One of the first questions people ask when planning a move is, “How much does it cost to hire movers?”
The answer depends on several factors, including the size of your home, the distance of the move, the amount of furniture and belongings being moved, the services you need, and how much preparation is involved.
A small local move can be very different from a large long-distance move. Likewise, a customer who has everything boxed and ready may have different moving needs than someone looking for full-service packing.
The best way to understand your moving cost is to look at the individual factors that affect the job and get a clear estimate from a moving company before scheduling.
There isn't one price that applies to every move. Professional movers generally consider several factors when determining the cost of a residential move.
Here are some of the biggest factors to consider.
The amount of furniture and household belongings you have is one of the most important considerations.
A one-bedroom apartment with relatively few belongings will usually require less time and labor than a large home with several bedrooms, heavy furniture, and a garage full of items.
Movers may consider:
Two homes with the same number of bedrooms can still have very different moving costs because the amount of furniture and belongings may be completely different.
Local and long-distance moves are typically priced differently.
A local move may primarily involve the labor and time required to load, transport, unload, and place your belongings.
A long-distance move can involve additional considerations such as:
If you're moving between states, make sure the moving company understands your origin and destination before providing an estimate.
For example, someone moving from Asheville to another nearby community has a very different move from someone relocating from Asheville to Las Vegas.
Furniture protection can also affect the time required for a move.
Many residential moving customers already have their smaller belongings boxed before the movers arrive. The movers may then focus on wrapping furniture, protecting larger items, loading the truck, transporting everything, and unloading it at the destination.
The more furniture that needs to be carefully wrapped and prepared, the more time may be required.
If furniture protection is important to you, ask the moving company exactly what their moving process includes.
Packing everything yourself can reduce the amount of work required from the moving company.
However, some customers prefer professional packing services because they don't have the time or desire to pack their entire home.
Professional packing can involve:
If you want a moving company to handle both packing and moving, ask whether full-service packing is available and what is included.
One of the biggest distinctions when considering moving costs is whether you're making a local or long-distance move.
A local residential move may involve:
The time required can vary considerably depending on the homes, access, stairs, elevators, furniture, distance between locations, and amount of belongings.
Long-distance moving involves additional transportation considerations.
A long-distance move can require significantly more planning than a local move, particularly when moving between states.
Before hiring a long-distance moving company, ask about:
Don't choose a long-distance mover based solely on the lowest advertised price. Make sure you understand what you're actually receiving for the price.
Not necessarily.
A larger home often contains more furniture and belongings, but the size of the home itself isn't the only factor.
For example, a two-bedroom home with minimal furniture may take less time to move than a smaller home filled with heavy furniture, packed storage areas, and numerous boxes.
The actual workload matters.
That's why it is important to give your moving company accurate information about what you're moving.
Several circumstances can increase the amount of labor or time required for a move.
These can include:
Multiple flights of stairs can require additional time and physical labor.
If the moving truck cannot park close to the entrance, movers may have to carry furniture and boxes a significant distance.
Apartment and condominium moves may require elevator coordination and additional time.
Large safes, oversized furniture, heavy appliances, and other difficult-to-move items may require additional planning.
More furniture and boxes generally mean more work.
If the moving company is also responsible for packing your belongings, additional labor and materials may be involved.
Narrow hallways, tight staircases, gates, long driveways, or difficult parking situations can affect how long a move takes.
If you have unusually large, fragile, valuable, or difficult-to-handle items, tell the moving company in advance.
Being upfront about these details helps the mover understand the job more accurately.
One of the best things you can do before hiring movers is provide as much accurate information as possible.
When requesting a moving quote, be prepared to discuss:
The more information the moving company has, the easier it is to understand the scope of the move.
Two moving companies may provide different prices because they are offering different services.
Before comparing quotes, find out what each company includes.
Ask questions such as:
A low quote isn't necessarily the best value if important services are excluded.
Price is obviously an important consideration when hiring movers, but it shouldn't be the only consideration.
You are trusting the moving company with your furniture, household belongings, schedule, and home.
Before choosing a mover, consider:
A company that clearly explains its services and pricing can be a better choice than a company that simply gives you the lowest number.
There are several ways you may be able to reduce the amount of time and labor required for your move.
Moving is often a good opportunity to get rid of belongings you no longer need.
The less you move, the less there is to load, transport, unload, and place.
Consider donating, selling, recycling, or disposing of items before moving day.
If you are comfortable packing your belongings yourself, having your boxes ready before the movers arrive can help keep the moving process organized.
Label boxes by room so they can be delivered to the appropriate area at your new home.
Before movers arrive, make sure pathways are accessible and smaller belongings are organized.
Clear clutter from hallways and entryways whenever possible.
Let your movers know about stairs, elevators, parking restrictions, oversized furniture, and other potential challenges ahead of time.
Unexpected circumstances can make a move more difficult than necessary.
Think about where major furniture should go before moving day.
This can make the unloading process more efficient and help movers place furniture where you actually want it.
For some smaller moves, renting a truck and doing the work yourself may make sense.
However, moving yourself also means taking responsibility for:
Hiring professional movers can save you significant time and physical effort.
The right choice depends on your budget, the size of your move, the distance you're traveling, and how much work you want to handle yourself.
Before scheduling your move, consider asking:
A professional moving company should be willing to explain the process clearly.
Falco Moving Company provides residential moving services in Asheville, North Carolina; Las Vegas, Nevada; and the Nashville, Tennessee area.
Moving costs can vary between locations and individual moves, so customers should request a quote based on their specific situation rather than relying on a generic online price.
Whether you're planning a local residential move or a long-distance relocation, providing accurate information about your move helps create a better understanding of the work involved.
If you're planning a move in or around Asheville, you can learn more about Falco's residential moving services and the communities we serve through our Asheville moving services page.
For customers moving in the Las Vegas area, Falco provides residential moving services throughout the market. Learn more through our Las Vegas movers page.
If you're moving in the Nashville area, you can learn more about Falco's residential moving services through our Nashville movers page.
There isn't one price for every move. Moving costs depend on factors such as the size of the move, distance, amount of furniture, packing requirements, access, and labor involved.
The best way to determine your cost is to request a quote based on your specific move.
It can be, particularly for a small move. However, remember to consider the cost of a truck rental, fuel, equipment, packing supplies, and your own time and labor.
If you hire movers to pack your belongings, packing is an additional service that can affect the overall cost. However, professional packing can save customers significant time and effort.
Many professional movers offer furniture wrapping as part of their moving process. Ask the company exactly what furniture protection is included with your service.
Yes. Local and long-distance moves involve different transportation requirements, so the distance between your origin and destination is an important part of determining moving costs.
Provide the moving company with accurate information about your home, belongings, furniture, access, stairs, elevators, packing needs, moving date, and destination.
The more complete the information, the easier it is for the mover to understand your move.
When you're researching how much it costs to hire movers, it's tempting to focus entirely on the final number.
Instead, consider the complete value of the service.
A good moving experience should include clear communication, an understanding of your specific needs, careful handling of your belongings, and a clear explanation of what the service includes.
Before hiring a moving company, compare the services—not just the prices.
And most importantly, get a moving estimate based on your actual move rather than relying solely on a generic online number.
If you're planning a residential move in Asheville, Las Vegas, or the Nashville area, contact Falco Moving Company to discuss your moving needs and request a quote.
Whether you need help with a local move, long-distance move, furniture moving, or packing, the right starting point is understanding exactly what your move requires.