Moving can be a stressful and expensive process, but understanding how moving rates are calculated can help you plan and budget for your move. To calculate the cost of a local move, you'll need to take the estimated number of hours to complete the move and multiply it by the hourly rate charged by the moving company. You may also need to add additional charges for things like travel time, packing materials, and tips for the moving company. For an interstate or long-distance move, the cost is determined by the weight of the shipment, the mileage between origin and destination, and labor costs.
Intrastate moves are based on a fixed amount in dollars per hour. This hourly rate takes into account labor costs, services such as packing or climbing an excessive number of stairs, assembling furniture, and additional add-ons. Many local moving companies also offer customers a flat rate option. This is usually the estimated number of hours the moving company will take, multiplied by its hourly rate.
When determining the cost of a move, each moving company has its own way of calculating the costs. Local or working-only moving companies typically create estimates based on an hourly rate, which takes into account how long the move will take to complete. Special items such as pianos, antique furniture, or safes may require a specialized move or additional carriers to handle them. If you're renting a moving truck and hiring movers with labor only or using a moving container and paying carriers to transport it to your home, you'll likely have to pay at least several hundred dollars for a DIY move.
This level of liability means that if the moving company damages or loses a property, they must replace your item or reimburse you for its current cash value.
