How to Hire Movers for Cheap: Find the Best and Cheapest Movers

You’ve heard the old adage “The only free cheese is in the mouse trap”, haven’t you? You’ve also probably found that it is absolutely true and applicable to all aspects of life – including moving house:

# Moving for free (moving with no money) is just wishful thinking (there is no way you seriously believe that you can organize and perform a residential move without spending any money on the relocation endeavor, right?);

# Moving on a tight budget is perfectly feasible but you need to plan each and every step of the relocation process with utmost care and great foresight, take advantage of every single trick for cutting down the moving costs that is applicable in your case, avoid costly moving mistakes, and be extremely flexible;

# Moving at incredibly cheap rates is almost certainly a moving scam scenario. Low-ball estimates are like the free cheese in the proverb – they are intended to lure you into the trap. When people offer you something for nothing (or when movers offer you professional relocation assistance for too little money), they’re probably trying to rip you off.

So, what can you do, then? How to find reliable cheap movers? How to pick a moving company that provides good services at reasonable prices?

To find cheap movers that offer quality services, you need to get reliable recommendations, check the movers’ reputation, short-list three or four companies that seem appropriate for your relocation needs, ask them for in-home estimates of the moving costs, discuss the specifics of your move, and analyze and compare the offers.

The insightful guide below will take you through every step of the process:

Start shopping around for movers as early as possible

The earlier you start looking for cheap movers, the greater your chance of securing high-quality, cheap moving services for your relocation:

• You will have a greater choice – The cheapest movers are the first to be booked, so it will be quite difficult to find an affordable moving company that can accommodate your relocation needs at the last minute. If you start looking for movers several months before your planned moving date, however, there will be many experienced and trustworthy moving professionals available;
• You will be able to get a discount – A lot of moving companies offer discounts for early bookings as they want to secure as many moving jobs as possible ahead of time;
• You will be able to schedule your move for the cheapest possible time – When planning your relocation way in advance, the movers’ schedules will be still empty. So, you will be able to set a moving date on a weekday during the less busy time of the month (the middle of a month), when the moving costs will be much lower than during the weekends and the first and last days of a month. (See also: When is the best time to move?)

Good to remember: Avoid hiring movers in the last minute – you will have no choice and will have to pay exorbitant prices for what could be mediocre moving services.

Get recommendations

It’s only natural that every mover out there will claim to be the best. However, it’s not what they say about themselves but what other say about them that you should pay attention to when looking for cheap and quality movers.

Word of mouth is the best advertisement – if someone recommends a moving company, they’re certain to have had a satisfying moving experience. So, if many people praise the same inexpensive movers, this can only mean one thing – the movers in question seem to always do a good job. If so, there is quite a good chance that you’ll be happy with their services as well.

The best way to find out which movers provide good customer service and get predominantly positive feedback is to visit trustworthy sites such as Yelp.com and MyMovingReviews.com and read genuine reviews left by previous customers – their recommendations and warnings will give you a good idea of what to expect from different moving companies.

On the other hand, you may not need a lot of opinions – if a trusted friend or family member recommends a moving company, it should be enough to reassure you that these movers will be right for you. 

So, whether you’re looking for cheap local movers or affordable long distance movers, your first step is to ask friends, relatives, neighbors, and co-workers if they can recommend a good low-cost moving company.

Good to remember: When someone recommends a moving company, ask them what exactly they liked about the movers and request as many details as possible, including the final cost of the move and if it exceeded the initial estimation.

Consider small local moving companies

When moving short distance, it’s best to look for cheap local moving companies.

While hiring a big, reputable, nationwide moving company to perform your move is your safer and more convenient option, going with small local movers may be the cheaper alternative.  

Large moving companies are highly unlikely to commit fraud or overcharge you at the end of the move – they have clear rates, look after their reputation, and belong to various professional organizations that guarantee compliance with federal laws and regulations. What’s more, big companies have plenty of specialized moving equipment, experienced workers, and well-developed moving techniques that allow them to handle all kinds of relocation jobs all over the country.

Smaller and medium-sized moving companies, on the other hand, rely mainly on moving jobs within their immediate areas, so they try their best to gain the trust of the locals and offer lower prices in order to attract more customers.

There is a big chance that one of your friends, colleagues, or neighbors knows some of the local movers personally or has used their services, so you can easily get first-hand information about the quality of their work and the actual costs they charge – which means that you can easily find cheap local movers who provide good customer service.

Related: Guide to hiring local movers

Perform an initial screening

Now that you have received some recommendations and found several cheap moving companies near you, you need to sift through the possible candidates and pick out the mover that seems to best suit your needs, requirements, and available budget.

• Read online moving reviews and check movers’ ratings to get an accurate idea of the professionalism, reliability, affordability, and attitude of different movers in your area. There should be reviews left by both satisfied and dissatisfied customers, so you will be able to see the movers’ best and worst sides and make an informed decision about what to look for in your own relocation partner;
• Research the companies’ online profiles – Visit the websites of different moving companies and look for warning signs (lack of USDOT or MC license number, lack of physical address, etc.) and useful clues about the movers’ trustworthiness and competence; check their social media pages; use local forums to learn the opinions of people who have worked with them recently, etc.;
• Research the databases of some consumer protection sites and organizations, such as ProtectYourMove.gov, MovingScam.com, and the Better Business Bureau, to find lists of companies with a history of consumer complaints that you should stay away from.

Your quick background check will allow you to short-list cheap movers near you that seem to suit your relocation needs. Your next step is to ask them for on-site estimates of the moving costs.

Get in-home cost estimates

Have in mind that estimates given online or over the phone can never be accurate and request that a representative of each cheap moving company you consider hiring for your relocation come over to your home for a visual survey.

Show the representatives everything you intend to relocate to your new home (so that they know the actual number, type, size, and weight of the items you have for moving), provide them with all the relevant information they may need in order to perform a smooth move (special packing requirements, specific handling requirements, possible difficulties or obstacles, etc.), and discuss the details of your relocation (pick-up date and time, desired or necessitated extra services, liability coverage, delivery time, etc.), so that there are no misunderstandings or last-minute surprises.

Good to remember: Don’t make the rookie mistake to accept the first offer you get, no matter how good it may look – ask for at least three or four written binding estimates to get an idea of what prices are fair and reasonable.

Be extra careful if you receive an offer that is too good to be true – rogue movers often use low-ball estimates to lure heedless customers and rip them off (they either disappear with the money from the deposit or charge exorbitant extra fees for alleged extra services or unexpected difficulties during the moving process).

Ask all the important questions

To be able to choose good affordable movers for your forthcoming relocation, you need to get as much information as possible about the moving company, the way they handle a move, and the fees they charge.

You’ll have no better opportunity to ask the questions you need answers to than while the moving company representatives are in your home for a visual survey – so, be sure to take the chance to interview them and find out:

• The company’s full name, address, phone numbers, e-mails, and website address;
• The company’s USDOT number and/or MC license number;
• How long they have been in business;
• What kind of liability coverage they provide;
• If the movers will be moving your items themselves or using subcontractors to do the job;
• What services are included in the moving estimate;
• What they consider extra services and how much they charge for them;
• What deposits they request and what cancellation policy they have;
• What payment methods they accept;
• What items they won’t move for you;
• What will happen if some of your items get damaged or go missing while in the movers’ custody;
• How long the move will take;
• If they can guarantee delivery dates;
• Anything else you want to know in order to be able to make an informed decision about your relocation partner and ensure your peace of mind.

Now that you have all the information you need and the binding moving estimates provided by your short-listed moving companies, you can analyze the offers and take your pick.

Compare the offers

Make sure everything you have agreed on with the movers is clearly and correctly stated in the offers (the type and quantity of your goods, the distance to your new home, the agreed pick-up and delivery times, the hourly rates of the movers (in the event of a local move), any additional services you have requested, the type of moving insurance you have chosen, etc.) and compare them carefully.

Be sure to analyze the offers in depth – consider not only the final prices but the included services, special conditions, etc.

Negotiate with the movers

When wondering how to hire movers for cheap, remember that moving services are negotiable – if you play your cards right, you can score a great deal on your move.

So, once you’ve compared the offers and singled out the mover you like best, try to negotiate with them:

• Ask for discounts, promotions, and special deals;
• Offer flexibility about the time of your move;
• Ask the movers to match or beat the competitors’ prices.

You can find more detailed information on how to negotiate with movers here.

Now that you’ve found the cheapest moving company that suits your needs, it’s time to check it in greater detail and make sure you’re dealing with properly licensed and insured movers who are experienced and reliable enough to be entrusted with your cherished possessions.

Research in detail the cheap mover you intend to hire

It’s the moment of truth – your final research will determine if the cheap movers you have found for your relocation are trustworthy enough to work with:

• Verify the company’s licensing and insurance information – go to the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and enter your chosen company’s USDOT number to check its registration and get all the available information about it;
• Check the company’s complaint history – call the FMCSA’s Safety Violation and Consumer Complaints hotline and check the company’s records with the BBB to learn about any complaints against your chosen movers and find out how claims and disputes have been resolved in the past;
• Get feedback from people who have used the company’s services in recent years;
• Visit the company’s office in person (if possible) to check their facilities, find evidence of their (un)reliability, and get an idea of the general working atmosphere in the company.

If your research yields satisfactory results, you have one final step to take before actually signing the contract with your chosen mover – review the moving documentation.

Examine the moving paperwork

Make sure you have a detailed inventory of your belongings that contains all the necessary information about the items you’re placing in the movers’ custody, as well as a clear statement about their current condition and estimated value (together with appropriate evidence – photos, warranties, authenticity certificates, etc.).

Read the Bill of Lading with great care and make sure you understand and agree with all the clauses in it. Pay special attention to the fine print and confirm the dates and details of your move. If everything checks out, you’ve found the best mover for you – book their services without delay and start preparing for your relocation adventure.

If you are still wondering where to find cheap movers, you can always try our free moving cost estimator for a price estimation tailored to your move. You will save yourself plenty of time and effort and may be pleasantly surprised by the offers you receive.

Finding movers is easy; finding cheap moving services is not especially difficult either; but finding cheap and quality movers is much more of a challenge. Luckily, you have an easy way to overcome the challenge – all you need to do is follow the insightful tips above and you’re certain to hire not just the cheapest, but also the best movers for you!