Things To Consider For An Interstate Move 2023
Things To Consider For An Interstate Move 2023
Are you preparing for your next move? If so, you should consider hiring a professional moving company – especially if you are moving out of state. After all, moving is demanding and exhausting enough without the added stress of relocating to an entirely different state. From packing personal effects to finding new accommodation, moving abroad comes with its list of obligations, aggravations, and moving parts. So unless you have help from friends and family, it is best to entrust many of these long-distance moving tasks to a reliable and trustworthy moving company.
However, while enlisting a moving company will certainly save you time and energy, it probably won’t save you money. Hiring a moving company for a long-distance move can be expensive – but most will agree that it’s well worth the extra bucks. Here is an overview of what an interstate move is likely to cost.
- What is an interstate move?
- The average cost of a move
- How the cost of moving is determined
- Other considerations:
- To know:
- How to reduce costs
- Find interstate movers
What is an interstate move?
An interstate move, also known as an “out of state” or “long-distance” move, is a move from one US state to another. This type of move means that your belongings will cross state lines.
The average cost of a move
The cost of an out-of-state move largely depends on where you are going and how much stuff you are moving. The average price for an interstate move is approximately $4,900, based on an average weight of 7,400 pounds and an average distance of 1,225 miles, plus various moving services required.
If these numbers seem high, keep in mind that an interstate move tends to be much more expensive than a local move. While local movers may charge by the hour, long-distance movers must charge based on the weight of your shipment as they cross state lines.
As someone who has hired professional movers to handle multiple moves across the country, I can attest that the average cost mentioned above seems pretty fair. Moving my one-bedroom apartment from Massachusetts to Florida costs just over $4,300 (about $5,000). However, I moved farther than the average 1,225 miles and packed a lot of stuff into this apartment.
How the cost of moving is determined
As mentioned above, the cost of an interstate move is affected by three key factors: 1) The weight of your shipment of belongings. In other words, the more stuff you move, the more expensive your move will be. 2) The mileage between your point of origin and your destination. For example, people moving to a neighboring state can expect to pay less than those moving across the country. 3) Labor costs, which may vary from state to state.
Other considerations:
- Packing – If the movers are tasked with packing and unpacking any of your belongings – whether a mattress and box spring or your entire apartment – ​​you will be charged accordingly for supplies and business time. This also includes any assembly or disassembly of furniture.
- Travel Expenses – Don’t forget fuel and labor costs while transporting your things. The further away your move is, the more expensive these costs will be.
- Liability and Appraisal Coverage – Under federal law, interstate movers must provide customers with two appraisal coverage options: Full Value Protection and Paid-Up Value Protection. Complete Value Protection is the most comprehensive option and requires the mover to replace the items or refund you money for the item’s current value. Essential impairment protection covers liability for 0.60 cents per pound of goods. This option is considered the most economical – although it only covers the bare minimum.
- Third-Party Insurance – If you are concerned about your items – especially if they are precious, it is not a bad idea to take out your third-party insurance. Keep receipts, take photos of all your things, and document them thoroughly. If you need to make a claim, these documents will greatly help you. Plus – FYI – If something is stolen during the moving process, your current homeowner’s insurance may also cover the loss.
- Storage – Having a moving company hold or store your belongings before, during, or after a move can be extremely convenient for those dealing with a complicated long-distance move. Just be prepared to pay extra for this service. Storage rates vary from one moving company to another, so ask for specifics.
To know:
Before hiring a professional moving company to handle your interstate move, it is essential to know several things:
- Subcontractors – Before hiring a mover, be sure to ask whether or not they subcontract certain aspects of the job to subcontractors along the way. Although not full-time employees, these contractors are sometimes hired by moving companies to handle part of the move. Since subcontractors are not necessarily bound by the same rules and policies as the moving company you originally hired, it is best to avoid hiring a moving company that works with subcontractors.
- You are moving insurance – Although infrequent, occasional damage to household goods occurs during a move. That’s why you must do your homework and ensure the moving company you want to hire has the required workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance will prevent the company from suing you in the unlikely event that a mover is injured while moving your belongings. Tip: If a moving company doesn’t have insurance, they probably aren’t licensed either.
- Moving Scams – The last thing you want to do when embarking on an interstate move is entrust your belongings to rogue movers. To ensure a mover is reputable and legitimate, I recommend making sure they’re licensed and insured and reading their reviews and complaint history. You can do this by entering their USDOT number into the FMCSA’s search engine, located under the “Search Movers & Complaint History” tab, and checking ratings and reviews on the Better’s website. Business Bureau (BBB). Also, when interviewing a moving company, trust your instincts. If the mover seems unprofessional, this may be a red flag. All moving companies should also do an in-person inspection or video survey of your belongings before giving you a quote. Never accept a blind quote online.
- Things To Consider For An Interstate Move 2022
How to reduce costs
- AAA Membership – Those with AAA membership may be eligible for special discounts on moving and storage. For example, Atlas Van Lines offers free full-value coverage to AAA members moving interstate. To look at other AAA deals on moving services, check here.
- Pack Yourself – While hiring a professional moving company to pack your home will save you time and effort – it won’t save you money (sorry!). Packing rates vary from one moving company to another – but are sure to cost a few hundred extra dollars (at least). I recommend packing yourself or enlisting friends and family to help to save money on packing.
- Pick the Right Moving Date – Believe it or not – when you can make a big difference in the overall cost of your interstate move. If you’re lucky enough to have the flexibility, I highly recommend missing a work day to move during the week. According to our research, opting for a mid-month and mid-week move is best. This is usually when the demand for moving companies is lowest, reducing costs. While driving at the weekend may be more convenient, remember that there are a limited number of weekends in the year – and most clients will compete for one of these dates. Also, avoid, if you can, moving during the “peak season” for moving.
- Trim Your Stuff – As we’ve said throughout this article – the more stuff you move, the more expensive your out-of-state move will be. There is no way to escape it! Before proceeding, I therefore strongly recommend that you start by reducing your personal effects. Start by cleaning out the cupboards, donating unnecessary furniture, and decluttering the different rooms. For more tips on how to get rid of stuff, check out our step-by-step guide to the purge before moving.
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5 things you need to do before hiring a moving company
Whether you’re moving to the same city or a different area, if you don’t choose a competent moving company, the journey to your new home could be very unpleasant, even nightmarish.
A move is a “small” problem at best. You may feel overwhelmed and taken aback because you must adapt to a new environment while starting a new job. Unexpected miscellaneous expenses, broken or missing goods, and inadequate moving insurance can make an already stressful situation even more difficult.
Instead of using the cheapest mover you can find or the first (and only) mover you contacted, take the time to find a reliable company with years of experience and proper paperwork.
Here are five steps to choosing a moving company or how to find the mover everyone wants:
Ensure your moving service provider offers adequate insurance once you arrive in your new accommodation; you won’t be pleased if essential items have been damaged. And you realize that the insurance taken out does not cover your business or only very little.
In case of breaking, it would be heartbreaking to recover a check for 10€ for an item worth 400!
“Make sure you always have a clear explanation of the insurance offered by the company you’ve decided to move with,” says Jessica, a personal rights advocate.
Movers generally provide minimal insurance but offer higher-level “replacement” coverage for an additional fee. For Jessica, the extra blanket is a great thing if you have valuables to carry.
Things To Consider For An Interstate Move 2022
Interview with several candidates
When you hire a mover, you entrust most, if not all, of your important possessions to the company. If you choose the first mover you talked to, you won’t know if you found the right company, the most qualified, and the one that really corresponds to what you are looking for.
Choosing the right company during your search is not an easy thing. An excellent way to start is to ask friends, family members, and colleagues to recommend movers they have used successfully. If you can’t get referrals, search online for companies with offices near your home. Be sure to consult several companies before making a decision.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
It is essential to understand how movers work entirely. The best way is to ask as many questions as possible:
- How long has your business been around?
- Is your company a member of the Chambre Syndicale du Déménagement? Does it have an NF standard? etc
- Does your company have the necessary authorizations to operate?
- What services do you offer? Packaging, transport, freight elevator, etc.
Ask for a quote after visiting your home
We recommend that you compare moving quotes only with companies that have moved to your home to make an estimate. It is strongly discouraged to choose a company that estimates the price of your move over the phone.
If the moving company’s sales representative visits your home, they can accurately determine the workload involved. The more work there is, the more difficult it will be, and the higher the price of the movers will be. Many things can considerably vary the cost of your move: precision of the volume of belongings to be moved, parking conditions, narrow stairs, need for a freight elevator, etc.
It’s easy to save money if you’re willing to pack your things, for example. Or if you dismantle some furniture yourself and unplug your household appliances. Also, if you dismantle your lights hanging from the ceiling etc.
Beware of “Red Alerts”
Red alerts are the signals that alert you that there is potentially a problem with the mover you are talking to. Be wary when choosing. The moving market is significant. In 2014, more than 7 million French people moved! This lucrative market attracts many malicious people. It is not uncommon to see movers (if you can call it that!) blooming between May and October. They don’t know anything about the business, don’t have the necessary authorizations, and are surfing on strong compound demand for some customers attracted by meager prices. If you compare prices and a mover offers you a price that is too low, it is indeed too good to be true! There is something wrong; it’s up to you to do your investigation so as not to have any regrets. To find what’s behind it, follow the tips in this article.
Another warning may be a high number of negative online reviews by former customers. Another way is to ask the opinion of the Chambre Syndicale on the move to see if any complaints affect this company. If you’re uncomfortable with a mover, find another company.
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Things To Consider For An Interstate Move 2023