Long Distance Movers: Planning a Stress-Free Relocation

How to Plan a Long Distance Move Without Losing Your Mind

Moving across the country or even just a few states away is a completely different beast from moving across town and long distance movers charge differently have different regulations and require way more planning ahead of time if you want your stuff to arrive when you do instead of showing up weeks later. The first thing to understand about long distance movers is that the cost is based primarily on the weight of your shipment and the distance it is traveling which means getting rid of as much stuff as possible before the movers even show up is the single best way to save money on a long distance move. Long distance movers typically give you a delivery window rather than a specific delivery date because they are consolidating multiple shipments on one truck to be efficient and you need to be flexible about when your stuff arrives and plan accordingly with an air mattress and essentials in your car. The timing of a long distance move matters a lot because summer is peak moving season and long distance movers charge premium rates and are booked up way in advance so if you have flexibility moving in the fall or winter can save you a significant amount of money. A reputable long distance movers company will do a thorough inventory of everything you are moving before giving you a binding estimate and if you add a bunch of stuff on moving day the price will go up accordingly. You need to understand the difference between a binding estimate and a non binding estimate from long distance movers because a non binding estimate is just a guess and the final price can be much higher while a binding not to exceed estimate guarantees your price will not go above a certain amount even if your shipment weighs more than estimated. And long distance movers should provide you with valuation coverage options and you need to decide whether the basic released value protection which pays sixty cents per pound per item is enough or if you want to purchase full value protection that actually replaces your items if they get damaged.

What Long Distance Movers Should Include in Your Moving Estimate

When long distance movers give you an estimate there are specific line items that should be included and understanding what should be in the estimate helps you compare quotes accurately and avoid surprise charges on moving day. The estimate from long distance movers should clearly state the weight of your shipment the distance being traveled and the rate per pound and it should include all fuel surcharges and transportation fees in the total price so you are not getting hit with add ons later. Long distance movers should include the cost of packing services in the estimate if you want them to pack for you and packing services add a lot to the total but they also save you days of work and the movers are much faster and better at packing than you are. Ask long distance movers about their policy on stairs elevators long carries and shuttle trucks because if the moving truck cannot park directly in front of your new home you might be charged extra for a shuttle truck or for the extra labor to carry items a long distance. The estimate from long distance movers should include the valuation coverage you selected and you should understand what is covered and what the claims process looks like if something gets damaged. Storage in transit is something to discuss with long distance movers because if your new home is not ready when your stuff arrives you will need storage and you want to know the daily storage rate upfront rather than being surprised by it later. And the best long distance movers will give you a single point of contact for your move so you are not calling a generic customer service line every time you have a question about where your stuff is and when it will arrive.