Moving Rates Guide – Getting the Best Possible Relocation Prices

Moving rates from various relocation services can vary from extremely low rates to extremely high. A simple online search will yield dozens of results and possibilities, from well known brand names, to obscure names that you’ve never heard of. Things can get pretty confusing down the line, as you try to sort out all the information and select affordable moving rates from reputable movers.

This guide will provide you with some tips regarding moving rates, how to apply them in order to calculate moving costs and how to avoid receiving them from disreputable movers.

Reputable VS. Disreputable Moving Companies

Before getting into the subject of how to receive rates and how to apply them, it is essential that you understand how to differentiate between reputable movers and disreputable ones. Why? Simply because disreputable relocation service providers will offer you extremely low moving rates and then will increase them on the moving date.

Here’s what you should do to differentiate such movers from the reputable ones:

• Check the Better Business Bureau status of the service provider.
• Verify licensing information by using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Department of Transportation websites.
• When getting moving rates, make sure that you are dealing with an actual relocation service provider and not with a broker. This is also something you can check and cross reference by using the websites above.
• Double check the local address that the mover provides you and make sure that you are dealing with a company that has the necessary headquarters and equipment and not with a virtual, online entity that will subcontract your move.
• Make sure that the company you are dealing with has experience with servicing the type of relocation you are looking for, local, long distance or commercial.
• Ask for references from people who used the company before and were pleased with the quality of the service they received.
• Once you finish sorting out the good from the bad, get three to four moving rates from reputable, local movers whose information and reputation checked out.

Understanding Your Moving Rates

As mentioned above, you need to get three to four moving rates from reputable companies that meet all the criteria above.

Now comes the part of understanding how movers will actually price your move:

• Long distance moving rates are calculated either by weight or space, mostly by using a fixed price unit. Space based relocations will get a set rate per cubic foot while weight based relocations will get a set rate per pound. In the first case, the shipment will be measured, once it is loaded onto the truck, in the second case, the truck will be weighed before and after loading to determine actual weight.
• There are several additional possible fees that may increase your moving rates. Most relocation service providers charge extra for packing and packing materials. Your best bet is to get an estimate for packing costs before the day of the move.
• One time fees for long carry, flights of stairs, certificates of insurance and access difficulties may sometimes apply. Try to get a list of all possible surcharges from your service provider when you receive your moving rates.