Moving Small Loads – What to do?
Often you will need to move just one piece of furniture or a few boxes. This small scale moving may not require too much work, but you will still need to find a moving company offering small moving services. Most moving companies today offer small moving help, locally and across country. However, for moving small loads often people turn to small moving companies or small scale local movers. Whether you contact some of the big van lines or a smaller local moving company, you will have to be flexible with moving your small load. This is why we’ve prepared this complete small moving guide.
Small Scale Moving Time
Moving companies will work with you to give you small moving options, but the key in this case will be flexibility. Most movers will be happy to take your small load, but often they can’t guarantee the delivery date. Movers usually want to be as efficient as possible and will work, and wait, to fill any empty space in their trucks. This applies mostly for executing long distance moves, when the movers have to load a big trailer they would want to piece together more loads in order to stay efficient. In many cases transporting a very small load may fit perfectly with this strategy to stay efficient.
Small Moving Cost
When moving small items you may think it would be cheaper, yet that’s not always the case. Moving companies often charge for a minimum amount of weight (or cubic feet) for long haul and for a minimum amount of time for local moves. Thus, even if you have a very small load you may get charged a higher small moving cost. There is also a fee for loading and transporting your small load to the mover’s warehouse, where it will wait to be loaded onto a truck. Contact a few moving companies and see who will give you the best quote for moving a small load.
To save on your small moving cost, try to pack as much as possible by yourself and let the moving company only do the transportation.
Your small moving costs depend on the distance you are about to move. If you are moving across the country or if you are moving to Canada, then the moving costs will be significantly higher than moving to a different state next to yours. The small moving costs depend on the delivery window. If you want your items delivered in 2-5 days then you may be charged express delivery fee on top of the actual moving costs. Make sure you research all fees and taxes on your small move in advance, so you don’t get surprised with unexpected hidden charges.
Get your small scale moving calculated fast and easy. Use our free moving estimator for a complete moving cost estimate.
How long will it take to deliver my small load?
As we said the key when moving a small loads is flexibility. If you are not in a hurry to deliver your furniture piece, then once it’s loaded all you have to do is wait. However, if you want the item delivered on a certain date you may have hard time fixing that. Often you will be at the small scale movers’ mercy as they need to wait for van headed in the direction your items are going. Because it is a small load they will have to wait for a truck to combine your items with other people’s moving in the same direction. Therefore, if you want to save on moving your small load you will have to wait for the movers to combine and schedule a truck.
Small Moving Help
No matter how small scale your move is, label all your items carefully with your name and mark the fragile items. This will prevent loss of boxes, since your stuff will travel with other people's items in the truck.
Remember the key when moving small loads is flexibility when you want to save on moving. If money is not an issue you can always schedule your small scale moving with a mover for the desired date. Even though you may have to pay more, it is better to contact professional moving company rather than packing and shipping with a shipping company. Professional movers know how to handle any type of home and office furniture even if you are only moving a small room and you won’t have to do any packing and handling yourself. Moving companies also offer moving protection and are responsible for your items while in their possession. If you are moving valuable items you may want to purchase additional moving insurance just in case than relying solely on the basic moving valuation protection which is usually only $0.60 per pound. There are movers who specialize in small moving options, but really you can contact any professional moving company and get a quote for moving a small load. No matter how big your move is, there are always a lot of questions to ask your moving company. In most cases it is just like a regular full service move.
If you have any question about moving your small load, let us know. What options do you consider for your upcoming move? Please share with us in the comments below.
I am moving 50 various size boxes from Webster NY to Three Riivers California. they are ready to be picked up from my garage in Webster NY. They need to be in California by September 27 or 28, 2013. Can you recommend the best and most reasonable way to ship them.
Jean, I think you and I should drive them out!