Home and Apartment Moving: Local and Long Distance
A home or apartment move is the packing, loading, transport and unloading of a household's belongings, either across town or to another city. A local move is usually billed by the hour with a crew and a truck, while a long-distance move is priced by weight or volume and distance.
Describe the job and add your city. Free to request, no obligation.
What changes the day is the building. A third-floor walk-up, a condo with a booked service elevator and a house with a long driveway are three different jobs, even with the same amount of furniture. Parking for the truck, stairs and the date matter as much as the number of boxes.
Send the specialist the details in your quote request: sizes of both homes, floors and elevator access, how much furniture and what is unusual, such as a piano, a safe or a large TV. A written quote then explains what is included and how extra time is charged.
What the work includes
- Loading, transport and unloading of furniture and boxes
- Protective wrapping of furniture, mattresses and appliances
- Disassembly and reassembly of beds, tables and shelving
- Optional packing of kitchens, closets and fragile items
- Moving of heavy or awkward items, where listed in the quote
- Protection of floors, door frames and stairwells
- Elevator bookings and building paperwork planned in advance
- Placement of items in the right rooms at the new home
When hiring movers is worth it
A condo or apartment building requires a booked service elevator
The home has stairs, a long carry or a tight street
Heavy items such as a piano, safe or large appliance are coming
The move is long distance and the truck schedule must be reliable
Packing, lifting or time is more than the household can manage
How the work goes, step by step
Describe the move
Give addresses, home sizes, floors, parking and the main items, ideally with photos.
Written quote
A specialist quotes in writing, explaining hourly or weight-based pricing and what is included.
Prepare
Pack, label and, if needed, book elevators and parking at both addresses.
Move day
The crew wraps, loads, transports and unloads, placing items according to your directions.
Walk-through
You check the new home and the old one before the crew finishes.
What changes the price
- Volume of belongings
- More furniture and boxes mean more crew hours and truck space.
- Distance
- Local moves are billed by time, while long-distance moves are priced by weight, volume and mileage.
- Stairs, elevators and carry distance
- Walk-ups, long hallways and distant parking slow each trip.
- Packing services
- Having the crew pack costs more than packing yourself.
- Special items
- Pianos, safes and fragile pieces need extra people or equipment.
- Timing
- End-of-month, summer weekends and holiday dates are busy and can cost more.
What a good quote spells out
- Whether the price is hourly, by weight or a fixed figure, and what is excluded
- The minimum hours and how travel time between addresses is counted
- Fees for stairs, long carries and heavy items
- What coverage applies to your belongings, explained in writing
- Packing materials supplied and whether they are included
Home & Apartment Moving: questions people ask
How much does a move cost?
A local move with two movers and a truck commonly costs about US$90 to US$180 per hour, and a small apartment often totals US$300 to US$900. Long-distance moves run into the thousands, so see the cost guide.
How far ahead should movers be booked?
As early as possible, especially for summer, month-end and weekend dates. A few weeks is common for local moves, and longer for cross-country.
Do movers bring boxes and packing materials?
Many do, either included or as an add-on. Check what the quote covers.
Can the crew move one big item only?
Yes, single-item moves are possible, usually with a minimum charge. Say what the item is and where it needs to go.
Other Mobilix services
Have a Move Coming Up? Let's Plan It.
Tell us about the move and add floor plans or photos if you have them. We review every request, and a specialist who serves your area follows up in writing with a move plan and a free quote.
Request a free quote →