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Concerning the issue of moving, hiring professionals in packers and moving companies should be considered as the best. But again, as is the case with most services, people know and worry about how much they are likely to be charged for these services.
It can thus be deduced that comprehending the factors influencing the charges of packers and movers can assist in proper planning of the monetary aspect and enable consumers to make reasonable choices. In the following blog, let us discuss the aspect of Why packers and movers vary in their rates.
1. Distance of the Move
The amount of kilometres between the point of departure and that of arrival is one of the ways through which the cost of hiring packers and movers is determined. The costs of transporting goods increase with the distance of the transport.
This is the case because it is well understood that longer distances entail the use of more fuel, time and even effort from the moving company. Furthermore, Accessorial or Ancillary services may attract extra charges for tolls, taxes, and or permit fees especially when the move is interstate or intercity.
2. Volume and Weight of Goods
The evaluations that determine the amount of money to be paid are based on the volume and weight of items that are to be relocated. It takes money to rent the moving truck and expenses are also charged based on the space used in the moving truck of the weight of the goods.
In this case, additional items/ bulky products mean a bigger truck is needed, or more workers to handle the consignment, incurring more expenses. To cut on expenses, it may be wise to sell off some of the items that may not be of importance anymore and store them with other items that are not useful.
3. Type of Goods
The charges are also influenced by the nature of the goods conveyed; some of the common ones include. Delicate items like glass, artwork, fragile items like antiques, and electronics are likely to call for special packing, thus incurring higher costs for the services. However, large pieces such as furniture, pianos, ACs, and fridges may require additional attention and equipment, which will be a part of the costs.
4. Packing Materials
The number and type of packing materials used especially when the services of the moving company are sought for packing also influence charges. Experienced movers utilise materials such as bubble wrap, packing paper, cardboard boxes, and tape to pack your things and provide them utmost security.
Selecting quality packing material is another consideration that can make the cost slightly high but your items will have better protection. Some companies can provide a total packing service, although some might add charges for the packing supplies.
5. Labor Costs
The number of labourers that may be needed to carry out the move and the time they will take to do their work may in a way control the charges. A movement of many items or bulky ones which will need many packs will attract many workers, therefore elongating time hence many charges.
Also, if there is an upstairs move or any other complex part of the building like small staircases, elevators, and other similar spaces, additional charges and time may be needed.
6. Moving Date and Time
The cost too depends on the period that the move will be conducted. Depending on the time of the year, the month, weekends or public holidays, the charges may slightly be higher because there is high demand for moving companies.
To stand a better chance of being offered a lower rate, it is advisable to organise your move during the low-demand period or on weekdays if at all possible. Besides, the time when the move is to be accomplished also influences the charges as some companies give some discounts for moving early in the morning or in the night.
7. Additional Services
Some extra services, that are provided by packers and movers, can influence the final price. These services may include:
- Disassembly and reassembly of furniture: Certain products require stricter handling because they can be easily damaged; therefore, they might be dismantled before shipping and then reassembled once they get to the target market.
- Warehouse Storage: In case you require to store household effects in the middle of the moving method, most moving companies offer storage at an additional cost.
- Insurance: Transit insurance can be very valuable to guarantee that in case of a mishap, your items are protected from any risk of damage or loss during the transit. Insurance charges are most of the time estimated founded on the value of the goods that are being transported.
- Unpacking and organizing: Some companies provide services such as unpacking and arranging the items when they get to the destination which although convenient will cost more money.
8. Contact and Proximity of Truck and House
Specific aspects that may cause extra charges include the accessibility of your home and the distance from the truck to the front door of your home. If there is no acceptable parking space for the moving truck near your home, then the movers will have to transfer your items a longer distance than normal, this will take more time and effort.
Also, if the area where your home is situated is hard to access or has restricted access like narrow lanes or steep driveways this will attract extra charges.
9. Type of Vehicle
The type of vehicle that is used in the move can also have different impacts on the total cost of the process. Some additional features such as the size and type of the truck, moving distance, and the type of the move such as international moving may cause additional charges. Furthermore, in case the move is done on several trips or conducted using different small vehicles because of space restrictions it is bound to be very expensive.
10. Company Reputation and Experience
The reputation and experience of packers and movers companies have also affected charges made to their customers. This is a logical implication of the fact that firms with prior experience and satisfactory ratings from customers may be able to charge slightly higher fees for their services because the market knows that such firms will deliver quality work as compared to a new, unknown firm.
Though it may be financially wise to go in for a cheaper company, it is always better to opt for some well-established company as dealings are less complicated and safer.
11. Special Handling Requirements
Some of the items may be large, heavy, or delicate hence need to be handled differently from the other items in the lot. This is the case with pianos, pool tables, and large sculptures which require special equipment and a skilled team for their moving. Such special handling requirements can on to even positively influence the cost factor of the move process.
12. Seasonal Factors
Seasons do affect the price of moving and one should consider the time of the year he or she wishes to move. The estimated charges are also influenced by the times of the year when demand for moving services is high, for instance, June, July, December and May.
On the other hand, moving at a less busy time of the year, say during winter, compromises the moving company’s rates. Coordinating your move when there is less traffic could therefore help you cut on costs.
13. Permits and Legalities
There are also times when you may need permits, or you will be legally bound to some rules when moving. This is particularly important with inter-state or inter-country moves as charges like customs duty and taxes, besides legislation and regulations will further the bill. Ensure that you talk about any legal issues with your moving company simply because they may lead to added costs.
14. Urgency and Time Constraints
If you plan the shifting formally with a fixed time for shifting it will cost more to hire packers and movers. There are additional costs involved when a person books the services a few days before the time required as this will disturb the itinerary of the moving company and hence will be forced to do it in a very short time. Through proper planning, you will not be likely to incur such other extra expenses when you plan to move well in advance.
15. Insurance Coverage
One of the decisions that should not be overlooked while moving is the one on whether or not to insure your property. For a few extra dollars, it’s a security measure that ensures that if something happens to the item during the move, you are covered. Insurance charges are normally computed according to the actual value declared for the commodities and there is more than one class to which an insurance policy can be classified.
16. Hidden Costs
Be aware of other linked costs, which may be not seen in a couple of weeks. There are situations when doing extra, such as adding a fuel surcharge, toll charges, and extra packing material, a company will charge you for it. It is also important to specifically inquire about the breakdown of all costs and ascertain with the movers regarding any concerns they might have in the contract.
17. Negotiation and Discounts
In case of cost, one does not hesitate to bargain with packers and movers to get the best deal. These services may be cheaper if you get them at the right time, for instance when carrying out research you get a favourite moving company offering discounted rates probably because it is in the low season or it is offering some other services in addition to moving services. It is advisable to find quotes from other companies with the same policy as yours and negotiate on the rates.
Conclusion
Even though it’s difficult to estimate the charges of packers and movers, one can comprehend the various factors that cause their price range and thus efficiently plan your expenses. Some of the factors that can help you to achieve savings when relocating include distance, volume and weight of the items to be moved, type of items, type of packing, labour cost, date and time of moving, additional services, accessibility, type of vehicle, company reputation for handling special items, special handling requirements, seasonality of the move, permits, whether it is urgent, insurance coverage, hidden and negotiable factors.
Always note that though the cost affects the choice made on a moving company it should not be the only deciding factor. Thus, the service quality, its reliability and professionalism of packers and movers play an equally important role in the process.
Considering the effort to choose the right company will in the long end mean that you get a good company to work with and move you with as little stress as possible.
