Short-Distance Movers Near Me – Moving.com

Even if you’re moving a short distance (within 50 miles), you still need to pack your home and transport your belongings from home A to home B. This includes a lot of planning, organizing, and hauling heavy furniture, and moving boxes and appliances along. So, should you DIY? Enlist the help of professional short-distance movers? Hire packers?

Sure, the moving process within the same area you live in is not the same as moving across the country or crossing the state lines, but it comes with its own set of potential issues. Whether you are leaning toward doing everything yourself, hiring pros, or doing a hybrid of all of the above, each option has its own drawbacks and advantages. Read on to help you decide how you want to do it, the reasons for hiring a short -distance mover near you, how to find the best mover, and what to look for in a short-distance moving company if you’re hiring one.

How to find the best short-distance movers near you

Chances are, there are plenty of reputable short-distance moving companies near you, both local and national. Information on national providers is typically easier to find, but don’t overlook local moving companies for your moving needs. They might know the area better and give you a better deal. Here’s how to research and compare short-distance moving companies near you so you can find the best mover with the best value at the best price and have a stress-free moving experience.

Determine what moving services you need

Coming into the initial research you may not know what size moving truck you’ll need and what you are looking for in terms of moving assistance. Think about what your non-negotiables are early on so you can communicate your moving needs to the companies you’ll be getting your moving estimates from.

Start your moving company research online

Most companies in the moving industry, short distance and long, list their area coverage and services on their websites. You can usually see what size trucks they have, the add-ons and (with some digging or filling out the get-a-quote form) ballpark pricing. If you don’t know what size of moving truck you want, don’t worry. The moving company reps should be able to help you.

Narrow down your moving company options

Start a list of short-distance movers near you that you think might be good for the job. You should get at least three moving quotes from three different moving companies before you settle on one. You can use our moving company directory to pull up a list of reputable movers in your area and specify your needs by choosing your move type (full service, auto transport, office moves, and so on).

Look at moving company reviews

The input of people who have experience using a particular moving moving company is invaluable. Our online moving company directory provides reviews from people who have experience moving with our licensed and insured moving company partners.

We also have our expert moving company reviews where our Moving.com experts take their experience to rate and review top moving companies. So whether you’re looking for moving reviews from people who have recently moved, or our expert moving company reviews, we’ve got you covered.

Ask around for referrals

Reach out to trusted friends and family members to inquire about their own experiences with moving companies in your area.

Always check for license and insurance

Never hire a moving company that doesn’t offer proof of license and insurance. In the moving industry, all professional interstate moving companies should have a license number issued by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). You can check their license number and complaint history with USDOT online. On the other hand, local moving companies that only relocate customers within the same state are regulated by the state – not the U.S. Department of Transportation. Therefore, local movers should hold a state license. It’s important to note that each state has its own set of moving regulations and licensing requirements.

Be wary of red flags

If something looks sketchy, move on. The red flags include giving you a sight-unseen estimate or demanding a deposit before moving day. Here’s more information about 11 common moving scams and how to avoid them.

Get at least three short-distance moving company quotes

So many factors determine the price of the move — the distance, how much stuff you’re moving, how difficult to move your items are, and so on. While you can glean some cost information from the mover’s website, it’s best to contact them directly for a more accurate pricing. You can also use our moving cost calculator to get free quotes. Just enter your origin ZIP code, destination ZIP code, move size (in terms of the number of bedrooms), any packing services needed (none, partial or full), and move date. You’ll see a place where you can enter your contact information so that our vetted professional moving companies can reach out to you with free no obligation moving quotes.

Ask movers questions

Now is a great time to ask potential movers any questions. Do they have the moving experience you need? Do they offer discounts? What kind of cancellation policy do they offer? For more tips for interviewing movers, read our guide to the important questions to ask before hiring a moving company.

Book your short-distance move

You can often do it online, as long as the company is available on your chosen date. If you’re flexible, even better — you might get a better deal. For example, it’s typically cheaper to move on weekdays as opposed to weekends. Moving.com’s moving checklist, which provides a timeline of an average moving experience, suggests that you start researching short-distance movers two months before the move, get moving estimates seven weeks ahead, and schedule the movers six weeks before the moving day. We also recommend checking in with the moving company a month in advance to make sure they are still available and to confirm the date and the time of the move. This would also be the time to discuss any relevant logistics, like parking.

6 reasons to hire a professional short-distance mover

Many professional local movers tend to specialize in short-distance residential and commercial moves. This means they’ll provide labor, the truck and any other moving services you need (packing, moving supplies, etc.). Moving long distance is often left to the nationally recognized moving companies with hundreds of locations and large fleets. Short or long distance, movers can make your life much easier, and who wouldn’t want a stress-free move? Here are some reasons to hire professional local movers for your short-distance move.

1. They’ll do the work for you.

   A full-service moving company can do more than the labor-intensive work of moving heavy furniture and boxes and loading and unloading the moving truck on moving day. They can help you pack, assemble and disassemble furniture, move specialty items, offer storage, and more. All around, less work and less stress for you.

2. They’ll know what to do.

   Moving pros do this every day, so you can trust them with your fragile items and a heavy couch. They have the skills, years of experience, and guidelines to adhere to, and they know how to safely transport even the most difficult items. On moving day, the moving pros will show up with the equipment that is needed to safely and efficiently move your belongings. If you’re moving yourself, you’ll have to rent a truck and purchase or rent other moving equipment, like moving blankets, dollies, straps, and so on.

3. They will move you quickly.

   Having a team of professional movers also means that smaller moves, and those include short-distance moves, can be done within a few hours. Can you say the same about enlisting our friends and family to help you load and unload the moving truck?

4. And they will move you safely.

   Lifting, loading and handling boxes and furniture can be tricky if you’re inexperienced. The pros do have years of experience and can maneuver even the heaviest and the bulkiest items without damaging your property and injuring themselves. And injuries do happen during moves.

5. They are insured.

   Should anything break or get damaged, professional movers have liability protection to cover it. It could be limited, but it’s better than nothing in case you’re going the full-on DIY route. For your own peace of mind, ask your mover about coverage options and consider purchasing additional insurance from a third party for your valuable items.

6. You can focus on other tasks.

   Moving could be physically and emotionally taxing. By checking such tasks as loading and unloading the truck off your moving to-to-list, you can concentrate on others. Maybe you need to do some last-minute packing, or maybe you still haven’t set up utilities in your new home, or need to spend some time helping your kids or pets cope with this big change.

What types of short-distance moving services are available?

Short-distance moving services tend to be simpler and less pricey than long and interstate distance moves for obvious reasons — like the distance to cover. Short-distance moves don’t take as long to complete and they use less fuel. They still offer many similar services. Here’s a quick rundown of short-distance moving services for both residential and commercial moves:

• Packing and unpacking. Full-service short-distance movers offer either full or partial packing services. They typically charge an hourly rate.
• Loading and unloading. Whether you’re doing a hybrid move by renting a moving truck yourself and just using labor, or are hiring movers that bring their own truck, loading and unloading is included in the quote. Local moving companies charge an hourly rate and usually have minimums in order to make the job worth their while.
• Packing and moving supplies. This add-on will cost extra but can save you a bundle of money and time. You’ll be able to purchase moving boxes, bubble wrap, tape, and other packing materials. The movers should bring all necessary moving equipment with them on moving day — dollies, moving blankets, straps, ramps, etc.
• Specialty moving. Got heavy, difficult-to-move items like a piano or a grandfather clock? Not all short-distance movers can move those, but many can. It’s best to ask ahead if you have a pool table, a hot tub or any valuable art or antiques you need to move. Fridges, washers, dryers and other large appliances will also require extra care.

What’s the cheapest way to move short distance?

You have a few options to save money on a short-distance move (vs. hiring full-service professional movers):

DIY with your own or borrowed car 

The cheapest way to move short distance is to do it yourself and maybe enlist your family and friends to help you. This means either using your own or a borrowed (from a friend or a relative) car, loading it, driving it, and then unloading it. Your only expenses will be the price of gas, the cost of packing materials, and perhaps feeding your helpers and keeping them hydrated on moving day. The big pro is obviously the cost. The cons are that it will take time (maybe multiple trips) and a good deal of physical labor. And, unless you are a pro, you risk damaging your belongings in transport.

Rent a truck, cargo van or trailer

If your belongings won’t fit in the car, another option includes all of the above except you rent a moving truck, a van or a trailer for a few hours. The move will have all the elements of a DIY move, but the additional cost will be for the rental. Compared to renting one of those for a long-distance move, short-distance moving-vehicle rentals won’t break the bank.

Hire labor-only moving help

Labor only means you hire helping hands to do physical labor. You’ll still need to rent a truck and drive it. You can hire professional movers to do the heavy lifting for you, or try independent labor contractors. For assistance moving only one or two large items, hire a specialty moving company that is solely dedicated to moving your specific item (i.e. piano movers, appliance movers, etc.).

Rent a moving container

Moving containers are great for short-distance moves. A typical moving container can fit about a room’s worth of belongings — maybe more. Many moving container companies offer multiple-size containers to choose from. Try Zippy Shell’s street-legal containers. U-Pack and PODS are two more reputable moving container options for long-distance moves. Both of these moving containers can double as storage units as well. 

Should you a short-distance mover?

If you are able-bodied, your move is uncomplicated, and you have the time to orchestrate all aspects all your short-distance move without losing your sanity, then self-moving is the best and the most cost-effective option. However, if you find that any of the following applies to your situation, perhaps hiring a professional moving company for your short-distance move might be a better option:

• You don’t have anyone available to help you for free. Maybe your friends are unreliable, or can’t lift heavy boxes, or you’re far away from your family — if, for any reason, you’re on your own with the move — it might be a good idea to get pro help.
• You are overwhelmed and just don’t have the time. It happens. Moving process can be daunting and stressful. You might not want to deal with every aspect of it. Depending on your circumstances, it might be best to just enlist the pros to get it over with.
• Your moving vehicle rental options are limited. Maybe it’s the area you live in, or the high moving season — you just need someone with a truck, and fast.
• You calculated the hidden costs and decided it wasn’t worth it to DIY. Depending on how much stuff you have, the costs can add up. Moving is not as straightforward as loading and unloading the truck. Consider the cost of packing and moving supplies, the cost to rent a moving vehicle and moving equipment, the cost of gas, and more. It might be more cost-efficient to hire the pros.
• You have specialty or oversized items. Pianos, pool tables, appliances, and valuables like art and antiques are best transported by professionals. They will require special handling and care. Professional movers will know how to navigate the stairs with your piano and how to crate your precious statue.

Frequently asked questions about short-distance moving (FAQs)

Here are a few answers to the FAQs about moving short distances.

What is the cheapest way to move a short distance?

The cheapest way to move a short distance is to move yourself, also known as a DIY move. Use your own car or borrow one from someone, and ask friends and family to help. A step up in the cost is to DIY but to rent a truck, trailer or cargo van.

How much does it cost to move a short distance?

Short-distance moving costs can fall between $900 and $2,500, or an average cost of $1,700. This price includes hiring a two-person crew and renting a truck. Add-ons like packing and specialty items will cost more. The cost per hour increases with the size of the crew ($50-$100 for one or two people, $75-$150 for three, and up to $200 for four).

What is considered a short- distance move?

A short-distance move is considered a distance within 50 miles. If you cross the state lines the move is considered intrastate.

Short-distance moving tips

We’ve discussed how to find the best short-distance movers near you, like vetting them and getting quotes. Here are some additional short-distance residential moving tips. Also, take a look at our list of almost 100 moving hacks for faster, easier and less stressful moves. They apply to any kind of move.

• Don’t underestimate a short-distance move. In many ways, a short-distance move is less complicated than moving long distance. However, many steps, like planning, organizing and packing are the same. Short-distance moves aren’t necessarily less demanding than other types of moves.
• Make a do-to list. Or use our moving checklist. This will help you create a timeline and stick to your deadlines for such important tasks as renting a storage unit or ordering moving supplies.
• Start packing early. Unless you are hiring packers to do the job, procrastination will come back to bite you. As soon as you know your moving date, start thinking of what needs to be packed first (non-essentials), gather your supplies, and set up a packing station where you will be putting together and labeling the boxes.
• But make an inventory first. If you’ve hired professionals, they will need an inventory of your belongings to produce an accurate quote. It also helps to get the logistics straight and in case anything gets damaged and you need to file a claim. But even if you DIY your short-distance move, it still helps to know how much you have, what you’re bringing with you and what can go. This leads you to the next step — downsizing.
• Purge next. Declutter, throw away, donate and recycle what you can (see the list of charities that offer free donation pickup). Be honest with yourself. This is a great chance to free up your space, save money on moving fewer belongings and feel better emotionally.
• Measure your new home. The beauty of moving a short distance away is that you can easily visit your new home and see if any furniture won’t fit, or measure your windows for curtains. This will also help purge and downsize.
• Don’t be shy to ask for help. Let people who care about you help you move, and not just on moving day. Just make sure to thank them and provide refreshments.
• Have a moving day plan. Pack an essentials bag and a cooler, charge your phone, confine your pets, tip your movers — plan for the big day ahead to avoid any last-minute surprises.

Moving soon?

Need help finding a reputable short-distance movers? Fortunately, Moving.com’s extensive network of reliable movers makes it easy to get free quotes and book the best moving company for your moving needs. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands.