One of the first steps in planning an interstate relocation is determining which moving method is right for you. For most people, the simplest, easiest, and most cost-effective route is to hire a company that can provide a full-service long-distance move as opposed to a DIY relocation or finding different companies at each end of your move.
But what exactly is included in a full-service long-distance move, and what should you look out for? Read on for what you should know when you prepare to relocate across state lines.
What is a Full-Service Long-Distance Move?
A full-service long-distance move is exactly what it sounds like: you hire one company to handle the entire process. The moving crew will come to the home you’re moving out of, load your belongings onto their truck, transport your items across state lines, and bring everything into your new dwelling.
You’ll get one bill for the entire relocation, and as long as you partner with the right company, your expectations and costs will be managed from the initial estimate all the way through the unload at your new home.
Moving Supplies and Services Included in a Door-to-Door Interstate Move
Each full-service long-distance moving company has its own pricing structure. In addition to different cubic footage rates, you’ll notice that movers tend to charge differently for their labor and supplies. There may be additional fees for things like extra flights of stairs, oversize items, and pianos.
Because every company charges differently, it’s important to understand what materials and services to look out for when you take a fine-toothed comb to the estimates you receive.
Moving and Packing Materials
For the most part, each estimate you receive for your full-service long-distance move should indicate pricing for basic materials such as:
- Shrink wrap
- Moving blankets
- Rolls of tape
- Wardrobe and TV box rental
- Use of moving materials like wheeled dollies and doorstops
You’ll likely also have the option to add on moving supplies like floor protectors, mattress bags, and small, medium, and large boxes if you need those items. Generally, these materials will be added to your final bill on a per-item basis.
While some movers will charge a flat rate based on the size of your residence, others may bill you per item used or per piece wrapped. If you don’t see materials clearly listed on your estimate, contact your mover to get an idea of what their moving and packing supplies will cost.
Furniture Disassembly and Reassembly
Some furniture needs to be disassembled before it’s wrapped and placed onto the moving truck. Items like dining tables, desks, and basic bedframes are often safer and easier to transport when they’re carefully taken apart, and are easy enough to put back together at your new home. Therefore, most companies include basic disassembly and reassembly in their full-service long-distance move estimates.
Keep in mind, though, that while professional movers are incredibly skilled at their craft, they’re usually not licensed carpenters, electricians, or plumbers. This means that they likely will not reassemble bunk beds, mechanical beds, or electric standing desks, and they won’t be able to detach or install plumbed appliances.
Wrapping and Loading at Your Old Home
A fundamental service that should be included in any moving estimate—both long-distance and local relocations—is the labor that happens at the dwelling you’re moving out of.
The move crew will wrap your furniture in moving blankets and shrink wrap, and carry those items and all of your boxes to the moving truck. Inside the truck, they’ll carefully stack your wrapped and boxed possessions and make sure your belongings are secure and protected for the long interstate drive to your new city.
Unloading and Unwrapping at Your New Dwelling
Another basic service that should be included in each moving estimate is the unloading labor at your new home. The movers will carry everything inside and place the furniture and boxes in the appropriate rooms. Although they generally won’t unpack your boxes for you, they will remove the shrink wrap and moving blankets from your furniture and take the garbage with them.
Here’s a pro tip for a smooth unloading process: make sure all of your boxes are labeled with the room you want them to go in. This way, the movers will be able to work more efficiently and have the truck unloaded as quickly as possible.
Extra Fees to Look Out For
Now that you have a firm grasp of what materials and services to expect as part of your full-service long-distance move, it’s time to explore what additional costs might come up. Here are a few extra fees most moving companies will charge:
- Appliance moving fees
- Large exercise equipment fees for bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines
- Piano fees, which likely depend on how many flights of stairs there are
- Oversized item fees
- Overweight fees for items over 250 pounds
As long as you provide accurate information well before your interstate move, the moving company should be able to include any of these additional fees in their estimate. Neither customers nor movers enjoy surprises on move day, and you can avoid some unexpected costs by giving your movers as much information as possible during the estimate phase.
Additional Interstate Moving Services to Consider
To recap: there are usually a whole lot of labor and materials included in a full-service long-distance move. However, there are a couple of potential expenses that are not automatically included in moving estimates: packing and storage.
Many people who have an interstate move coming up choose to hire professional packers. Careful packing is one of the best ways to ensure a smooth and damage-free move, and getting some professional assistance saves a lot of time and stress. Most long-distance moving companies offer packing services, in which their team will come to your home a day or two before the actual move to help you pack up.
A second service that won’t be included in most interstate moving estimates is storage. If you need your home’s inventory to be stored for a few days (or a few weeks)—or if you’re only moving some of your belongings across state lines but don’t want to throw anything away—ask your moving company if they provide storage service. Make sure their facility is secure, temperature-controlled, and under video surveillance so you’ll know your prized possessions will be safe and well taken care of.
Exploring Alternative Options to a Full-Service Long-Distance Move
There are two main alternatives to a full-service long-distance move. Some people choose to organize a DIY move, and others patch together loading and unloading services at each end of their move.
With a DIY move, you’re responsible for everything. Here’s a short list of what you’ll need to do, and the hidden fees of DIY moves that can stack up quickly:
- Sourcing packing supplies
- Packing up your entire home
- Renting a moving truck
- Loading the truck
- Transporting your belongings to your new city and state
- Unloading the truck
- Unwrapping your furniture
- Disposing of used shrink wrap, tape, and moving blankets
- Returning the rental truck
The other alternative to hiring full-service movers is to find one company to load your belongings at your old home and unload them at your new home. This option applies whether you’re renting your own moving truck or going with a moving container transportation company like PODS.
Hiring a local team at each end of your interstate relocation is easier and more hands-off than a DIY move. However, the costs, time, and stress of both of these options can really add up.
When you consider the total expenses of renting a truck, purchasing supplies, and all the labor involved in either a DIY move or a piece-together one, you’ll likely find that ultimately, hiring full-service long-distance movers ends up costing about the same. Plus, going with a professional moving team will save you headaches and backaches!
Chicago’s Favorite Movers are Here to Help with Your Full-Service Long-Distance Move
Moving across state lines puts enough on your plate without adding the stress of planning a DIY relocation or finding multiple moving companies to help. Save yourself some stress and cash by going with a company that can provide a smooth and stress-free full-service long-distance move.
Ready to get started? Connect with our interstate moving specialists today, and we’ll get to work on your custom estimate!