Q&A with professional movers
Angie’s List interviewed professional movers from around the country to find out how they charge and why you shouldn't just rely on friends and family.
“Our fees are $36 per hour per man and $36 an hour per truck. Most movers worth anything are going to be within $3 of that rate. We also do packing, and there’s a fixed price per box, plus the paper, tape and other things, so that gets more complicated,” says Walter Burrows, owner of Burrows Moving Co. in Chicago.
More on how professional movers charge
Moving day madness
According to experts, a number of rogue moving companies advertise exclusively on the Internet and aren't locally or regionally based. "One mistake people make is choosing a mover off the Internet they don't know anything about," says Joe Harrison, president of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). He warns against relying on over-the-phone and online estimates. "What you don't want to do is use a company that's located 2,000 miles away from where you are. Insist on a [trained and experienced] estimator to do an in-home survey."
More on avoiding bad movers