Cost of Moving a 2-Bedroom House
We will give you a rough estimate for moving a 2-bedroom house. Don’t forget that the cost will vary from city to city, state to state, and company to company. Usually, the following determines the cost of moving a 2-bedroom house:
Local move
A residential local move is considered a household move within 100 miles.
It will take a couple of hours to pack your items, disassemble your furniture, and load everything into the truck. It will also take around an hour or so to unload and unpack everything and assemble and set your furniture. Usually, the average rate for local moves is around $80-100 per hour for 2 movers. Considering the labor cost and truck fees, it will cost you around $600 and up to move a 2-bedroom house locally.
If you have your own truck, it could be cheaper: you can hire helpers just for labor without a truck. Read this article if you want to protect yourself moving fraudulent movers.
Relevant article: How Much Does It Cost to Move Locally in Los Angeles?
Long-Distance Move
A long-distance move is a move greater than 100 miles. This is where it gets tricky because the price will also depend on how far you are moving. The United States is a huge country, and your long-distance move can go from a hundred to several thousands of miles.
For example, the driving distance from Los Angeles to New York is close to 2,800 miles. It is a far distance, and the move will cost between $4,000 and $12,000.
When the origin and destination are both in the same state, it is called an in-state move but is still considered to be a long-distance move. The price will be lower for in-state moves because the driving distance is shorter.
If you want to get a more precise moving quote, you should contact the moving company that you chose to use.
Relevant article: Four Questions to Ask Long-Distance Movers
Extra Supplies
Your quote usually includes a truck, some number of movers, and basic moving supplies. In most cases, the basic supplies are blankets, shrink wrap, etc. So, if you have lots of items and will need more boxes, then it will cost extra per box depending on the type or size of the box.
Don’t forget that custom crating, special item handling, and additional supplies will also be extra. However, if you have to use them, it is worth it to ensure the safety of your belongings. Knowing that all your stuff is properly packed will give you peace of mind.
Additional Fees
Moving companies charge their client certain fees, and most of them are very reasonable. Here are a few examples of them:
- A truck fee is a totally fair fee. The company needs to be compensated for the fuel whether it is gas or diesel. Moving companies need to keep their trucks ready-to-go, and driving the fully loaded truck slowly puts some wear and tear on it.
- Long carry fee – if you don’t have a parking spot nearby your door, or if you fail to reserve one, some movers charge this fee. This is very fair because movers have to carry the heavy boxes and furniture hundreds of feet away from the entrance to the truck.
- Fees for stairs – if your building doesn’t have an elevator or if you fail to reserve an elevator, some companies charge fees for stairs. It is kind of understandable if movers have to carry all the boxes, heavy furniture, and large items several floors downstairs for several hours.
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) – if your building requires a certificate of insurance, then it will cost you extra as well. Your moving company’s insurance company charges your movers for every COI request. Technically, the company needs to insure your move but doesn’t need the COI itself. Since the clients request the COI, charging a small fee for it is a fair game.
Just ask your movers about their fees and try to do everything to minimize them: reserve the elevator and try to get a parking spot as close to the entrance as possible.
Time of the move
Usually, moving in winter costs less than moving in summer because summer is the peak time for movers. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t move in summer. Booking your move in several weeks in advance will also be cheaper for you and moving companies can be more flexible with your moving date and time.
As you know by now, the type of the move, distance, additional supplies, fees, and time of the move determine the cost of moving a 2-bedroom house.