Approximately 32 million Americans move each year, and most of those moves are local. Whether you’re moving to a different side of town, into the city or a new neighborhood within the same suburb, working with professional local movers can save you both time and stress during your next relocation.
If you’re searching for local movers to help you with your move, the first step is getting recommendations from friends, family members and coworkers who have moved before. You can also ask online review sites for their recommendations. Choosing a reputable local moving company with a good reputation will ensure your next move goes as smoothly as possible.
Once you have several local moving companies’ recommendations, it’s important to ask them for an in-home estimate. It’s difficult to accurately price a move without visiting your home, surveying the items you’re taking with you and discussing add-on services that may be needed.
Some local movers offer full-service moving plans where they pack, unpack and transport your belongings to your new home. Other companies will provide box and moving supplies or offer packing assistance. Some local movers will even provide custom crating for fragile or specialty items and storage solutions.
Most local movers operate on an hourly basis, so they’re charged for their time. You can minimize the amount of time they need to spend at your house by packing some or all of your belongings yourself and completing other tasks that can be done ahead of time, like disposing of unwanted items or cleaning your old home.
When choosing a local moving company, ask for quotes that include the price of labor and a breakdown of all other fees and charges. You’ll want to understand the factors that influence your quote — like distance, size of your household and add-on services — so you can compare quotes from multiple local movers with confidence.
If your local movers are on-time, friendly and efficient during the actual relocation, you can consider tipping them. However, you should never feel obligated to tip movers who are unprofessional or act rudely during your move.
If you’re planning a DIY approach to your local move, you can rent a truck from a moving company or from a rental agency. The biggest and most well-known rental company is U-Haul, which has five truck sizes to choose from and offers both manual and automatic transmission options. Another popular option for local moves is Penske, which has one of the newest truck fleets and four truck size options to choose from. Renting a truck is a cheaper alternative to hiring a professional local moving company. However, it’s essential to be present during the relocation to ensure everything goes as planned. If you’re not able to be there, it’s recommended that you hire a friend or family member to assist in the process. This will make the entire experience less stressful for you and your family. This is especially true if there are any problems or issues that occur.
