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Moving is a huge effort. Whether you're relocating to a new home, heading off to college, or need help transporting bulky furniture to your new apartment, finding the right movers can make all the difference. Moving is stressful - managing timelines, paperwork, and all the extra costs involved. If you can simplify one aspect of the process with the help of moving professionals, it can save you time, energy, and hassle.
On average, people in the U.S. move about 11.7 times in their lifetime, according to the United States Census Bureau. People between 18 and 45 are usually the most likely to move, and renters typically move more frequently than homeowners. Whether you're moving for a new job, a change in your finances, getting married, or grabbing a space to help your family grow, moving is a massive undertaking.
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Pods is a convenient and budget-friendly option that allows you to pack at your own pace. Their pricing is transparent for local moves, and while long-distance quotes require a call, their representatives are helpful, and costs remain lower than many full-service moving companies. With an "A+” Better Business Bureau rating, strong customer reviews, and flexible options for storage and protection, Pods earns a solid 5-star rating as a reliable and affordable moving solution.
International Van Lines offers a wide range of moving services, including long-distance, international, and even vehicle transport, with coverage in all 50 states and over 150 countries. While their website lacks pricing transparency, their customer service team is friendly and helpful, making it easy to get a quote over the phone. Though International Van Lines' prices can be higher than some competitors, its careful handling of belongings, and ability to handle international moves make them a great choice, especially for those moving long distances.
American Van Lines is known for its corporate and specialty moving services, including fine art, antiques, and pianos. While they only provide local moves in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina, their long-distance moves are available in most states but come at a higher cost. With solid customer service ratings and positive reviews highlighting helpful staff, American Van Lines is a great option if you're in their local service area or need specialty moving services, earning it a solid score in our review.
JK Moving Services is known for its excellent customer support and secure moving process, with background-checked employees and no third-party subcontractors; however, all of that comes at a cost. Pricing is pretty steep, with long-distance moves costing upwards of $14,000. Although JK Moving Services has an "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau, customer reviews have declined in recent years due to concerns about broken items and unexpected costs, making this moving company best suited for those with a larger budget.
Two Men and a Truck is a well-established moving company offering local and long-distance moves, junk removal, and storage solutions. While this moving company has strong customer reviews and an "A" rating from the Better Business Bureau, the franchise model means your experience may vary by location, and some customers report higher-than-expected final costs. The biggest drawback is the difficulty in getting a quote. Our attempts to contact Two Men and a Truck for pricing turned into hours with no response, leading to a middle-of-the-pack rating in our review.
Upack is a self-packing moving company that specializes in out-of-state moves. While pricing is competitive, and the online quote process is quick, in-state moves are often redirected to other providers. Given the added concern of poor reviews in recent years with complaints of damaged items, Upack comes in with an underperforming rating in our review until it can improve its reputation.
1-800 Pack Rat offers portable storage and moving solutions with flexible packing timelines, making it a seemingly convenient choice. While pricing is competitive - especially for local moves - the company has a poor reputation for reliability, with complaints about late deliveries, damaged containers, and unresponsive customer service. If you live in a dry climate and are on a budget, it may be worth considering, but with serious concerns about safety and communication, 1-800 Pack Rat earns a lower score in our review.
United Van Lines is one of the oldest companies in our review. This moving company has a wide range of services, and handles most things totally in-house. However, the biggest downside is the lack of pricing transparency: you can't get a quote without an in-home estimate, making the process less convenient than other moving companies. On top of that, some concerning customer reviews about damaged items and poor reimbursement policies knocks United Van Lines almost to the bottom of our list.
Allied Van Lines is a long-standing moving company with nearly a century of experience, but its lack of transparency and frustrating quote process make it difficult for customers to plan their moves. With complaints about lost or damaged items, high costs, and a difficult claims process, customers raise serious concerns about using Allied Van Lines. With a 1.9-star rating average on Trustpilot and growing dissatisfaction from customers, Allied Van Lines earns one of our lowest ratings, making it one of the least reliable moving companies available.
North American Moving Services stands out only in how bad it is. The website and call center lacks pricing transparency. Further, the rampant reviews showing low scores, frequent outsourcing to third-party movers, and complaints about damage with zero reimbursement, raise significant red flags for this service. North American Moving Service falls short of expectations, earning the last-place spot on our list.
Depending on how many things you have to transport, you may not be able to fit your home in a few car trips. Plus, if you're renting alone, moving big items like your mattress, bed frame, appliances, or heavy wood furniture might be impossible without some help.
The price of hiring a moving company depends on several factors, including distance, home size, and what services you want to add on. For short-distance moves (under 100 miles), costs generally range from $800 to $2,500. Long-distance relocations (over 100 miles) can run anywhere from $2,200 to $5,700. Prices also fluctuate based on the time of year, location, and the specific services you choose, so make sure you score the best value for your money.
Moving companies are also not made the same. Some moving companies are brokerages that outsource your requests to other movers that aren't managed by the brokerage you contacted. Other moving companies are carriers who provide their fleet of trucks and employees to complete your move. Carriers often include extra security measures like background checks for employees, to ensure you get the best service each time.
You may also want to keep an eye on what different moving companies specialize in. Depending on their area of specialization and insurance options, moving companies may not offer services for unique items like pianos (in fact, some moving services may refuse to move instruments outright due to liability) or cars. So, if you have something special or an item that may need additional care when moving, make sure that your chosen moving service includes those items.
So, how do you pick the right moving company? With so many options available, it's not always easy to know where to begin. But don't worry - we've got you covered. Here are some key factors to consider when making your decision:
To help you find the best moving company to make your relocation a breeze, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the most popular moving companies out there today. Now, you can focus on making your new house your home and let the professionals handle the heavy lifting!
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