Moving is one of the most disruptive and tedious events in our lives. It doesn’t matter if the circumstances surrounding the move are good or bad, moving house is a stressful event. Local moves are hard enough, but a long-distance move is especially tough. Often when someone moves long distance it’s because of a major life change. Perhaps it’s to start a new job or because you’ve been accepted to a school out of state. Regardless of the reason, a move across any expanse is a big deal. Because of the emotional and physical toll these huge moves take, it is imperative that you hire a moving company to help. 

            A lot of people have no idea that there are differences between local and long-distance moving companies. The best moving companies can do both with minimum impact to their clients. Below are some the differences between a local and a long-distance move from the point of view of the movers. This will help you with your selection process for hiring movers.

            Most movers define a local move as one that’s less than fifty miles. Anything more than that could be considered a long-distance move. Why is this important? Simply put, it determines the rate you should expect to pay. Moving companies often adjust their rates based on how long your move is. Make sure to ask your prospective movers what they consider to be a long-distance move. Sometimes, a local move is determined by mileage, while in other cases, the move must be intrastate to qualify. This means you are staying in the state that you started. 

            Crossing state lines can be an indicator that you are about to undertake a move of significant distance. This isn’t always the case, though. For example, if you are moving from New York City to one of the New Jersey suburbs. While it is technically a state-to-state move, it isn’t a long-distance move. Different states have different laws regarding insurance for movers, so make sure you know this when researching state-to-state moving companies. 

            Long distance moving companies will often quote you a price based mainly on these two factors. If it is an interstate move, the mover will need to be insured in each state your stuff is traveling through. Most companies that have the licenses and documentation to do multi-state moves will already have a comprehensive insurance policy that covers everything. That is why it is important to check out your moving company’s credentials. That’s also why you shouldn’t simply go with the cheapest movers and hope for the best.

            Moving across state lines or any great length requires planning and special preparation on your part. The same is true of the company you hire to help you. They must find the right people for your team. Remember, these folks are pros, so they have to fit your move into their already packed schedule. Especially if you are moving during peak season, which is between late spring and late summer. The amount of personnel and the time of year will definitely be factors when a moving company is planning your move. 

 State-to-state moving companies take into account other factors when they are figuring out your quote. Obvious things like how much stuff you have, how big of a truck you’ll need, and how much gas they’ll use getting there. What you might not know is that if you have a specialty item, that will affect the rate you get from your movers. Something like a piano or billiards table would qualify as a specialty item. So could vehicles like motorcycles, ATVs, or boats. 

Your mover will consider the above factors when deciding if they need to add additional insurance to your items. This is probably a good idea if you have a lot of expensive property since in a lot of cases insurance minimums might not cover luxury or specialty items. It is also common practice for a moving company to charge you if there are obstacles at either locale. Things like obstructed parking or multiple staircases make their jobs harder and will be taken into consideration when deciding on a price. This additional charge is usually applied for both local moves and moves across great distances.

 

Once all these factors are considered, your moving company can give you a clear price. If the price seems too high, you can always get a second quote and compare the two. However, keep in mind that you can’t put a price on peace of mind. Knowing your property is being looked after by certified and insured professionals will remove a whole level of worry from your move. When you consider the time saved, the reduced wear and tear on your personal car or truck, and the fact that you are avoiding the physical toll of moving your own stuff, it is a price worth paying.