Compare the Best Residential
Moving Companies of 2023

It's always a big decision when moving from one home to another. You have much packing to do, and much more is involved than just moving your furniture. A lot is going into the moving process, which is why you will need to use the services of some of the best residential moving companies. This way, you will be able to move easily, which is the most important thing. It is better to utilize the services of some of the best residential moving companies rather than doing so yourself.

Company Company Name Local and Long Distance Offers
Auto Shipping
Rating Details
North American Van Lines
Yes
Yes
4.8
Allied Van Lines
Yes
Yes
4.7
Bekins Van Lines
Yes
No
4.5
American Van Lines
Yes
No
4.4
Arpin Van Lines
Yes
No
4.2
Author: Helen McKenzie
January 18, 2023

Writer & Researcher

8 Min Read

What Is a Residential Move?

Moving is a stressful process, and logistics make it easy to be overwhelmed. But before you get overwhelmed, let’s break down what a residential move is and how it works.

A residential move is a move made from one residence to another. Residential moves are typically much smaller than commercial ones (think moving across the street or down the block) and can range from a single room to an entire apartment building.

Residential moves have fewer variables than commercial ones, hence easy to plan for and execute smoothly. As it typically includes the transfer of personal goods stored in furniture, boxes and crates, dressers, cabinets, and other places.

The most common types of residential move are:

  1. A local move: This type of move involves the same city or area. It involves renting a moving truck and driving it or hiring a company to do it for you.
  2. A long-distance residential move is a bit more complicated because it involves transporting your belongings across state lines or the country. You’ll most likely need to hire professional movers for this relocation.

Why Should I Hire a Residential Moving Company?

Residential moving is a process that you would want to tackle in the most organized and efficient way possible. Hiring a professional residential moving company can help make your move go as smoothly and efficiently as possible, so here are some reasons why hiring a residential moving company is recommended:

Experienced Movers

The first reason is that you will have an experienced professional to help you through the moving process. The movers will know how to pack your items, what materials are best for fragile items and make sure everything arrives in one piece.

Saves Time and Energy

Another reason is that it saves you time and energy. There’s no need to worry about packing or unpacking your belongings because the moving company will do this.

Saves Money

You will also save money with a residential moving company because they have access to discounts with movers carriers and storage facilities. They can offer their services at a lower price than if you were doing everything yourself.

Peace of Mind

Finally, hiring a residential moving company gives you peace of mind during an already stressful time in life. When things go wrong when moving on your own, it can cause even more stress than needed at this point in your life.

Duty of Care

A professional moving company will help ensure you don’t break anything during transport or storage—a huge benefit if you have expensive antiques or other fragile items in your home!

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How To Choose a Professional Moving Company

When it comes to moving, there are many things to consider. From hiring a professional moving company and packing your belongings, to finding the right truck and choosing the right route, you’ll want to make sure that you’re doing everything possible to ensure a smooth transition.

There are several things that you should look at when choosing a mover:

Price

If you’re not careful, you could end up paying more than what’s necessary for your move. Make sure that you compare prices between different companies before making any decisions.

Customer Service

You want someone who can answer all of your questions and provide helpful advice about how best to handle your situation. Customer service is key in this industry because it’s all about making sure everything goes smoothly for both parties involved (the movers themselves as well as their customers).

Reputation

A good moving company will have positive reviews from past customers as well as an established reputation within the industry itself. A bad one will probably have complaints from former clients or poor ratings on websites.

Insurance Coverage

Professional movers have insurance, so if anything does happen to your things, you’ll be covered. They’re also licensed, so they know what they’re doing and can offer advice on how to pack your valuables appropriately.

Professional Accreditation

The best way to choose a professional mover is by looking at their accreditation: they should be licensed by several different governmental agencies, such as the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Ask for References

You should always ask for references before hiring a moving company to move your belongings. This will help you get an idea of how reliable they are and whether or not they’ve moved people in similar situations before.

Check Out Their Website

If the website isn’t professional-looking or seems like it hasn’t been updated in years, then it’s probably not worth using them!

How Much Do Residential Moving Companies Cost?

Moving is a major life event, and it’s also one of the most stressful things you can do. The average cost of moving is around $1,400 with a range from $800 to $2,500.

Residential movers charge for their services in one of three ways:

Hourly rate. This is the most common way to pay for movers, and it’s also the easiest way to get a price. You simply tell them how many hours you want them to work, and they’ll tell you how much it will cost.

Flat rate. Flat-rate pricing is often used by professional movers because it gives them an incentive to move quickly and efficiently. They can’t make more money if they take longer, so they have an incentive to keep things moving at a rapid pace.

Weight-based pricing. Some residential moving companies use weight-based pricing, which allows customers to estimate their moving costs ahead of time, based on the volume of items they plan to move. However, this type of pricing isn’t always accurate because some items weigh more than others but may not take up as much space in a moving truck or storage unit (for example, books versus refrigerators).

The rates can vary widely based on several factors:

Distance

Moving farther away from your destination will increase the price because it takes more time and fuel for the moving company to get there and back. The more distance involved in your move, the more expensive it will be.

Staff Needed

If your house is full of furniture and other belongings, then it will take longer for the movers to load everything onto their trucks and unload it at your new home or apartment complex. This means more time spent working, which results in higher costs for the company and its customers alike!

Help Packing and Unpacking

The type of service provided also impacts costs: full-service moves typically cost more than self-service moves because they require more time and effort by both parties involved to complete successfully without any mishaps along the way (like a breakage!).

Need for Storage Before or After the Move

If you’ll be needing storage space, then this will add to the overall price because it means more time spent getting items from point A to point B and then back again.

Type of Furniture

You also need to consider whether or not you have furniture that needs to be disassembled before being moved or if there are any other types of items such as pianos or appliances that need special attention when moving them from one location to another.

How Much Extra Help Is Needed on Moving Day?

The more help needed, the more expensive it will be for the company to hire someone who knows how to handle certain types of items like pianos or other furniture that may need special care during transit (which also means having access to tools like dollies with straps).

Ways To Reduce Your Moving Cost

When you’re moving, you want to make sure that you get a good deal and don’t get charged extra for things that aren’t necessary. There are ways to reduce moving costs without sacrificing the quality of service or safety. Here are some tips for reducing your moving costs:

  1. Pack yourself – Packing yourself can save you up to 30% on your move costs because you can pack more items in the same space as professional movers would use.
  2. Use storage bins – If you have extra space in your new home before moving in, consider storing all of your belongings until your move date comes around again so that you don’t need as much room during the actual move day itself (which will lessen the number of trips required).
  3. Get quotes from multiple companies before making your final decision. This will give you an idea of what different companies charge for their services and help narrow down which ones might be best suited for your particular needs/budget combination.

Tips on Preparing for a Move

When you’re moving, there are a lot of things to think about. The first step to a successful move is preparation. If you think of your move as an opportunity to start fresh, then you’ll find it easier to get through the process. Here are some tips on how to prepare for a move:

Make a Checklist

A moving checklist may seem tedious, but it works! Having a list of all your belongings will help you keep track of what needs to be packed and where things go after they’re moved.

Set Your Budget

You’ll want to set aside enough money for the essentials—a moving company, boxes, packing tape, and bubble wrap—and for any other expenses that may arise during the process, like storage rental fees or unexpected costs from damage caused by movers.

Declutter

Take some time before your move date to clear out any unnecessary items from your home so everything else can fit into boxes more easily. You’ll also have less trash after the move if everything gets packed into boxes instead of trash bags or plastic containers

Get Packing Supplies

Make sure you have plenty of boxes, packing tape, markers, and bubble wrap on hand when you start packing up your belongings. You may also want to consider investing in specialty items like label makers or moving blankets. These products can help you organize your items in a way that makes them easier to find later on.

Pack an Essentials Bag

It’s always a good idea to keep an essentials bag packed and ready so if something unexpected happens during the move (e.g., bad weather), you’ll be able to grab everything you need quickly and easily. The essentials bag should include things like toiletries, medicines, snacks, and any important paperwork such as passports or birth certificates.

Bottom Line

If you need a moving company to help you with your move, use the information we have laid out to ensure that you find the right one. Moving is enough of a stressful process on its own, so having the right team on your side can make all the difference. No one wants to start a new job or home in the middle of a difficult move, so choose wisely and you will be prepared for your next move!

Author: Helen McKenzie
January 18, 2023

Writer & Researcher

8 Min Read

Helen McKenzie is a writer with more than 10 years of experience. She has always loved writing and started writing for her school newspaper and eventually became a staff writer for a major metropolitan publication. More recently, Helen has been a member of the iMove Research Team, where she seeks to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information about products and services available to consumers. In this role, she has conducted extensive research on topics such as moving companies, storage solutions, and real estate.

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