Before you hit the road, you’ll need to pay your movers – and depending on your move, the difference between price structures can make a huge impact on your budget, your moving experience, and your stress levels leading up to the big day.
Fortunately, with over 20 years of experience under our belts, the team at Moving APT can teach you a thing or two about moving rates. In this guide, we’ll walk you through your options, and we’ll help you decide which pricing plan is the best for your relocation.
What Does a Flat Rate Mean?
When your mover offer a flat rate, it means the price is set in stone. The term “flat rate” can be used interchangeably with “binding”, or “fixed rate”. Flat rate moving is usually included with long distance moving, where it would just be too impractical to charge per hour for all that interstate travel.
That’s really all there is to it: You get a quote, and the quote shows you exactly how much you’ll be paying. While it’s definitely nice to know how much you’ll be paying up front, there are a few other pros (and a handful of cons) to flat rate moving…
The Whole Price Up-Front: The Pros and Cons of Flat Rate Moving
A concrete quote is always helpful, but there’s always a flip side. Take a look at the other pros and cons of flat rate moving.
Pros
- Less surprises: This is the biggest selling point. You’ll be charged for what’s included in the quote, and not a cent more. Flat rate moves reduce the amount of hidden fees and surprises surcharges, since everything’s right there for you to look over ASAP.
- Quicker: When a mover looks over your inventory list, they can provide you with a flat rate quote pretty much immediately. This means you won’t have to wait until the job is done before you finally know the final price.
- Easier for budgeting: When you get a flat rate moving quote, you immediately know how much you’ll be paying for your relocation. You can plan the rest of your budget around this expense, since it won’t change once you commit to the move.
- Great for long distance relocations: Can you imagine paying per hour for a cross country move? We couldn’t either. When it comes to long distance moving, flat rate moving quotes are pretty much your only option.
Cons
- Less Flexibility: Concrete ain’t flexible. When you get your quote, you won’t be able to add anything to your inventory (unless you want to put your entire contract in jeopardy). And if you somehow sell off or get rid of anything before moving day…
- Overcharging: Your flat rate moving quote will include a list of services you’ll receive for the money you’re paying. But since the quote is set in stone, it can’t be negotiated down if it turns out you didn’t need a service or two.
- Extras make an impact: Fixed rate quotes include the loading and hauling, but the price may increase with any additional extras you need. For packing, storage, and other specialty services like fragile item handling, expect a spike in the final total.
Moving on the Clock: The Pros and Cons of Hourly Moving
As the name implies, hourly moving means you’ll pay your movers for every hour they’re on the clock. There’s pros and cons to this arrangement, too:
Pros
- Keeps it simple: Hourly moving is charged (you guessed it) per hour, and per mover. It usually takes about two movers per bedroom, so you can do some quick math to get an idea of how much you’ll be paying.
- More flexibility: Paying an hourly rate means your inventory list can be modified up until moving day. Buy a new couch, sell off your old fridge, whatever. Just remember more stuff means a higher price tag.
- You *might* save some money: Did your move turn out to be faster and easier than expected? Congratulations. You’ll actually save money if your movers manage to get the job done quickly.
- The best choice for local transport: Hourly moving is a great choice for local transport. Your movers will bill based on how long they’re actually working, instead of how far they need to travel or how many pounds are in the truck.
Cons
- Not the fastest: The problem with hourly work is there’s no incentive to get the job done faster. We’re not saying all hourly movers dilly-dally and take their time, but why work fast if you’re punished for efficiency?
- Takes more planning: Traffic makes a difference. So do holidays. And so does your inventory. Every delay can add minutes to your price tag, and those minutes can stack up into quite the financial hit.
- Harder to budget: Since you won’t know the exact price of your move until the move’s done, it’s harder to budget around an hourly rate. If you’re trying to plan your entire relocation, you may have to work with a rough estimate for your moving costs instead.
Should You Hire a Flat Rate or Hourly Moving Company?
Depending on your move, you may want to work with a flat rate or an hourly moving company. Before you jump to booking, there are a few considerations you should keep in mind:
How Far are You Traveling?
If you’re moving over 100 miles, it may be a better idea to book with flat rate movers. Think of it this way: All that drive time means more hours to bill, and hourly moving will bleed you dry if you’re going anywhere outside of your town or county.
How Much Do You Have to Move?
The other big factor behind the cost of your move is the physical size. Flat rate movers oftentimes charge per mile, per pound. If you’ve got five bedroom’s worth of stuff, that means you’ll be paying quite a bit. On the other hand, if you only have a studio apartment, it’ll mean quick (and therefore inexpensive) work for hourly movers.
How Complicated is Your Home?
Every minute counts when you’re working with hourly movers. If you’ve got multiple flights of stairs, or your apartment building has a teeny tiny little elevator, that means your movers will spend more time working through your obstacle course. The same rule applies to a bunch of furniture that needs disassembling, and doors that need removing.
Which Option is Better for Long Distance Moving?
In our opinion, a flat rate move is better for long distance moving. It’s impractically expensive to pay per hour if your moving team has to handle an interstate move – or worse, coast to coast moving. Most long distance moving companies exclusively offer flat rate pricing, and as an added bonus, they’ll cut you a good deal if you don’t have a ton of items to move.
Which Option is Better for Local Moving?
If you’re moving less than 100 miles and keeping it in the same state, you’re in local moving territory – and local movers usually keep it hourly. If it’s under 100 miles, you’ll be paying less per hour than if you were to pay per mile, anyways. Plus, those local movers know their way around town, including all the shortcuts and side streets. This makes for a much faster move, for much less money.
Comparing Quotes: What to Look For
Let’s take you through the process. You shop around, you find a mover you like, and then you ask them for a quote. But how do you know whether you’re looking at an hourly rate or a flat rate?
Usually, it’ll say right on the quote. A flat rate will say something like “BINDING ESTIMATE” somewhere. This means your price is fixed, and won’t be modified later. Meanwhile, an hourly move will show an “HOURLY RATE” or “HOURLY ESTIMATE” somewhere, and if your movers are feeling generous, they may include an estimated amount of hours, too.
Pay attention to your moving quote! Not only will this tell you how much you owe, it’ll also tell you what services you can expect on the big day. Read it over, and don’t be afraid to contact your movers if you have any questions.
Flat Rate? Hourly? Choose Easy with Moving APT
You’ve packed your boxes. You’ve budgeted your move. And you’ve shopped around for the best local and long distance movers for the job. But before you hit the road, you’ll need to pay your movers.
When you book a move with Moving APT, you’re getting a fixed-quote relocation that’s completely tailored to your needs. We’ve also made it easier than ever to find moving specialists near you, no matter how far you need to travel. Check out our moving cost calculator today, and we’ll get you on the road tomorrow!
Flat Rate vs. Hourly Moving FAQs
What is a binding estimate?
When your mover issues a binding estimate, it means you’re getting a flat rate move. In the moving industry, there are three types of estimates: binding, nonbinding, and nonbinding, not to exceed.
- Binding estimates are what we’re dealing with when we talk flat rate moving. The price won’t be adjusted after the quote is issued, and you’ll know what you’re paying for (and how much you’re paying) when you receive the quote.
- Nonbinding estimates can be adjusted before, during, and after the move. Legally, they can’t be adjusted more than 10% of your initial total, but it still means you could end up paying more than you expected.
- Nonbinding, not to exceed estimates are like nonbinding estimates, but they can only be adjusted downwards. For example, if you requested storage but it turns out you didn’t need it, that expense would be deducted from your total.
What additional services are typically included with flat-rate moving?
When you book a flat-rate move, you’re getting the loading and hauling. However, the other services (such as packing, storage, and even packing supplies like boxes and bubble wrap) are an additional expense. Make sure you look over your quote so you can confirm what you’re getting.
How much do hourly movers cost?
Hourly movers usually cost between $40 and $60 per hour, per mover. Keep in mind, it takes about two movers per bedroom, so if you’ve got a big house, the price can really stack up. Try to put all your items in an easy-to-access staging area so your movers don’t have to spend extra time searching through your house for every last box. And try to schedule your move so your movers aren’t running up the clock while they’re stuck in rush hour traffic.
How can I save money on my move?
Whether you’re moving local or long distance, flat rate or hourly, it’s always a good idea to downsize as much as you can before you request a quote. No matter the pricing structure, you’ll pay more money if you have more items to move. Get rid of your old and unused items before you shop for your movers, and your wallet will thank you.
Are there hidden fees with flat rate moving companies?
We can’t speak for all the moving companies out there, but some unscrupulous players add additional fees when people aren’t looking. This is why we always recommend looking over your quote after it’s been issued.
Aside from hidden fees, certain services come with à la carte pricing: You get your estimate for loading and hauling, but packing, storage, specialty item handling, auto transport, and other extras come at an extra price. The upside? You don’t have to pay for these if you don’t need them.
