The Moving Cost Calculator

The Moving Cost Calculator is popular “term” that many moving companies, brokers and marketing firms use to create a lead. They use this term to entice unsuspecting consumers on the cost of moving long distance by giving an moving estimate.  In theory the moving cost calculator is usually a short submission form that asks specific questions to facilitate your estimate.

1. Where are you Moving form
2. Where are you Moving too
3. Whats the Size of your move / How many Bedrooms?
4. When is the date of your move?

This marketing “term” in fact, is just a lead capturing submission form that does not give any real information as to the cost of moving long distance.  It’s main focus is to capture your contact information in order to be sold and resold to multiple moving companies and brokers.

If you really think about it, how can you get the cost of moving long distance, if these are the only questions that you are asked?  How can you get any type of real information regarding the cost to move long distance without adding your inventory?   Lets break it down.

How Much Does It Cost to Move Long Distance?

Hiring a professional mover for a long distance move are based on several factors, its these factors that will determine the cost of the move.  Each professional mover will have the costs in whats called their “Tariff” .

What is a Tariff?
A moving tariff is a legal document in place to state the price of moving company charges. Items on the tariff can include transportation of goods as well as extra services. A tariff prices out cubic footage or weight in pounds for a move from one destination to another. The law requires all moving companies to have a published tariff for all types of moves. The Department of Transportation can inspect this tariff at any time. Since the DOT requires a tariff from every moving company, it’s simple to find out what a company charges.

With this legal document, you can actually see what the cost is for each individual service being offered.

Whats the average cost of long distance move? How do they calculate the cost of moving long distance?

For long distance moving companies, most will use a formula based on their tariff and also by the total weight or volume of your household goods.   Thats why its important to remember that its almost impossible to get an average cost of moving long distance without having certain information.  You will see average size move ranging from $800 to $3000  for a one bedroom to $2000 to $8000 for a 2-3 Bedroom.  This average cost is nowhere near close to what the actual cost is.  Thats because of additional factors that come into play.

What are these additional factors that affects price?  

Assuming you know what the Movers tariff is you would then need to get additional information to complete an actual estimate.

1. Total weight or total volume in cubic feet of the household goods.  (Most larger carriers will use weight but some use cubic feet)
2. Total Distance of the move.  ( Where are you moving from? Where are you moving too?)
3. Where are you moving from? and where are you moving too? (Many people don’t realize that where you move can affect the cost of your move. How can that be? Well, if your moving to an area that isn’t serviced often, lets say North Dakota? expect to pay more.)
4. When are you moving?  ( When you move can ultimately change the cost of your move.  Moving in the summer? Are you moving at the end of the month or on a  weekend? opposed to the middle of the week or middle of the month? if so expect to pay more)
5. Will you need any additional packing?  (If you need professional packing done, lets say a glass table or Piano. Expect to pay more.)
6. Do you have any stairs or elevators in your home? ( if you have too many stairs or an elevator at either your pick up or destination you can expect to pay an additional service fee).
7. Can a truck park close to your front door?  (This fee is known as “long carry”  if the entrance to your home is far enough away you may incur and additional charge. Remember thats at pick up and delivery).
8. Will you need any storage? Any additional stops? ( Most carriers will give you certain amount of time to hold your items in storage but if you go over, expect to pay more.  Also if you need them to make an additional stop to pick up or deliver. Expect to pay more.)
9. Specialty items. ( Do you need to move a motorcycle? How about a fish tank? These will incur an additional fee).
10. Additional costs ( Will you need boxes?  Such as wardrobe or china boxes? Crates for your scooter? All incur a fee. Fuel surcharge).

So how do I get a real moving quote?

This is a great question, and ideally the best way to get a quote is to have multiple carriers (up to 4) send in home estimators to your home to give you a written estimate. In home estimates are the most reliable due to the fact that the estimator can visually see what  items you are moving and if there are any additional fees discussed above.  In home estimates do have some drawbacks, it’s very time consuming as each company must send its own estimator to your home, which means someone has to meet them each time.  So its not very efficient if you want multiple quotes.  You also have to factor the pandemic, as many moving companies are moving away from in home estimates for the safety of there employees and   customers.

Moving cost calculator verses real moving quotes?

So whats better for you when you want to get the most accurate and efficient moving quotes?  See the pros and cons below

Moving Cost Calculator 

• Pros   1. Fast application   2.Multiple companies to choose from.
• Cons  1. No price or quote given  2. Information sold to multiple moving companies 3. Harassing phones calls, texts and emails.          3.No inventory given.  4. No additional questions asked regarding move.

Moving Broker 

• Pros   1. Speak to a live person.  2. Inventory taken.  3 Questions asked. 4 Price and quote given.
• Cons  1. By definition broker resells jobs to carriers. 2. Only one quote given. 3. High pressure sales tactics.  4. Broker cannot guarantee the estimate as he is the broker and not the carrier.  5. Longer application

Direct Carrier 

• Pros  1. Speak to a live person. 2. Inventory taken.  3. Questions answered.  4. Price and quote given. 5. Own the trucks so can guarantee the price on estimate
• Cons  2. Only one quote given.  2. High pressure sales tactics.  3. Unable to compare rates. 4.  Longer application process.

Real Moving Quotes 

• Pros  1. Can speak to a live person 2. Can book completely online. 3. Multiple quotes price given.  4. Can compare multiple quotes. 5 Inventory taken. 6. Questions answered (CHAT) 7.  No high pressure sales tactics.  8.  Additional Online discounts. 9. We only work with carriers. 10. Information not sold to multiple companies.
• Cons  1. Longer application.