What Additional Services Do Movers Offer? How to Avoid Extra Service Fees

When you order a main course, you probably get some side dishes too, even if you need to pay extra for them – after all, oftentimes it’s exactly the add-ons that make things really good.

In the event of moving house, for example, the extra moving services you can get in addition to transporting your household items to your new home can make the relocation process much easier and less stressful for you. At your request, your chosen movers can take care of a number of moving tasks instead of you, thus saving you plenty of time and effort – while also ensuring the safety and efficiency of your move.

All extras, however, come at an additional price. Accessorial moving services are not automatically included in the moving estimate – all of them incur extra charges. The more extra services you request, the higher your final moving costs will be.

So, you may decide to skip on additional services – no matter how beneficial they may be – in order to save money on your move. Yet, sometimes, you may have no choice but to use some accessorial moving services due to circumstances beyond your control.

Here are some invaluable tips on how to plan your move so that you make the most of the offered professional relocation assistance and avoid unnecessary charges.

What additional services do movers offer?

Professional movers can do much more than load your items on the moving truck and transport them to your new home. The experts can provide you with invaluable assistance with various aspects of the moving process:

Packing and unpacking

Packing for moving is a tedious, laborious, and time-consuming task. You need to start the process as early as possible and pack with great care and efficiency.

Providing your belongings with good enough protection to survive the move intact and unscathed, however, is not easy. You will need quality packing materials, will have to find out how to best pack different kinds of items, and will need to dedicate a lot of time and effort to the job. Besides, the movers won’t be liable for anything you have packed yourself.

So, if you don’t have the time to pack up your entire home before moving day, don’t want to bother with purchasing specialized packing materials, or are not sure that you will be able to ensure the safety of your items, you can request professional packing services.

The pros will take good care of your belongings – they have the specialized supplies, rich experience, and expert know-how to pack your belongings in the safest and most efficient way possible.

Even when it comes to extremely delicate items that don’t fit into standard moving boxes (pieces of art, antiques, etc.), professional packers and movers have a solution – custom crating. Your fragile valuables will be contained in custom-built wooden crates that perfectly fit the item to provide maximum protection.

Moving companies that pack for you will charge you based on the time required to complete the job.

Remember that extra packing fees may also be incurred if you have packed your belongings yourself but haven’t done it properly. The movers may require you to repack your items and charge you for the wasted time while they’re waiting for you to finish the job. If you don’t have enough moving boxes and wrapping and cushioning materials to properly repack your items, the pros will provide the necessary supplies for an additional fee. And if you want the experts to repack your belongings for you, you will be charged for the extra service, of course.

Unpacking services are also available upon request. If you wish to have all your items unpacked and taken to their rightful places in your new home quickly and without any effort on your part, your movers will perform the additional service for an extra charge – either on an hourly basis or at a fixed fee.

And if you don’t know what to do with all the boxes, bubble wrap, and other cushioning materials after unpacking, your movers will dispose of them for an extra fee.

Related: Professional packing services – the secrets of the pros

Furniture disassembly and reassembly

It’s no secret that the best way to move large furniture pieces is to disassemble them as much as possible.

Furniture disassembly, however, is not a simple task – it requires special tools and appropriate skills. There is a high risk of damaging your pieces in the process – and the risk is usually not worth it, especially when it comes to expensive and/or delicate furniture.

Professional movers can disassemble your furniture for you – without any risk of damage. They have the specialized tools and technical know-how to safely dismantle your pieces and deliver them to your new home without a scratch. Then, they can put the furniture back together, so it is immediately ready for use.

The costs for disassembling and reassembling furniture are usually calculated on an hourly basis.

Appliance servicing

If you want the movers to disconnect the electrical appliances (washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, etc.) at your old home and set them up at your new place, you will have to pay an appliance servicing fee.

Handling of specialty items

Specialty items – pianos, grandfather clocks, pool tables, hot tubs, etc. – are extremely difficult to move, so they should always be left to the professionals.

Professional movers have the equipment, knowledge, and experience to take proper care of such items, but they assess an extra charge for the service. Since most specialty items are highly valuable, however, their safety is worth the extra cost.

Hoisting through windows

If you have some large furniture pieces that you want to take to your new home but that don’t fit through the doors and can’t be disassembled, your only option is to move them through a window (provided that there is a large enough window, of course).

You can count on professional movers to do the job – they can set up a rope-and-pulley rigging system to lower or raise the bulky pieces from or to a window.

Have in mind though that hoisting furniture through a window is very difficult and very expensive. It requires specialized equipment (such as hoisting cranes and moving platforms) and a lot of expertise, so not all moving companies offer the service, and those that do charge heftily for it.

Related: What to do if furniture doesn’t fit through the door

Shuttle services

In case physical constraints (such as narrow roads or weak bridges) limit the access to your home or large moving trucks are not allowed in the area, it will be quite a problem. Yet professional movers can provide a solution – they can pick up or deliver your goods with the help of a smaller truck (a moving shuttle). Depending on the size of your move and the specifics of the location, several trips may be required to complete the job.

Needless to say, using shuttle services incurs an extra charge.

Exclusive use of vehicle

In order to achieve maximum efficiency and keep moving costs down, many movers consolidate shipments going along the same route on a single moving truck.

Sharing moving truck space with other people is a good way to save money when moving across the country, but you will have to wait longer to receive your shipment and the delivery date won’t be guaranteed.

You may prefer your household goods to be shipped separately – so you receive them sooner and there is no risk of your cherished belongings getting damaged or lost during the numerous pickups and deliveries. That is, of course, possible – movers offer exclusive use of vehicle.

You will, however, have to pay extra for the unshared use of the moving truck.

Split pickup and delivery

Some of the items you want to move to your new home may need to be picked up from different locations (storage facility, parents’ house, etc.). Or a part of your belongings may have to be delivered to a place different from your final destination (storage unit, temporary lodgings, etc.).

This won’t be a problem as movers offer split pickup and delivery services – for an extra fee, of course.

Storage

In some cases, you may need to put your items in storage for the time period between moving out of your old home and moving into your new one – your new place may not be ready for moving in, you may be moving into temporary housing first (until you find an appropriate property to buy or to rent in your new area), etc.

Most moving companies offer storage services, so you don’t need to worry – your chosen movers will take your items to their warehouse, will keep them safe until you’re ready to receive them, and will deliver them to your new address upon your request.

You will be charged a storage fee for the extra service – and the longer the storage period, the higher that fee will be.

When planning your move, keep in mind that the additional services movers offer are not automatically included in the moving estimate – you need to specify in advance which of them (if any) you want to use and pay extra for them.

Charges vary from one mover to the next – each moving company creates a list of the additional services they offer and sets their corresponding rates.

So when shopping around for movers, be sure to carefully research the offered accessorial moving services and their charges, so you choose moving helpers that can accommodate your needs – and your budget.

How to save on additional moving services

As helpful as they may be, additional moving services can greatly increase the cost of your move. If you want to keep your relocation expenses as low as possible, you will have to do without extra services – so, you will have to do all the work yourself and change some of your moving plans:

1) Do your own packing and unpacking

It’s pretty straightforward – if you pack and unpack your belongings yourself, you won’t have to pay for professional packing and unpacking services. You will have to dedicate a lot of time and effort to the process, but you will save a lot of money and will be able to pack your items in a way that makes sense to you. Besides, you will certainly pack your cherished possessions with utmost care, so the risk of damages will be very low.

Remember though that no matter how careful you may be, you don’t have the skills and experience of professional packers. Some things are very difficult to pack and others are very easily vulnerable to damage – you may not be able to provide them with good enough protection despite your best efforts.

It is, therefore, a good idea to use partial packing services – pack most of your items yourself (to save money) but leave your more delicate and more valuable items to the pros (to ensure that they get the best protection possible).

See also: Should you pack your items yourself or hire professional packers?

Good to remember: Even if you do your own packing, you may still be charged extra if you don’t pack your items properly and need to repack some of them. To avoid this, you’re advised to:

• Pack in boxes – if an item fits in a box, box it. Avoid packing in plastic bags as they’re slippery and can easily tear when being moved;
• Pack your boxes the right way – reinforce the bottoms, fill the boxes to the brim but don’t overload them and don’t make them too heavy, provide plenty of cushioning so nothing moves inside the boxes, etc.;
• Wrap larger items that don’t fit in boxes in moving blankets and stretch wrap;
• Don’t pack non-allowable items – request a list of the things your chosen moving company won’t move for you and don’t pack any of them.

To save on unpacking services, find out how to unpack quickly after a move – it will be both cheaper and much more satisfying to set up your new home on your own.

And instead of paying for the removal of packing materials, you can find creative ways to put them to practical use. (See also: What to do with boxes after moving)

2) Disassemble and reassemble your furniture yourself

You can save some money on your move by disassembling your larger furniture – and putting it back together after the relocation – yourself.

You need to be careful not to damage your pieces in the process though – consult the instruction manual (or find detailed disassembly instructions online) so you know how to properly dismantle the furniture, use the right tools for the job, and secure some help. Make sure all the detached parts stay together and keep small elements in sealable plastic bags attached to the corresponding pieces.

In order to safely reassemble your furniture after the move, follow the disassembly steps in reverse order.

See also: How to disassemble furniture for moving

3) Take care of your appliances yourself

You won’t need to pay extra for appliance servicing if you disconnect your appliances yourself and set them up at your new home without professional help.

The task is easy enough – just take pictures of the various cords and cables before disconnecting them (so you can properly hook up your appliances after the move) and find out how to safely pack kitchen appliances for moving.

4) Save money by sharing moving truck space

As convenient as the exclusive use of the moving vehicle may be, it is a good idea to take advantage of the consolidating policies offered by long-distance movers in order to cut down your moving costs.

You will have to wait longer for your items, but that won’t be a big problem if you have your essentials and valuables with you – pack them in your survival box and take it with you, so you have everything you need for several days, until the rest of your shipment arrives at your new home.

Related: How to prepare an essentials box for moving

5) Avoid the need for split pick-up and delivery

You can save on split pickup and delivery services by gathering all the stuff you want to move to your new home at one location prior to Moving day and making sure your new place is ready for moving in on time. The movers will pick up the entire shipment from your old home and will deliver all your items directly to your final destination, so you won’t be charged extra for split pickup and delivery.

6) Make sure you won’t need moving storage

If you can take your items directly to your new home, you won’t need moving storage and will avoid the associated costs. So, do your best to find an appropriate new home in your new area before the move and have any repair or renovation projects completed in time – it will save you a lot of money and hassle.

See also: Storage options for moving

No matter how much work you do yourself, though, or how carefully you plan your move, you may still need some extra moving additional services:

• Shuttle services – If the moving truck can’t access your home, you will have no choice but to use shuttle services – and pay for them;
• Handling of specialty items – You can try to pack and move your specialty items yourself, but you risk damaging them in the process – and the risk is not worth it as paying the movers to take care of your difficult-to-move items will be lighter on your budget than buying a new piano or pool table, not to mention the emotional impact of losing a piece with high sentimental value;
• Hoisting services – If a piece of furniture doesn’t fit through the door and can’t be disassembled, your only option is to hire hoisting services, no matter how costly they may be. The sole way to avoid the extra cost is to leave your large furniture behind.

Other extra service fees and how to avoid them

In addition to the above described additional services you can request for your move, your movers can charge you extra for any other accessorial services they have to complete during the relocation process:

Handling of bulky items

If your movers need to handle extremely large and heavy pieces, such as bulky furniture, weighty appliances, large safes, etc. they will assess an extra fee.

And since moving costs are based on the total weight of the shipment, moving heavy pieces will not only incur extra charges for the handling of the bulky items but will also increase the final cost of your relocation.

So, when deciding what to take to your new home and what to get rid of before the move, you may want to think twice about the fate of extremely heavy items. Moving them may not be worth the great cost and effort – it may be better to sell them (so you don’t need to pay extra for their handling, reduce your final moving costs, and even pocket some money from the sale) and buy new ones after the move.

Related: Move it or sell it – what to sell before moving

Flight fee (or elevator fee)

If you’re moving out of or into an upper-floor apartment, the movers will assess an additional flight charge for taking your items down or up the stairs. The cost is usually calculated per flight of stairs, hence the name of the service.

If an elevator is available to move your belongings from or to the floor where your apartment is located, there will be no flight charge. However, you will have to pay an elevator fee if the movers have to wait for the elevator (while other people are using it).

To avoid paying an elevator fee, you need to reserve the elevator for the time of your move.

Long carry fee

You will be charged a long carry fee if the movers need to carry your goods more than 50 feet when loading or unloading the moving truck. The fee is calculated based on the distance between the parked moving vehicle and the entrance of your home.

In most cases, you can easily avoid that extra charge – just make sure you reserve parking spaces for the moving truck directly in front of your old home and your new one for the agreed pickup and delivery times.

Waiting fee and re-delivery fee

If you’re not at your new home when the moving truck arrives or can’t receive your items at the agreed time for one reason or another, the movers will wait for a while and will then take your shipment to storage.

In such a case, you will be charged a fee for waiting, calculated on an hourly basis.

If your items are transported to a storage facility, all the incurred extra costs will be at your expense – and you will have to pay a re-delivery fee when the moving truck arrives at your home for a second time to deliver your items.

To avoid the waiting fee, you need to make sure you’ll be there to meet the moving truck when it arrives at your new home at the agreed delivery time.

To avoid paying for re-delivery, you need to make sure your new home is ready in time and you can receive your shipment when it arrives.

Final tip for saving on extra moving services – Plan ahead and beware of fraudulent attempts

The fewer accessorial services you require from your movers, the less you will pay.

So, discuss things in advance with your movers and decide what extra services you want (or will need) to use. Try to avoid as many extra fees as possible with proper preparation and careful planning.

Remember that there are rogue movers who try to take advantage of the fact that additional services are not automatically included in the moving estimate and that some unforeseen extra services may be necessitated during the move. They may claim that you requested accessorial services that you didn’t – or may claim that a certain service was unavoidable under the circumstances – and request that you pay extra for the alleged extra services.

To avoid such scams and protect your move from fraud, you need to be very careful when choosing a moving company to work with. Read moving reviews, check movers’ ratings, verify the companies’ USDOT numbers, and check their complaint history – you need to be certain that you’re hiring licensed and trustworthy professionals for your relocation.

When you get a moving estimate, make sure all the requested services are included and double-check their corresponding charges. Good luck with your move!