Moving into a new home, condo, or apartment is exciting. You have a clean slate to design all kinds of décor and themes as well as a new area to learn about the best breakfast spots or bars to watch a game with friends.
Relocating due to work or to start anew so your kids have a better school does carry risk. You want to know what is full-service moving where most of the details are managed for you, so you can focus on setting up new utilities or meeting new job start dates.
For everyone from military members changing posts to busy professionals with little time to pack up the kitchenware, a full-service moving service may be the best solution.
What Is Full-Service Moving?
The benefits of hiring a moving company that offers full service are that they coordinate and manage all stages of a relocation. Instead of simply renting a truck and sweating on end to get your oversized mattresses down the stairs on your own, a full-service mover does all the packing, loading, and driving for you.
Most full-service moving services offer customizable packages that offer any combination of:
Pre-move planning and scheduling
Professional packing materials
Packing household belongings
Furniture disassembly
Loading the moving truck
Transportation
Unloading at the destination
Basic furniture reassembly
Optional unpacking services
Around 11.8% of families up and move to a new state or home every year. Not everyone can take time off work, and some people live alone and cannot carry an oversized cabinet into a truck. That is where what does full-service moving includes offers a much better benefit.
What Does Full-Service Moving Include?
Besides the already mentioned list of benefits, what is full-service moving has more to do with is coordination and planning. You want an experienced team that can manage everything from before the big day arrives to setting up a standing desk in your new office on move-in day.
For example, during pre-move planning, the company might estimate the truck size based on your home square footage, determine what crew will be needed for loading and unloading, identify fragile items that require extra packing, or work within specific HOA requirements for your new home.
There’s also the packing aspect. About half of all moves include damage to at least 2 items. The benefits of hiring moving company with proper experience and packaging materials reduce that risk dramatically. They know how to combine packing paper, stretch wrap, bubble wrap, and furniture blankets so your items arrive safely.
Then you actually have to ship the items. Like a specialty car shipping service that has equipment for luxury cars, you also want a moving company that has padding, straps, blankets, and understands weight distribution for your furniture and other items. It’s much more relaxing to be getting in a full day of work while your boxes are unloaded from the truck, furniture is assembled, and the truck is managed without you needing complex refueling rules.
The Biggest Benefits of Hiring a Moving Company
What do full service movers do for you specifically? They save you time. Packing an entire house can take forever. A studio apartment might be only 8 hours of packing, while a four-bedroom home could be a couple of weeks.
You’ll get more protection with a full-service moving company. They have the equipment, expertise, and insurance coverage for your peace of mind. Nothing is simply tossed into a cardboard box and smashed into the back of a truck. That lowers the risk of injury to the movers and damage to your items.
Professional movers offering full service will organize for you. They will write down where the box originated, what is inside, and where it should go in the new home. That means you’ll open a box in the bathroom with towels and toiletries instead of engine oil and surplus paint meant for the garage. That helps you avoid expensive storage facilities or frustration over basic organization.
The Hidden Costs of Moving Yourself
A DIY move is appealing. You get the chance to declutter a bit and save on what is full-service moving costs. That might work for a college student leaving a dorm or a young family of 3 in a two-bedroom apartment.
It’s when you get into cross-country relocations or large family homes needing packing up that things get more difficult. The benefits of hiring a moving company also work well for senior downsizing, tight moving schedules, military PCS moves, and corporate relocations.
Doing it all yourself involves a lot of fees around truck rentals, fuel, mileage charges, renting packing materials, hotel stays, meals, and lost time during driving, and time away from work. Those hidden costs add up quickly, making full service moving much more appealing.
DIY Move vs. Full-Service Movers: Cost and Effort Comparison
DIY Move | Full-Service Moving Company | |
|---|---|---|
Truck Rental and Fuel Costs | Pay separately for truck rental, fuel, mileage, tolls, and sometimes insurance | Transportation is typically included in the quoted price |
Packing Materials and Equipment | Purchase your own boxes, tape, furniture pads, dollies, straps, and specialty packing materials | Professional-grade packing supplies and moving equipment |
Physical Labor and Injury Risk | You, friends, or family handle all lifting, carrying, loading, and unloading | Trained crews use proper lifting techniques and equipment to safely move heavy furniture, appliances, and fragile items |
Belongings Insurance and Liability | Limited or no protection unless you purchase separate rental truck insurance | Licensed movers typically provide valuation coverage, with optional full-value protection |
Overall Time Commitment | Planning, packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking can consume several days or even weeks | Most of the logistics, packing, transportation, and heavy lifting are handled for you |
Choosing the Right Full-Service Moving Company
Getting the lowest quote for full service movers is not always the best bet. You want to balance your budget against value and the experience of the team moving your aunt’s handed-down China plates. Look for:
FMCSA registration for interstate moves
Proper licensing and insurance
Written estimates
Clear pricing policies
Inventory documentation
Positive customer reviews
Experience handling specialty items
Transparent communication throughout the move
The same rules apply to moving your vehicle with the rest of your home. Only work with verified experts like Nexus Auto Transport that have experience with your specific car model and a wide network of carriers offering door-to-door nationwide shipping. With clear pricing and a proven track record of shipping over 500,000 cars throughout the country, you can fit this service into your moving budget to save time, stress, and money.
Learn more by using our auto shipping calculator to get a free quote for when you’re planning your next move.
Make Your Next Move Simpler
Moving because you’ve been hired as the new manager for a restaurant, or because your kids are old enough to have kids of their own and you want to be close, is exciting. Protecting your items and ensuring they are safely delivered is a whole other situation.
Take your time to carefully vet any full-service moving company. With the right level of support, you can enjoy a much more efficient move that saves your back from pain and remains inside your anticipated budget.
FAQs
Do moving companies charge extra for heavy items or long carries?
Yes and no. It depends a lot on how many heavy items you have, where you’re moving to, if you require additional helpers during the move, and other factors.
What specific items are movers legally prohibited from transporting?
Federal safety regulations restrict full-service movers from transporting hazardous, flammable, corrosive, or explosive materials. So leave the bleach and extra propane out of the equation.
How far in advance do I need to book a cross-country relocation?
Shoot for 2-4 weeks before your planned move. If you can contract even earlier, you’ll get better pricing and availability of team members.
Is basic liability coverage sufficient or should I purchase full value protection?
Full value is almost always better. Most liability coverage has a limit that may not be met if you’re moving expensive items or specialty pieces like an antique clock worth thousands.
How much is customary to tip a full-service moving crew?
You can tip 10% to 20% of the total bill, but that may get expensive. It’s better to do a flat rate of $40 to $100 per mover for a full day.
