020 had been, it’s hardly surprising that fewer Americans enrolled in higher education than in the year prior, likely due to student debt concerns. According to the figures out of National Student Clearinghouse, just over 2.1 million people started college in the fall of 2020, 13% fewer than in the fall of 2019.

And yet, based on the internal migration estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, 938,000 Americans, or 43% of all who enrolled, chose to move to attend college last year. The out-of-state attendance number for 2020 is the highest rate the U.S. has seen since 2005, a year when half of all college freshmen left home to pursue education. 

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Brain Drain? States College Students Are Most (and Least) Likely To Leave

With so many newly admitted students moving to college, how far are they moving? Are most of them staying in their home state, or are they crossing state lines in pursuit of higher education?

 

“The out-of-state attendance number for 2020 is the highest rate the U.S. has seen since 2005…”

 

Reasons to study in-state are plentiful: remain closer to family, save big money on tuition, or just because great schools are already in your home state.

In fact, the data show 69% of college students who move to go to college actually stay in their state. This is especially true in states like Texas, Mississippi, California, and New Mexico, states where more than 80% of college students have chosen to study closer to home.

On the flip side, nearly a third (31%) of all newly admitted students relocated to a different state to go to college in 2020.

The share of those who are prepared to travel far for a degree is especially high in remote states like Alaska and Hawaii, as well as small states within the New England area, such as New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

State % of students leaving state State % of students leaving state
New Hampshire 75% Delaware 9%
Alaska 74% Mississippi 14%
District of Columbia 71% California 17%
Rhode Island 69% New Mexico 18%
Connecticut 64% Texas 20%
Hawaii 61% North Carolina 21%
Vermont 60% Wisconsin 24%
Nevada 59% Ohio 24%
Maryland 55% Tennessee 24%
North Dakota 53% Kentucky 25%

Where are all these students moving to? For the most part, students who decide to go to college in a different state head for states known for their great schools, as well as big cities with ample job opportunities.

Almost 1 in 10 (9%) students who attend college out-of-state study in California, the most of any state. Meanwhile, Florida, Illinois, and New York each attract 5-6% of traveling scholars. Notably, Massachusetts, renowned for being home to some of the best schools in the county, receives 4% of all out-of-state college moves.

In all, roughly one in three (30%) students that went to college out-of-state moved to one of these previous five states.

The Colleges With Highest Percentage of Out-of-state Students

Moving for college, of course, is much more about the college than the city or state it’s in. Which colleges in the United States attract the most students from outside their states? We looked at the top 200 colleges and universities listed in the 2021 U.S. News National Universities Ranking and looked up their corresponding 2019 admissions stats from the National Center for Education Statistics. Here’s what we found out.

There are a handful of universities where 98% of freshmen come from out-of-state, and most of them are in Washington D.C. This is hardly surprising, given how small the District of Columbia is, both in area and population.

Yet besides D.C.-based colleges, the highest rates of out-of-state admissions belong to Ivy League schools Dartmouth (97%), Brown (96%), and Yale (93%).

That said, a few schools outside the Ivy League are so popular nationwide that greater than 90% of their new students move from other states. These schools are:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with some of the best technical degree programs in the country 
  • University of Notre Dame, with all-around great academics and a famous college football team
  • Johns Hopkins University, known for their excellent medical school

Magnet Schools: Colleges with the Farthest Pull

college movingOut-of-state admission is a decent measure of how much of a pull a given college has, but it doesn’t give us the full picture. Some schools may feature a high percentage of out-of-state students, but that number may be inflated by attraction from nearby states.

To estimate the true “pull” of America’s top schools, we looked at the origin states of all new students beginning college in 2019 (latest data available) and calculated roughly how many miles an average freshman has traveled to study there.

The answer? The average distance of a college move for the top 200 schools in America is 293 miles.

magnet schools

The three colleges for which an average new student had to travel the farthest are schools famous for their programs in STEM and computer sciences: California Institute of Technology (CalTech), MIT, and Stanford University. All three average over 1,100 miles traveled by out-of-staters.

To illustrate how far that is, sitting behind these colleges in average distance traveled is the University of Hawaii-Manoa, which is 3,758 miles away from the rest of the United States and 4,108 miles away from Japan!

For most Ivy League colleges like Harvard, Brown, Yale and Columbia, the number of miles their new students traveled to study there sits around the 900 mile mark.

To find out which school is the biggest draw in your state, check the map below:

Great and Local: Top-Ranked Schools With Mostly Local Students

Despite a high percentage of admissions coming from out-of-state students for top colleges, not all great universities rely as heavily on out-of-state tuition.

As a testament to the fact that Californians are less likely to leave their state to go to college, schools within the University of California system (all ranked within the top 100 of the 2021 U.S. News National Universities Ranking) have a share of out-of-state admissions below 10%.

 

“…nearly a third (31%) of all newly admitted students relocated to a different state to go to college in 2020.”

 

Similarly, more than 93% of new students at the University of Texas at Austin, ranked 42nd, hail from Texas. Meanwhile, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, ranked by U.S. News as 63rd in the nation, draws 91% of its admissions coming from its native state of New Jersey.

Other excellent schools for which fewer students cross the country to study at are UNC at Chapel Hill, University of Florida, and the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. The overwhelming majority of new students average around 40 miles of travel to study there.


To see how each of the top 200 schools compare on out-of-state admissions, the distances their students traveled for a degree, and a few other metrics, check out the table below.
Sources and Methodology
Figures on the number and percentage of people moving to college within or outside their home state come from the Current Population Survey (CPS)
Data on college admissions, including origin states of newly admitted students, is taken from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
The U.S. News 2021 Best National University Rankings is used as the basis for selecting top 200 colleges in the United States.
To estimate the average distance traveled by a newly admitted student, we took the school’s location and calculated the distance between its campus and the statistical population centers of each state (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau)
All calculations are weighted, which is to say, the more students a college admitted from further away, the greater the average distance traveled was.
Only moves within the United States are considered.

Illustrations by Vanessa Lovegrove

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

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Key Findings

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

2021 Mid-year Moving Stats Infographic

covid infographic

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

The 5 Best Los Angeles Movers (According to You)

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

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

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


The 5 Best Movers in Los Angeles by Reviews

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

1. Rigo’s Moving & Storage, Inc.

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

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

Equipment available without fee: 

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

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

Policies: 

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

Why customers love them:

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


2. Patriot One Movers

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

Services available: Move help/day labor

Equipment available without fee: 

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

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

Policies: 

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

Why customers love them:

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

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


3. Excellent Movers

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

Services available: Move help/day labor

Equipment available without fee: 

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

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

Policies: 

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

Why customers love them:

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


4. Lucky Movers

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

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

Equipment available without fee: 

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

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

Policies: 

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

Why customers love them:

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

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


5. Helpful 5 Moving Co.

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

Services available: Move help/day labor

Equipment available without fee: 

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

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

Policies: 

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

Why customers love them:

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

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Moving in Los Angeles, by the Numbers

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

Average moving cost in Los Angeles

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

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

 

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

 

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

Average moving requirements in Los Angeles

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

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

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

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


Average moving transportation option in Los Angeles

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

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

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

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

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Still haven’t decided on a mover?

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

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

Cómo Mudarse en Estados Unidos si Hablas Español

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

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

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

Primeros Pasos

Haz una lista de tus necesidades

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

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

Nosotros categorizamos las mudanzas de esta forma:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Encuentra Proveedores 

Camiones de mudanza

moving truck

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

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

Profesionales de mudanzas

movers

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

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

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

Contenedores y otras opciones de almacenamiento

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

Aquí están las dos compañías mejor calificadas: 

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

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

El Día de la Mudanza

moving

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glosario Términos de Mudanza (Inglés – Español)

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

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

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Category: Money Saving, Moving Checklists & Planning

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

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

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

First, match your budget to the three main moving options

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To save money on truck rentals…

rental truck

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

Do a night pickup

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

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

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

Expand your rental store search parameters 

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

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

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

Get Help Unloading Your Rental Truck

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Ask people about their moves on social media

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

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

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

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

Stop going food shoppingsummer move

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

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

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

Eliminate stress by reducing the things around you that get stressed

pet moving

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

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

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


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

What Are Plastic Moving Bins and Are They Better than Cardboard Boxes?

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Category: Local Moving, Moving Boxes & Supplies

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If you’re friends with me, you likely know three things because I’ve repeatedly shouted them into the side of your face:

I’m a Virgo, I firmly believe Survivor is the best show on television, and I think plastic moving boxes are one of the most genius solutions I’ve stumbled across

The very first time I used plastic bins to move, it spoiled me on cardboard boxes for life and turned me into a big-time proselytizer (that means I’m a fan). 

gorillabins
Gorilla Bins

What are plastic moving bins and why should I care?

Great question. To get super basic, plastic bins (in a moving context) are durable plastic boxes that are designed to be rented for the duration of your move. Then, usually, you return them to wherever you rented them from.

Plastic moving bins are typically:

  • Stackable (!)
  • Sturdy, dry and secure
  • Have handles
  • Standardized in sizes
  • Eco-friendly

The specific company I rented from was called Gorilla Bins, which is now far outside my grasp in L.A., given that it’s local to New York City, which I left in 2019. But there are plenty of plastic moving box companies scattered across the country, just waiting to transform your move. 

“It will vary a lot by company and location, but usually, plastic bins come in just shy of $100 for around 10-20 of them, plus weekly charges.”

My offerings at Gorilla Bins were both stackable and nestable, equipped with ergonomic handles, came with enough stick-on labels for each bin, and closed with hinged lids securable with zip ties. (So no need to clear a massive section of floor while you collect cardboard or wrestle with that temperamental tape gun that you completely forget how to operate in between moves.)

How does ordering plastic moving bins work?

You generally order however many you need online, or over the phone, just like most things.

Then, depending on who you go with, you either go to their store to pick them up, or someone will come drop them off at your place. And generally, you pay for plastic bins by the week. You may also come across moving companies that provide plastic bins as an add-on to your scheduled move for extra money.

Every company works with its own version. Check out a few of the bigger plastic moving bin companies near you:

Who should use plastic moving boxes?

There is one major caveat: most moving bin companies are almost always for local moves only. This may not be the case if the company has two stores exactly in proximity of both your origin and arrival destinations, but even U-Haul requires you to return their plastic bins to the exact store you rented them from.

What if there are no moving bin companies in my area?

Speaking of options available in your area, there’s a good chance you don’t live close enough to NYC to take advantage of Gorilla Bins specifically. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. 

Of course, first try Googling “plastic moving boxes” and your town or city to see if there are reputable companies working nearby. You can also check HireAHelper.com to book a similar moving service that suits your needs for a comparable price to a plastic bin service. I like this option because it’s more flexible and adaptable; maybe you only need a couple of people and not a whole team, for example, especially if you already have your own vehicle and don’t need to pay for a truck.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

But are moving bins better than cardboard boxes? They are definitely far more environmentally friendly than cardboard boxes (even recycled free boxes). And unless the one part of moving that you absolutely love is scrambling to amass a collection of cardboard boxes that could get squashed or soaked during your move, the value of plastic moving bins security and portability should be obvious. 

Moving bins also make labor-only moves (or any moving service without packing) much more efficient, which may save you serious money if you’re paying movers by the hour.

How much are plastic moving bins?

Uhaul box
Uhaul.com

I got my bins as part of my whole moving package. I paid $462 including tax, tip, and tolls for movers, a truck, plus bins. And that was moving from busy Manhattan to busy Queens, so you can probably do even better than I did. 

What about a la carte bin prices? It will vary a lot by company and location, but usually, plastic bins come in just shy of $100 for around 10-20 of them, plus weekly charges.

For me in New York, they came in sizes ranging from “Studio” (20 bins for $87), up to the “Family Package” (60 bins for $207), and each has a mix of medium and large boxes to suit all your needs. Often, these companies offer things like dollies and other pieces of equipment in their packages, too. For me, I was moving out of a studio, but I went with the “One Bedroom” package because I’d been living in the same place for seven full years, accumulating items like a greedy little magpie. 

You can budget for them however you want, of course, but I highly recommend my particular method: pairing the boxes themselves – no labor included – with a moving company for your own version of a Hybrid Move. That combo offered me control in the areas I wanted while lifting the burden of responsibility off of me and onto others.

How long can you keep your plastic moving boxes?

It depends on the company, but it’s usually for a window of time, probably weekly.

“…(E)ven U-Haul requires you to return their plastic bins to the exact store you rented them from.”

During checkout, I was asked to choose a two-week window during which I’d have possession of the bins—with an option to add a third week in, if need be. I selected one with my move date centered right in the middle, so I could use the week following delivery to pack up my old place, and the week prior to pick-up to unpack at my new place.

It initially felt kind of fast, to me, but I ultimately really appreciated the pick-up deadline, because it meant that I actually unpacked instead of living out of boxes for days or weeks (or let’s be honest, months) like I have in the past.

How do plastic storage bins stack up against other options? (pun very much intended)

Are plastic bins better than cardboard boxes? Heck yes. Are they more expensive? Sure, and way more than free boxes. Are they safer? A lot more. But if you can pair them to your move, try them out. I am a plastic bin convert.

But…I know this whole post has been me gushing about how great my experience with Gorilla Bins was, and all of that still stands. However, one thing I need you to know is that whether you realize it or not, if you have a budget for plastic moving bins, it’s highly likely you can afford actual movers—either in addition or instead.

Check out what other moving options you have, and compare prices at a glance.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

For me, my plastic bin move was my first adult move, by which I mean my first time hiring movers… and I was genuinely shocked at how affordable it was compared to what I thought it’d be. My assumption up to that point was that big-girl moves were a four-figure proposition, and I’d be better off shredding my relationships to smithereens by trying to do them myself.

But folks, that is very much not the case. 

No matter how micro your moving budget, do yourself (and your relationships) a favor and just run the numbers through a mover marketplace before you start, just to see what’s out there. After that, whether you opt for a plastic moving bins company like Gorilla Bins, a boxes-plus-labor arrangement like MakeSpace, a full-service move, or ignore my advice altogether, I fully support you. Just know your options.

Are You Supposed to Help Movers? What Movers Really Want People to Do

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Dear Esteemed, Valued, Stressed-Out Customer,

We know what you’re thinking. From the day you decided to hire a local moving company, you’ve been hoping that when moving day arrives, you’ll get a crew of polite, able-bodied movers at your door, ready and willing to serve you right in every way. Try not to stress about them. I’ve literally been on hundreds of moves. It’s gonna go great!

But here’s a secret: your movers actually do need your help… just not with the lifting.

The customer has a crucial role to play in helping things go smoothly, long before moving day. When a customer understands how to help make their own move a success, movers love it.

While we’re taking care of the lifting and carrying, here are things you can do that will go a long way.

Don’t try and help your movers lift

This is a tricky one. There are a hundred things you can do as a customer to help your movers; just please understand that none of them involve being a mover.

Wanting to help is not a problem. Bringing smaller items to the side of the truck and out of the path of your movers is fine. But in general, not knowing what you are doing can become a big problem. No one wants to explain how to maneuver a sofa down a cornered staircase – especially in mid-maneuver.

Besides, if something gets damaged, is it your fault or the movers’? Most moving companies disallow the customer from helping to lift heavy items for insurance purposes alone.

It’s best to just leave everything to your crew. If they need something, they’ll ask.

moversTell us honestly what we’re up against ahead of time (we’ve seen it all)

Movers want to know upfront exactly what the job entails. This means a couple of things:

First, tell us every major item you need us to move ahead of time. Be as specific as you can. “A bunch of books” doesn’t mean anything. “Three six-foot bookshelves packed to the breaking point” gives us a much better idea of what we need to prepare for, in terms of both time and supplies to bring.

Have an aquarium? How big is it? If you have a piano, what kind is it? And make sure you say something about that dining room table with the glass top!

Protip: If you book your move through a reliable mover marketplace, this conversation gets automated for you.

Here’s a true story: Once, a customer told my crew he had four chairs in his basement. What he didn’t tell us was that they were massive beauty salon chairs, the kind that reclines and weighs two hundred pounds. Did it ruin the move? No, it’s not that we couldn’t handle them, but it consumed time and space we didn’t think we’d need, which impacted the hourly total and slowed everything down.

Other things your movers should know ahead of time:

  • Is your driveway curved and steep?
  • Are there low-hanging wires or tree branches around?
  • How close to your apartment building can we park the truck, if we’re bringing one? (Forward-thinking customers who have a space prepared for the moving truck get loads of appreciation)
  • Will it be a long walk from your door to the truck?
  • Are there stairs or elevators involved?

Your movers will probably take the initiative and ask beforehand, but don’t be afraid and don’t hold anything back.

Be ready when the movers get there (labeling helps us work faster)

Getting ready to move takes a ton of time. We understand that. But there’s nothing that slows down a move more than a customer who hasn’t finished packing, or is still trying to decide what goes to their new home and what goes into storage, or is scrambling to wash the dishes and finish the laundry, or just woke up.

We can pretty much boil down preparedness to three things:

  • Be packed. This is moving’s toughest, most time-consuming task. On move day, it’s worse. Get it done ahead of time (unless you’ve paid for us to do it for you, which will cost you more)
  • Be sure. Know what you want the movers to take and what you want them to leave alone
  • Be organized. Make it easy for your movers to know what they are and aren’t taking

The more organized the customer, the more efficient the move. A great strategy is to stick bright orange post-it notes on items the movers should ignore, or if possible, physically separate what stays from what goes. We love to hear, “Everything in this room goes,” or “You can leave this closet alone.” 

Designating a space that the movers can leave alone can be as helpful to the customer as it is for the movers, too. It can even be a single kitchen countertop instead of an entire room. Whatever it is, establishing a clearly-defined place for personal items that don’t go on the truck is one of the best things you can do for yourself and for your crew.

Clean your house before the movers arrive (and anything that could dirty a truck)

Movers don’t expect – and personally, I’ve never seen – a customer polishing the furniture and waxing the floors right before a move. At the same time, movers don’t expect – and this I have seen – rooms with floors half-covered in trash and filth. 

There are really two kinds of dirty that movers care about:

  • Extremely dirty to the point our safety is in question (we can even opt-out in these extreme cases)
  • Out of place hazards in our pathway, like cups or anything fragile

Messy or not, tell your movers – in fact, encourage them – to do what they need to do in order to keep from getting injured, like removing rugs, pictures, and hanging lamps.

The other kind of dirty involves items like toaster ovens, lawnmowers, and bicycles. If these things are dirty when they go onto the truck, they can get everything else dirty – including the truck and, eventually, your new home. (Some movers and almost all truck rental companies charge cleaning fees as well!)

Your pets need to be elsewherepets

Pets need to be kept out of the way. Period. Dogs in particular may need to be kept somewhere else. “Oh he’s friendly,” one customer told me not long before their dog bit my co-worker.

Dogs (like little kids) may be all fun and smiles on a regular day, but strangers taking everything out of the house is not a regular day, and neither kids nor dogs understand, thus tend to act differently. (But at least kids don’t bite!) Even if you banish your dog to the fenced-in backyard, if he or she won’t stop barking, you may want to pay the kid next door to take your beloved pet for a long walk. Or, better yet, prepare them for their own pet moving day.

Designate a bathroom for us (movers are human too)

Customers sometimes like to remark how their movers are superhuman. We appreciate the compliment, but remember that we actually are humans. Designate a bathroom for us to use if and when necessary. Remembering to leave out a towel and toilet paper is helpful too!

Another note on humanity: please remember that if you are moving long-distance, the crew moving you into your new home might not be the same crew that moved you out of your old one. Likewise, your crew for your upcoming move won’t be the same as the crew of your previous move. If your previous move went horribly, or if moving out of your old home was a nightmare, remember that the crew in front of you now is not the crew you had before. (Don’t yell at us is all I’m asking.)

Appreciation comes in many forms

Appreciation must be earned. Movers know this as well as anybody. That said, movers are motivated when they are appreciated, just like anyone else. These things greatly help us:

Readily available water or sports drinks

I can tell you not just from being on crews but from having led them, motivation and attention to detail increases with something as simple as a few bottles of Gatorade. I’ve had customers offer coffee on cold days, first thing, and donuts too. But this is rare enough that movers would never expect something right off the bat. Besides, we’ve eaten breakfast. We’d rather get to work.

A lunch break

Do you have an all-day job? This means a lunch break, and movers will never be upset if you offer to buy them lunch. Pizza works. Sandwiches are great. 

Consider tipping

If your movers have done you right, then please do consider a tip. Tips are absolutely not required – that should be made clear – though this is a profession where it’s highly customary. (If you don’t know much about this, here’s how tipping movers works.)

Please leave them a review

Finally, among the very best things you can ever do for a moving company is to leave them a review on the website you hired them from. Whether it’s a site like HireAHelper, Yelp, or wherever is public-facing, an earned 5-star rating deserves to be shared with the world.


Yes, you’re hiring movers so you don’t have to move all that stuff yourself. Still, as good as they may be, there’s room to help them be better. In the end, that benefits everyone, including how fast you can put moving day behind you.

Respectfully yours,

Kevin The Mover

Illustrations by Angie Hewitt

Can My Stimulus Check Cover All of My Moving Costs?

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On March 10th, Congress passed a 1.9T Covid-19 bill, otherwise known as the “American Rescue Plan”. It’s designed to offer financial relief in the face of the pandemic to all Americans over a multitude of different fronts.

Some of the provisions include $350 billion to state, local and tribal governments, expansion on unemployment benefits extended through Sept. 6 at $300 a week, and more. Yet the most direct and talked about part of the bill involves another round of stimulus checks, this time for as much as $1,400 for single-file taxpayers.

Who is getting a stimulus check?

The majority of Americans will receive a check, but you may not fall within the sliding scale that previously determined eligibility for the most recent stimulus checks. Americans will receive:

  • $1,400 for a single taxpayer, or $2,800 for a married couple, plus $1,400 per dependent 
  • People making up to $75,000 will get the total amount, as will married couples with incomes up to $150,000
  • The check diminishes for those with slightly higher incomes, stopping at $80,000 for individuals and $160,000 for married couples.

Since the median household income was $68,703 in 2019 according to the US Census Bureau, most Americans will be getting the corresponding total amount. There are also updates to the current child tax credit.

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When am I getting my stimulus check?

Soon. The checks and direct deposits will start going out in March, some as early as the second weekend of the month. The government has announced a website for people to check on the status of their stimulus checks, which they say will begin tracking the location of your benefits, set to go into operation in mid-March.

I need to move! How much of this check should I put aside?

moving costs

The timing of this bill is not a moment too soon for many of us seeking relief from the state of things. But for those of us with a change of residence on the horizon, you may be wondering how far the stimulus checks can realistically stretch towards all potential moving costs. Will you be able to save some of the money? Will it cover your whole move?

Well, the short answer is: It depends on a lot of factors, but the biggest one is the distance of the move

According to HireAHelper’s move data, Americans that move entirely by themselves spend an average of $660 on a move.

  • $273 if it’s a local move
  • $576 if it’s a medium-distance move
  • $1,921 if it’s a long-distance move

Here’s the good news: the vast majority of moves are local. So no matter how you move in this scenario, you’re statistically more likely to spend less on moving costs.

But here’s the thing, even if you just have all your friends come jam your ’97 Impala with all your stuff, you’re still going to be spending at least some of that money on your move. Whether it’s through packing supplies, junk removal, gas, or even just feeding your friends, you’ll have to reserve at least a portion of any extra money you potentially get. No matter your moving option, $500 is a good ballpark.

How can I cut down costs of a local move?

There are a few key ways.

Quickly look for deals on rental trucks if you need one, and do it fast! Now may not be the best time to get a good deal on a rental, since your local U-Haul store is probably looking really attractive to all the month-to-month leasers out there with extra cash on hand. Still, some truck rental discounts come standard. Call ahead as soon as you can.

Read what moving companies are reporting about job cancellations during COVID-19.

SURVEY: How Has the Coronavirus Impacted Moving Companies?

If you need a hand with your heavy stuff, or you’re truly doing a last-minute move thanks to that extra cash, a reputable mover marketplace like Yelp or HireAHelper can get you professional labor by the hour, which is typically cheaper than the big semi-truck treatment. To save even more money on top of that, you can also only hire for the loading half, which is traditionally the harder part of the process.

If you can’t lock down a rental truck in your area at the moment, local movers often have their own vehicle for a little higher cost than the labor-only rates, but even going that route, you’re still likely to still save a decent amount of your check by the end.

But if you need the help, check up on your local movers fast, because all local movers are likely to get booked fast during a stimulus month, especially towards the end of the month when rent is up.

Will my stimulus check cover the cost of a long distance move?

Maybe. It’ll at least cover an appreciable portion of it.

Before you start collecting quotes from around the internet, you should create an overview of what you need to move, including how many rooms you’ll be transporting, and specifically how many large pieces of furniture (wardrobes, dining tables, or large appliances) you have. 

Once you have a ballpark inventory in place, getting a decent quote will be a lot easier and more accurate. 

If you’re looking to get the most out of your check, finding a long-distance moving service that gives you the option of doing your own packing while leaving all the loading, unloading and driving to the movers can save big chunks of money compared to traditional interstate movers.

The average cost of a long-distance move through HireAHelper is $3,200, which may come in lower than other moving service providers, depending on distance (you can calculate your own move here). It includes:

  • Loading and unloading
  • Transportation company + container
  • Customer service, moving insurance, and more

A single tax-payer check may not cover that, but if you’re a married couple with two kids, your stimulus checks would likely be around $5,600. If you’re keeping things at an average, then your stimulus will most likely cover for the costs of even a four-person family. However, if you need to rent things like moving containers, that price will most likely go up some, and you will have to put in more towards your move. Your best bet is definitely to go do some comparison shopping.


There you have it! In most cases, the stimulus is likely to cover the entirety of your move, and in all cases, you can still stretch it pretty far… especially if you look online where movers are competing to list the best prices and offerings. 

How Much Does Car Shipping Cost? (And How Does It Work?)

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Moving far away? Maybe you landed your dream job across the country, or maybe you’re relocating to another state to be with a long-distance love. Whatever the reason for your cross-country move, there’s a chance you’ll need to ship your car. After all, driving thousands of miles is no easy task.

But how do you ship a car? Below are answers to the most pressing questions people ask about shipping a car long-distance.

How Does Car Shipping Work?

There are many types of car shipping companies out there. You can work with

  • A private transporter
  • A large volume transporter (those trucks on the highway with lots of cars strapped to them)
  • The moving company that’s handling the rest of your move, if they offer car shipping

Most people will opt to have their cars shipped via a multi-car transporter in order to save on costs. However, if you have a valuable car or are moving somewhere that’s not easy to get to, it’s possible to go with another option.

“When it’s all said and done, the average cost of shipping a car in 2021 is around $1,200

Once you settle on a car shipping company, you typically arrange a convenient pickup location and time. Some companies offer door-to-door pickup and dropoff, while others may require you to meet them somewhere a bit out of the way. You will also discuss the estimated arrival time. Keep in mind that it can take a few days to drive across state lines, especially if the transporter has multiple vehicles to load, transport, and unload along the way. Again, these details will depend on the particular service you choose.

In the meantime, you should prepare your vehicle for shipping, especially because car shippers charge by weight. To prepare,

  • Clean it out
  • Empty the gas tank (except for a bit to drive to a gas station once your car is home!)
  • Put down a good layer of wax to protect your paint during the shipping process

Once your car is ready to be picked up, you and the driver will go through an inspection and note any existing damage. (Keep good notes to match theirs!) Then your car is on its way.

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How Much Does Shipping A Car Cost?

car shipping

Understandably, many people’s top question is how much shipping a car is going to cost them. The cost of shipping your car will depend on a few major factors.

Distance: One of the biggest factors in the cost of shipping a car is distance.

If you’re moving less than 100 miles away, your shipping is considered a short-distance move. If you’re moving to another city within the same state, it can additionally be known as an “intrastate move”. Shorter moves will cost you more per mile, on average, but less overall, since you don’t have far to go. 

Long-distance moves of several hundred miles or more, particularly cross-country (i.e., interstate) moves, will be much more expensive. It can also be more expensive to ship a car to a location that’s off the beaten path versus a major metropolitan area.

These other things will also impact your cost

single car carrier

Vehicle size and type: Not all vehicles will cost the same to ship. Size and weight seriously determine your cost. If you have a compact car such as a Honda Civic or Mini Cooper, it will likely cost you much less to ship than a Ford F150 or Toyota 4Runner. (It’s also important to note that certain vehicles, such as vintage or luxury vehicles, often cost extra to ship, due to the extra care required.) 

Method of transportation: There are many options for shipping your car when it comes to the type of carrier. If you have a sedan that’s several years old and in decent shape, you may be okay with shipping it via an open carrier big-rig.

However, if your car is brand new, a classic, or custom-built, an open carrier may leave it too susceptible to the elements. In this case, you might opt for an enclosed carrier, which can cost quite a bit more. How much more? Enclosed carriers cost about 60% more, on average.

enclosed car shipping
https://cartransportingservice.com/

In addition to open versus closed, there are various types of vehicles that may transport your car. In most cases, your car will be shipped by truck. This option is the most widely available and often allows for door-to-door transport. However, if you’re moving overseas, your car will need to be transported by ship or even air. You might be able to have your car shipped by train, which is often faster and safer than a truck. Of course, as you probably guessed, these later options can significantly add to the cost.

car shipping by ship
You can get your car shipped overseas.

Time of year: The season during which your move happens will also impact the overall cost of shipping your car. Summer is the most popular time to move, so there’s increased demand among car shipping companies. This means the rates also increase. If you can, try to schedule your move for spring or fall, when the weather will still be mild but the cost won’t be at its peak.

Added fees: There might be some situations that require you to pay additional fees on top of the base shipping price. For instance, if you’re shipping a particularly valuable car, you might want to pay for extra insurance. If you need your car shipped ASAP, you could pay a few hundred dollars extra for express shipping.

How much does car shipping cost for short moves?

If for whatever reason you find yourself unable to drive, the good news is that intrastate and short-distance moves will generally be a lot cheaper than long-distance moves, simply because there’s a lot less mileage involved. On average, you can expect to pay about $1 per mile for moves of 500 miles or less for a short-distance move. However, since costs can vary quite a bit across car shipping companies, it’s a good idea to budget around $500 to $1,000 for a short move.

How much is car shipping from one state to another (i.e., interstate moves)?

car shipping

What if you’re planning an interstate move? Contrary to what you might expect, rates actually get cheaper to ship a car the further you go. If you’re doing an interstate move of over 1,000 miles, the average cost per mile drops to $0.60. However, you’ll still end up spending more overall on a long-distance move due to the high mileage. 

As we discussed, the size of your car will make a difference here, though. Heavier or larger cars cost more per mile to ship than smaller, compact cars.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay* per mile for car shipping from one state to another (1,000+ miles):

  • Compact: $0.57
  • Mid-size: $0.74
  • Mid-size pickup truck: $0.87
  • Mid-size SUV: $0.87
  • Minivan: $0.97
*estimates

When shipping a car, can you pack it?

Yes, but it’ll cost you more.

Moving long distances can be pretty pricey, so any way that you can reduce the size of your moving truck or shipping container helps. (You can check out Moving Place, our sister company that specializes in long distance moves.)

The good news is that in many cases, you can pack some of your belongings in your car to be transported along with it. However, you can’t shove just anything in there. Avoid packing anything fragile or valuable, and keep your belongings in the trunk and/or below the window line to avoid theft. Remember, the car shipping company isn’t going to drive straight through from point A to point B – they’ll be making stops at gas stations, rest stops, etc. where could-be thieves might see your stuff.

Also, consider that because weight impacts the overall cost of car shipping, you don’t want to make your vehicle overweight and incur added fees. Usually, there’s room for about 100-200 pounds of extra weight before fees get tacked on.


These are all the basic things to know about car shipping. When it’s all said and done, the average cost of shipping a car in 2021 is around $1,200, according to Home Advisor. If that sounds high, saving on other moving costs is one of the best ways to move for a much better value.

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