Affordable Chicago to Dallas Movers

The distance and the dimensions make up the lion’s share of your moving price. But there are still a few other fees and extras to look out for:

• Access fees: Movers will charge you extra if they have to deal with a ton of obstacles. Will they have to take multiple flights of stairs, or Tetris your stuff into an elevator? What about parking permits or gates?
• Add-ons and Extras: Extras like packing, storage, and specialty item handling usually come at an extra price – anywhere from a few hundred bucks to a couple grand. They may cost more, but the convenience is well worth the added expense.
• Insurance: Moving companies are legally required to offer basic insurance coverage, but you’ll only get like $0.60 per pound of damaged items if anything breaks. If you want to be reimbursed the actual value of your items, you should look into full value insurance.

The best advice for moving on a budget is to downsize as much as possible. If you have less stuff to move, you’ll pay less money for movers. Sell off your unwanted items, donate them, or just throw them out.

Aside from downsizing, try to schedule smart. June, July, and August are the worst months for moving. Everyone wants to move when the kids are out of school, so there’s increased demand and higher prices. Try to schedule your move in fall or spring, and try to avoid the first and last days of the month (that’s when leases run out) and long weekends.

Local movers specialize in relocations that are less than 100 miles and within the same state. Long distance movers handle everything over 100 miles and across state lines, even if the state line is just down the block.

Local movers charge per hour, and per mover. Fortunately, they know all the sneaky side roads they can take to avoid traffic jams. Long distance movers charge per mile, and per pound (although we’ve seen some movers who charge by cubic feet, instead).

Yes. And moving companies are legally required to offer basic insurance coverage for free, so there’s no reason to not get it. The only downside of that free insurance coverage is it tops out at $0.60 per pound of damaged or missing items. Break a 5-pound chair, you get $3.00. Break a 5-pound laptop… you get $3.00 also.

If you want to be reimbursed the actual value of your items, it’s a good idea to pay a little extra for full-value insurance coverage. It’s great peace of mind, and even though accidents are rare, you’ll be thankful you had it in a worst-case scenario.

Reliable moving companies will always have a DOT number issued by the Department of Transportation. And if they conduct interstate business, they’ll also have an MC number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These numbers should be displayed clearly on your mover’s website. If not, don’t be afraid to look up a mover through the FMCSA.

Moving costs a lot because there’s a lot of expenses just to get your stuff on the road. First, there’s fuel and truck maintenance. There’s also all those fees associated with running a business (and making sure the website looks great).

Big brand movers also upsell their customers and charge them a ton of money for cookie-cutter moving plans. These plans come with a lot of services, but what happens if you don’t need the whole menu? You still get charged full price.

At Pricing Van Lines, we let you build your own custom moving plan with the exact services you need. It’s part of how we keep costs down.

Not really. A lot of people get roped into DIY moving because they see potential savings. It may look great on paper, but those savings melt up pretty fast. You’ll have to rent a truck, pay for gas, and shell out more money for food and lodging. And people tend to forget about time off from work, and missed paychecks, too.

We’re not saying this because we’re professional movers. We’re saying this because we’re genuinely concerned for your health (mental, and physical). Pro movers may cost a little more than a complete DIY job, but the convenience and efficiency is priceless.