Guide to Moving Company Services

Hiring a moving company is a fantastic way to hand off some, most, or all of your moving tasks. And depending on your budget, you may opt to hire full-service movers, or you may pick and choose the moving company services that are most important to you—and that will most minimize your stress on the big day.

Any moving company that you work with will have its own list of services to offer, but it can be helpful to know in advance what sorts of things you can expect, as well as the services that might not be advertised but that you can put in a request for if you’re interested. Read through our complete list of moving company services below, then use Jaxmov.com to quickly and easily search through reputable movers in your area and find a company that can offer exactly what you need.

8 essential moving company services

Every provider is different, but most of them offer a lot more than just moving day transport for your belongings. Here are some of the moving company services that you can utilize for a more simple, more stress-free move—plus some additional specialty services that are worth looking into if you’re in need of something more specific.

1. Packing and unpacking
   

   Many people find packing and unpacking to be the most tedious and time-consuming part of moving, and we totally get it. So why not skip this step entirely and have your moving company do it for you? Moving companies are packing pros, especially when it comes to safely boxing up your stuff and doing it in record time. And as a bonus, they can even supply the packing materials (though those will cost extra, as you might expect).

2. Furniture disassembly and reassembly
   

   Just as they can get your smaller items ready to move, moving companies can also prep your furniture. This includes disassembling pieces as needed, wrapping them up securely, and, if you want them to, putting everything back together at your new home.

3. Truck loading and unloading
   

   Whether you can’t handle all that heavy lifting or you just don’t want to, you can hire a moving company to load and unload your truck—even if you’re the one that’s going to be doing the driving. Lifting boxes and other heavy or bulky items can be dangerous, and it can also be difficult to arrange them efficiently in the back of a truck. Leave it to the experts instead and save yourself the trouble.

4. Transportation of your belongings
   

   Moving across the street? Across town? Across the country? Regardless of how far you have to go, transport is one of the most popular of all moving company services and a great alternative for anyone who isn’t comfortable driving a huge truck themselves. Local moves are pretty straightforward, with movers driving straight from your old home to your new one with you following close behind. If you’re moving cross-country through, expect to be given a delivery window that you can expect your shipment in, which may or may not be on the exact day that you yourself arrive.

5. Packing material disposal
   

   All that packing results in a lot of waste, from piles of boxes and discarded packing paper to air-filled plastic wrap and now-useless packing tape. If it sounds like a lot to deal with, you’re in luck—a lot of moving companies will properly dispose of packing materials for you, including making sure that anything that can get recycled does.

6. Storage
   

   If you’re not going to be going straight from your old home to your new one—or if you’re downsizing and don’t quite have a plan yet for what to do with certain items—ask your moving company about their storage options. Some moving companies operate their own storage facilities, while others have partnerships with local storage providers and can help you arrange for storage at a discounted price. If neither of those are options, they can also transport your items to a storage facility of your choice and load up your unit for you.

7. Specialty item management
   

   Certain item require special handling, such as pricey art work, antique furniture, large musical instruments, wine collections, and hot tubs. If you have any of these items to be moved, make sure to let providers know in advance to make sure that they have the expertise to handle them. You may also want to consider looking into moving company services from luxury movers, at least for the handling of specific items. It will cost you a bit more, but it’s almost always worth the splurge.

8. Vehicle transport
   

   Need to move your vehicle but can’t do it yourself? Your movers may be able to arrange an auto transport solution for you, or at least direct you to a pre-vetted transport company that specializes in this type of service. There are several options for getting your car from point A to point B, and even if your moving provider can’t do it themselves they can likely help you arrange for the next best option.

How much do moving services cost?

The cost that you’ll pay for the moving company services that you need depends on a number of different factors, including your location, the size of your home and/or the amount of stuff that you need moved, and when you’re moving (certain times, days, months, and seasons are pricier than others).

To help get an idea of what you might end up spending, use our cost calculator. On average, a two to three bedroom move consisting of about 7,500 pounds of belongings will cost $1,250 if you’re moving locally and $4,890 if you’re moving long distance (1,000 miles). If you’re just utilizing certain services however and not opting for a full-service package, your costs may be quite a bit lower.

How to choose a moving company

There are tons of moving companies out there, which means you should be able to find one that offers all of the moving services you’re looking for.

As for what else you should be taking into consideration when you hire movers, here are some of the most important variables to keep in mind:

• • Your budget
  • Your timeline
  • Your location and the distance of your move

Have all of this information handy prior to reaching out to providers, as well as a general idea of your total moving inventory (aka how much stuff you need moved). This will allow moving companies to give you the most accurate estimates so that you can compare services and prices and choose the provider that best meets your needs.

Questions to ask a moving company before you hire them

So you’ve found a company that offers the services that you need at a price that fits in your budget—now what?

Before you sign anything, it’s important to ask the right questions. A moving contract is legally binding, and getting as much information as you can ahead of time will help protect your rights and keep you from ending up with any unwelcome surprises later on.

Take your time vetting providers, and make sure to ask the following questions:

• • Is your company licensed and insured? (You can also ask for their DOT number and verify it through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.)
  • What sorts of liability insurance plans do you offer? What do they cover and how much do they cost? Is there free coverage available?
  • What happens if any of my items get lost or damage during my move?
  • Are your estimates binding?
  • Are there any additional fees that we haven’t covered?
  • What is your cancellation policy?
  • Do I qualify for any discounts?

Reputable movers will be happy to go over the answers to all of these questions with you, and they’ll also be able to provide you with additional guidance as needed.

Do some of your own research too when checking to see if a moving company is reliable and worth your money. Get referrals if you can, and always take a look at online reviews. If you’re working with a national mover, be sure to scope out reviews for their local branch, instead of just going off of the more general experiences that previous customers have had.

Narrowing down what moving services you need and hiring the right company for the job can take some time, so start planning your move as far in advance as you can. This way, you can feel more confident that you’re getting exactly what you need for exactly the right cost—and you won’t have to scramble to find a moving company that can accommodate you (and possibly risk the quality of services in the process).