How Much Does It Cost for Professional San Diego Movers?

When it comes to any situation where you’re hiring professional movers to assist you, cost will naturally be an important consideration you’re making.

When determining what your professional mover costs will be, it’s vital to realize that a few different factors or variables may be at play simultaneously.

At CMS Companies, we’re happy to provide detailed pricing estimates for any of our moving services in San Diego, both local and long-distance.

We’ll discuss the various elements that may impact your costs with you ahead of time, ensuring you’re never surprised by the cost of your move once it’s time to settle up.

What are these typical factors, and how should you be considering them as you set out your budget and plan your move? Here’s a primer.

Local Versus Long-Distance Move

One of the single largest factors in determining professional moving cost will be the distance covered during the move itself. As you likely have already guessed, the shorter the distance, the lower the price.

A local San Diego move, even an apartment-to-apartment or house-to-house move within a single neighborhood, will be cheaper than a long-distance move right across town or up to Los Angeles.

In many cases, payment format will be somewhat different for long-distance moves than for local ones. Some companies will charge hourly rates for their shorter local moves, but will instead quote flat rates for long-distance or interstate moves.

Flat rate quotes may also come with mileage caps, ensuring that your total cost will not be any higher than the quoted amount no matter how far your movers have to travel to reach your destination.

Weight may also be a consideration for longer moves, especially if you have several larger items that could weigh down our moving trucks.

Our next several sections will dig into some more distinct areas that will impact pricing.

Size of the Home or Building

Another somewhat well-known factor in the cost of any professional move is the size of the space being moved from and to. Larger homes or buildings will have higher costs associated with them, as more physical work will be required of our movers.

For example, a large house is likely going to require a larger truck to move all their belongings in the first place, and may even involve moving two or more smaller trucks depending on how far it is from the old location to the new one.

A smaller house or apartment will generally only require one truck, cutting down on costs related to rental equipment, labor hours and gas expenses after all is said and done.

When giving you a price quote for your move, we’ll typically ask you about the number of rooms you’re moving from and to, as well as the total square footage of your new home or building space.

We may also look to perform a detailed walk-through where we can measure the size of each room and establish a more precise price.

Location and Pathways

For those who live in locations that make the moving process more difficult, such as apartments or condos with long, narrow staircases, you can expect to pay more for your move.

These types of locations require special equipment, called “cherry pickers,” which will not only make it easier to transport heavy items upstairs or down, but also prevent any potential damage from occurring along the way.

In addition, consider your neighborhood and the parking capabilities your movers will have. If your driveway or entryway isn’t large enough to accommodate the large moving truck, they’ll need to park in your neighbor’s lawn or on the street.

If parking near your home is limited, you may also be billed for any additional mileage put on the truck while navigating neighborhood streets.

Specialty Items

While standard items are all included in your baseline moving costs, there are other specialty pieces that may incur additional costs.

Items like grandfather clocks, pianos, hot tubs, and even gun safes can add to your final bill, especially if they’re awkward to lift or handle.

For certain types of items, such as pianos and hot tubs in particular where sections may need to be removed for transport, we’ll often take the item apart beforehand. This will involve special equipment and additional time spent on our end, plus an extra fee for your mover.

Extra Stops

The basic distance of your move is something we’ve already discussed, but you should also be prepared to pay a little extra if you have to make any additional stops along the way.

Some moves involve offloading items in multiple locations, such as first to your old house and then on to your new one or vice versa.

If you’re moving out of state, be prepared for the possibility of an extra stop before arriving at your final destination.

This is because there may be additional fees to offload at a location en route if the truck needs to stock up on gas or food before arriving at your new location.

Packing Services

Are you packing all your own items, or are you looking to hire a moving company like ours to do it for you? If you’re packing up the majority of your items on your own, this obviously means less work and lower costs for our movers.

Moving companies typically give customers the option to pack their belongings themselves or have our movers take care of everything.

For those who choose to pack their own items, remember that you’re still responsible for making sure everything gets to your new home safely.

For more on the factors that impact your professional moving costs, or to learn about any of our moving or storage services in San Diego, speak to the staff at CMS Companies today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors influence the cost of hiring movers in San Diego?

Costs are influenced by the size of the move, distance, services required (packing, unpacking, storage), time of year, and any special handling for delicate items.

Are storage services offered by San Diego movers, and what do they cost?

Many movers offer storage solutions, with costs depending on the volume of items and the length of storage. Prices can range widely, so it’s best to get a specific quote.

What insurance options do movers in San Diego offer?

Movers offer basic released value protection at no additional cost and full-value protection insurance for an extra fee, which provides more comprehensive coverage.

Do movers in San Diego charge more for weekend moves?

Some companies may charge higher rates for weekends or holidays due to increased demand. Always confirm rates for specific moving dates.

Do I need to tip my movers, and how much?

Tipping is not required but appreciated for good service. A common tip is $20-$25 per mover for a day’s work or 5-10% of the total moving cost for large moves.