How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers in Boston?
Do you have an upcoming move to Boston? Whether you are coming from a completely different state or just moving from the next town, relocation can be a challenge. There are several things you need to take care of, from packing your belongings to figuring out how much the entire move is going to cost. You can do away with much of the stress by delegating the move to a reputable moving company. Of course, this comes at a cost, and that is what we are going to talk about today.
How Much Do Boston Movers Cost?
Before you start thinking about how much you need to allot for your move, you must first determine whether the move you’re making is a local one or a long distance. It’s not that hard to figure out. Any move that entails traveling over 100 miles is considered a long distance move. You can use Google maps or some other distance calculator for this. Once this is done, you can proceed to figure out the expense for packing, scheduling, and other services needed for the move.
Local Boston Moves
The cost of local moves in Boston is computed by the hour. The rate can vary widely depending on what part of Boston you are coming from or moving to. In the Metro Boston area, you can expect to pay an average of anywhere from $100 to $160 per hour for a service that includes two movers and a truck. The exact amount can be lower or higher than this range. It would depend on several factors like the size of your home or office, the amount of furniture you have, and so on. A studio type apartment might require only a one-man crew, which would cost less. But if you have a 5-bedroom home filled with stuff, you might want to prepare a bigger budget.
Long-Distance Boston Moves
Pricing for long-distance Boston moves is a little bit more complex. In addition to the basic expenses of a local move, there are also other matters to consider, such as mileage and shipment weight. On average, families that go on a long-distance from Boston to a different state spend approximately $4000 for the relocation. This is just an average, and the price of your move will really depend on your particular circumstances.
Beware of Additional Charges
It is typical for moving companies to advertise a fixed rate for their moving services. These rates are usually low enough in order to attract your attention. But oftentimes, they only account for the basic labor. Only later on will you find out that it does not include the cost of insurance, fuel, supplies and all kinds of surcharges.
Stairhopper Movers gives estimates that are inclusive of all costs involved in the move. Everything is accounted for right from the start so you won’t have to face surprise charges when the bill comes. Because of this, our rates appear to be higher compared to those of other movers. In order to make an accurate comparison though, you should ask about additional charges whenever you talk to other Boston movers.
Cost of Extra Services Offered by Boston Movers
The primary service that you get from professional moving companies in Boston is the labor or the actual move. Other than this, there are many other services that you may or may not want to include in the paid service.
Packing and unpacking is one of the most popularly availed services because clearly, it can take a heavy toll. Moving specialty items like a piano or a Jacuzzi is another popular service, as well as the disassembly and reassembly of furniture. All these additional services come with a fee, which you should take into account when figuring out the total cost of your Boston move.
Packing and Unpacking Service
In Boston, you can expect to pay between $60 and $80 per hour for full packing services of an entire house. Of course, you can also just get partial packing services, where you can leave the most difficult items to the professionals while you do the easy ones on your own. Some moving companies include the packing materials in the fee, while others will charge a specific amount per item. Stairhopper Movers offers full packing, partial packing and fragile packing services.
Storage
In case you are not taking all your possessions directly to your new location, you will need either short-term or long-term storage for them. Storage is one of the services offered by many, but not all, moving companies. The cost will vary depending on how many items you have and the length of time you need to store them.
Moving Specialty Items
While most items can easily be arranged to fit into regular moving boxes, there are some that require special handling and packing. Very large and heavy furniture makes for an excellent example. The same is true for pianos, delicate artwork, aquariums, and so on. In order to have these items moved, you will have to pay for the extra precautions like special crates and padded containers that will keep them safe throughout the move.
Special Circumstances
There are some situations that make it particularly difficult to execute a move. Having to pass through a narrow alley, climbing several flights of stairs to get to your apartment, and so on are examples of special circumstances that might cost you extra. It’s hard to make an estimate of this kind of extra fee but a reasonable ballpark figure would be $200 to $600.
Insurance
Limited liability insurance is often included in a basic moving service. This insures your belongings at the amount of $0.60 per pound and should not cost you any additional fees. However, it is far from full coverage. If you want to better protect your items in case of damage, many moving companies can offer you a range of more comprehensive insurance packages for an extra price.
How Much Tip Should Be Given to Boston Movers?
While tipping is not legally required, it would be greatly appreciated by your movers since what they do is not an easy job at all. If they did a really good job and you are satisfied with their service, you can say thank you by giving them a generous tip. The customary rate is about 15 to 20 percent of your total bill. On average, Boston movers get tips of $50 to $100.
If you want to make your Boston move as stress-free as possible, hire a professional moving company that has the experience and can guarantee superior services at reasonable prices. Here at Stairhopper Movers, our goal is to move you safely and efficiently, and to simply get the job done right.