Moving is a total hassle — whether it’s a journey across town or across the country. And as an adult, you don’t want to be the person forced to enlist the help of your family and friends for such a tedious task. You could attempt to rent a moving truck and haul everything yourself, pack everything into a moving container and ship it to your new place or you could just hire some professional movers to do it all.
JK Moving Services specializes in corporate, long-distance and international moves, and it has a history of handling complicated moves safely and on-time. It received a 104 score from the GSA and a 4.22/5 in customer reviews with the Better Business Bureau. JK also has the lowest rate I saw of trucks and drivers being delayed because of failed inspections.
So what kept JK out of the top spot? The quotes I got for long-distance moves were as much as $5,000 higher than other companies. It’s still worth going through the quote process, but if you want to keep costs low, you might find that JK isn’t your best option.
Moving to another country can be incredibly stressful, and it helps to have a company on your side that knows the paperwork inside and out. Interstate International received a 110 score from the GSA. That means that when the US government sends people overseas, this is the company it trusts to handle the details. Interstate also has both certifications we looked for in an international moving company: FAIM Quality Certification by the FIDI and membership in the International Association of Movers.
If you want to go full DIY, renting a box truck and bribing some friends with pizza is by far the most affordable way to move. It was close, but Penske got the edge over U-Haul and Budget for its affordable pricing and numerous rental locations.
You can choose from three truck sizes and one cargo van, and pricing is $30 plus 59 cents per mile (the largest truck increases to $30 plus 79 cents per mile). For similar sizes, U-Haul charges $30 plus $1.59 per mile, while Budget charges $30 plus 79 cents.
All interstate moving companies have a US Department of Transportation number, which is usually displayed at the bottom of their website. You can search this number on the DOT website to see information about the company’s safety record. Red flags for moving scams include offering a quote without a detailed inventory, unusually low prices, or asking for a deposit in cash, money order or wire transfer.
An average tip for movers is around $5 per person for each hour of work. It’s also a nice gesture to have water or snacks on hand for movers while they’re loading or unloading items in your home.
Local moves average around $500, while interstate moves can cost as much as $10,000. Among the 22 companies I received quotes from, here is the average to move:
Add-ons like packing services and vehicle shipment will add significantly to the final cost.
It’s tempting to just go with the moving company that gives you the cheapest quote, but it pays to put in some extra legwork. To get started, you can view the federal government’s mover ratings that it uses for employee relocation. A high score isn’t a guarantee of a positive experience, but it’s a good place to start your list of moving companies you want to get quotes from.
A reputable moving company should offer an in-person or virtual tour of your home before providing a written estimate. The contract you sign is called a Bill of Lading and it should detail out every little part of your move, from estimates to services provided, as line items. This can (and should!) include everything from how much you’ll be charged for the move itself to whether or not the moving company will provide its own bubble wrap.
If you don’t understand something in your contract, ask your moving coordinator about it. A company with a strong track record will be able to explain any issues in simple terms.
