How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers in Reading?
The town of Reading in Massachusetts is one of the most recommended places to live in the state. It’s really not that surprising considering its very low crime rate and peaceful, friendly communities. If you are planning on relocating, there are plenty of Reading movers that you can choose from to handle your move.
There can be a huge disparity in moving costs as this would depend on multiple factors. There is the matter of your location, to begin with, specifically the distance between the pick-up and the drop-off. The weight and volume of your belongings would also be taken into account, as well as all the extra services that you might want to avail.
With all these to consider, it can be a bit confusing to figure out how much you need to prepare for your move. In this article, we will touch on all the different areas and by the end, you will already have an idea of how much it will cost to hire Reading movers.
How Much Do Reading Movers Cost?
The very first thing you should do is to find out whether you are preparing for a local move or a long-distance move. It is the common assumption that any move within a state is automatically a local move. This is not necessarily true because many professional moving companies also take the mileage into consideration. If the distance exceeds 100 miles, or whatever the company has set, it will be considered a long-distance move even if it does not cross Massachusetts boundaries.
Rates for Local Reading Moves
As with practically all local moves in the country, Reading movers charge by the hour for local moves. The typical rate of $130 per hour includes a 2-man crew and a small moving van. Many moving companies also enforce a minimum number of hours. Let’s say the mover has a 2- hour minimum and your move gets completed in just 1 hour. You would still be billed for 2 hours.
Rates for Long-Distance Reading Moves
If you are going to base on average historical data, Reading movers charge about $4,900 for a long distance move. But you can’t really base your budget on this because there are too many factors involved. Most Reading movers will quote you a flat rate for a long-distance move. Before they can do this, you will need to provide them with basic information about your relocation, like the address of your origin and destination, as well as the total volume of your items in cubic feet.
Additional Services for Local and Long-Distance Moves
The rates that we had just talked about refer to just the actual moving service. Outside of this, there are many additional services that Reading movers offer in order to make your move even more stress-free. If you want to avail these services, you need to include their cost in your overall budget for the relocation.
Packing Service Cost
Paying for professional packing might be one of the best decisions you make with regards to your relocation. It sounds like a simple task but it can quickly get difficult. The speed and efficiency with which professionals can do it are definitely worth the fee that you will pay.
Reading movers offer packing services at an average rate of $85 per hour. This price includes the services of two professional packers. Packing materials are typically charged separately, with packing boxes starting at $3 each. You can also provide your own boxes if you have them so that you can save a few dollars.
Storage Cost
The cost of storage will vary depending on how much you need to store, how long you plan on keeping them in storage, and also the season. In Reading, you can get a small storage unit at an average of $200 per month or so, but there are also facilities that will charge you only around $60.
If you need space to store more stuff, larger facilities that measure 10×10 ft. are also available starting at $200 and going all the way to $500 or higher, depending on the features that come with the unit. Many storage companies in Reading offer discounts during the first few months, and some even offer the first month for free. There are also those that implement a cap on storage duration, so you should check all the details carefully.
Insurance Packages
When Reading movers tell you that their service comes with free insurance coverage, they are not lying. Released value protection is a mandatory inclusion for all moving services so you get this without paying any additional fees. However, this very basic insurance only protects your stuff up to 60 cents for every pound. So if any of your items gets damaged or lost, you will only get 60 cents multiplied by the weight of your item in pounds, which barely covers your loss.
For better coverage, you can purchase additional insurance either from the mover or from third-party providers. Be very cautious when taking out extra coverage and make sure you completely understand the inclusions and exemptions.
Guidelines on How Much to Tip Reading Movers
When you hire a really good professional mover, they will likely give you a detailed breakdown of their charges right from the beginning. They will include all the fees and services that you need to pay, so everything is clear. However, what they will not include, even in the final bill, is how much you should pay the movers as a tip.
It can be awkward to hand over a tip without having any idea of the going rate, especially if you are actually pleased with the company’s service but you unknowingly give them a tip that is too small. To avoid this, what you can do is to count how many hours the move took to complete and give your Reading movers $4 to $5 for every hour. This should suffice for both local and long-distance moves.
So there you have it. With this overview, it would be easier for you to figure out how much to prepare for your Reading relocation. Now, if you want to work with a company that delivers quality at the most competitive rates, just call us at Stairhopper Movers. We have been one of the most trusted Reading movers for almost two decades now, and it would be our pleasure to serve you next!