Trusted Philadelphia Movers Since 2011

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Moving Company?

The cost of hiring a moving company can vary widely.  If you are moving long distance, staying local, or moving somewhere in the middle, these can all affect the price of your move. Your price can also vary depending on how many items you’re moving and how difficult the loading and unloading locations are to access.

According to MyMovingReviews, “Moving locally in Philadelphia: When it comes to local moves within Philadelphia, the cost of professional moving services can vary from $480 to $2,800, based on the time it takes to complete the job. Moving long distance to or from Philadelphia, PA: For cross-country moves from or to Philadelphia, PA, the average moving costs range from $2,400 (smaller home, shorter distance) to $13,300 (larger home, greater distance).”

Many companies make the pricing very difficult to understand. The price can be different based on the day of the week or the time of the year. It is very common for companies to not disclose all of their fees such as: fuel surcharges, large item fees, long carry fees, stair charges, or material charges, just to name a few of the most common ones.

There are also different ways that companies can base their rates on. The two most common are moves based on either time or weight.  Long-distance moves tend to be based on the weight of the items being moved, and local moves tend to be based on an hourly time rate of how long it will take to move the items.

At Eversafe Moving Co., we prioritize honesty and transparency. Instead of offering estimates over the phone, we conduct a comprehensive survey of your belongings to provide an accurate quote. We even put our moving prices right on our website! Our owner, Rob Rimeris, says, “Our Price Lock Guarantee ensures the quoted price is the final price – no hidden fees or surprise charges.”

Do Movers Provide a Comprehensive Quote Detailing All Moving Costs and Services?

Because there is no standard in the moving and storage industry to accurately quote an hourly move, you often see companies quoting large ranges in time, rather than quoting an exact time. For example, you’ll see a quote of 3 to 6 hours, rather than a straightforward quote of the specific hours needed to complete the job.

The best way to protect yourself as a consumer is to ask for everything in writing. As ConsumerAffairs suggests, “Do not sign blank documents. Don’t sign blank or incomplete estimates, and don’t use any moving company that asks you to do so.” Make sure that all potential fees are clearly outlined. Understand what happens if the company goes over their time estimate, and, most importantly, do plenty of research to determine that you’re dealing with a reputable company.

Eversafe Moving Co. stands by this standard. We provide an in-depth quote that explains each service’s cost, ensuring you understand precisely what you’re paying for. According to our owner, Rob Rimeris, “

How Important Are Licenses and Insurance When Selecting a Moving Company?

It is important to determine that your mover is fully licensed and insured. The USDOT requires that all residential movers post their USDOT number on their website. Making sure your mover is licensed and insured does not guarantee that you’re dealing with a reputable company, but it does mean they are operating legally. It is a good start in figuring out what type of company you’re looking into, but you’ll still want to do a full internet search looking into their reputation. Make sure that you look at every site that evaluates their service to make sure you get a well rounded impression. Be sure to check the footer of their website for license numbers. As HireAHelper says, “If you’re booking a mover online, they will likely have credentials listed on the site you’re booking through.”

It is important to understand that insurance in the moving world is very confusing. A company needs to carry general liability insurance, workman’s comp insurance, cargo insurance, and auto insurance.

When most people think of moving insurance they are referring to cargo insurance. This is the insurance that covers your items if they get damaged. The USDOT requires household good carriers to be liable for 60 cents per pound of valuation for your items. This means if an item is damaged and it weighs 100 pounds, the mover is liable for $60. This is very low coverage. For example, a couch weighs about 200 pounds and would be covered at $120. Or a large TV that generally weighs less than 50 pounds would be covered at $30.

You can purchase additional coverage for your items, but it starts out at several hundred dollars to buy and will also have a deductible associated with it. So, any payout will be on what is above your particular deductible.

Our owner, Rob Rimeris, “Eversafe Moving Co. operates under full legal compliance. Our USDOT license number is 2261303, and our PA PUC license number is A-8913881. Our insurances include general liability insurance, workman’s comp insurance, cargo insurance, and auto insurance.”

Do Most Movers Offer Packing Materials and Services, and For How Much?

Most movers can provide all the materials needed for a move. According to Moving.com, “Full-service movers will supply everything that your move requires, including shipping supplies like furniture blankets and additional padding.” It is very important for you to discuss this with them ahead of time to ensure you have everything you’ll need to be ready by your move date. Generally, all packing will need to be completed by the date of the move, and the movers won’t have any supplies or time to be allocated to packing services on the day of the move.

You can arrange for your mover to do all, or even part of the packing needed for your move, but this will need to be booked as a separate service that usually will be performed on a separate day agreed upon in advance of the move. Packing is a first class service and can easily cost as much as the move itself, if not more per hour. Some companies do offer delivery of packing materials, and at the very least can inform you of the best places to purchase the materials near your location.

Eversafe offers these materials and services as optional add-ons, flexible enough to meet your needs perfectly. In terms of cost, you can find our exact packing costs on our Moving Prices page.

What is the Typical Policy on Items Damaged or Lost During the Move?

Cargo insurance is what covers lost or damaged items on a move. This is the insurance that covers your items if they get damaged. The USDOT requires household good carriers to be liable for 60 cents per pound of valuation for your items. This means if an item is damaged and it weighs 100 pounds, the mover is liable for $60, This is very low coverage. For example, a couch weighs about 200 pounds and would be covered at $120. Or a large TV that generally weighs less than 50 pounds would be covered at $30. This is referred to as Limited Liability Coverage.

As North American Van Lines says, “This guarantees that the company is liable for lost or damaged goods, but in the end, doesn’t end up covering anywhere close to the actual value of the lost or damaged items.” To help with this, you can purchase additional coverage for your items, but it starts out at several hundred dollars to buy and will also have a deductible associated with it. So, any payout will be on what is above your particular deductible. This is called Full Value Protection.

Eversafe Moving Co. provides both Limited Liability Insurance and Full Value Protection. If you discover any damage or loss during or after the move, we encourage you to contact us promptly. It’s best if you’re able to communicate the issue while the moving team is still on site. Our team will assist you in initiating the claim process and guide you every step of the way.

Are Moving Company Employees Background Checked and Expertly Trained?

The USDOT requires all licensed moving companies to run background checks on all of their employees. However, they do not stipulate in any fashion what criminal offenses are acceptable for employment. This means that all licensed companies still have the flexibility to make their own hiring decisions. So, it’s important to do your research and make sure that you’re choosing a mover that is reputable.

At Eversafe Moving Co., we take this aspect seriously. According to our owner, Rob Rimeris, “Each crew member undergoes a thorough background check and receives extensive training. This ensures they’re not only trustworthy but also skilled at handling items of all types, sizes, and values.”