Moving Guide

Flat Rate Moving Company Pros and Cons

Published November 30, 2012 · Written for MovingGuru readers since 2013

Is a flat rate the best rate?

Well, it depends.  95% of the time, someone will benefit from a flat rate, but it isn’t always the customer. Sometimes it’s the moving company that gets the “deal”.

  • For example, say a moving company would charge $100/hr for your move.  And a flat rate moving company offers you a flat rate of $3,000.  Assume these companies are equally competent.
  • Now, if your move takes over 30 hours total from loading to driving to unloading, then you got a deal on the flat rate.  But if it only takes 20 hours, then you essentially paid an extra $1,000.

But how do you know whether flat rate is a good idea if you don’t know how long your move will take?  Well, you can make an educated guess based on the following factors:

When to get a Flat-Rate Moving Company

  • Difficult-to-Access Home – If your home is difficult to access (stairs, long driveway, difficult parking), it can add a lot of time to the moving process.  In such a case, go flat rate.
  • Difficult Possessions – Hard-to-move items take longer to move.  If you need a lot of help moving heavy furniture and delicate items, flat rate is probably best.
  • Long Distance Move – If you’re moving long distance, flat rate is probably a better option.
  • Need Help Packing – If you need your moving company to help you pack your items, it can add serious time to your move.  Choose flat rate in that case.
  • You Just Want a Set Price – There’s a lot to be said for knowing exactly what you’ll pay.  It’s less stressful; it won’t result in arguments; and you can account for it months before you even move.  If you just want to know how much your move will cost, go flat rate.

Flat-rate moving companies can be found in any city in any state. Check out our quotes page to get free flat rate moving quotes.

Filed under:Moving CompaniesTypes of Moves

Keep reading

Moving House Problems

Nobody ever said moving is easy. Everyone knows it’s a pain in the butt. It’s a sweaty, grunty gig, an endeavor of stubbed toes and cussing. However, if you aren’t careful, it can be even worse than that. All too often,

Prepping & Packing · August 11, 2013

Rental Moving Boxes

Yes, there are moving boxes for rent. A single bedroom apartment owner can expect to throw down about $100 to rent moving boxes. And no, they won’t get moldy, worn-out cardboard boxes that some guy stored his dead fish collection in…

Moving Boxes · June 30, 2013

Questions to Ask Movers

Like so many things in life, successfully dealing with a moving company requires asking a lot of questions. Yep, it’s time to expose your inner Geraldo. As uncomfortable as peppering people with questions might sound, it’s a must. The more

Moving Companies · June 26, 2013

How Much Do Movers Cost?

Pricing out your move? Moving companies are an investment. I mean, they’re expensive pretty much no matter what. However, whether the investment you make is good or bad will depend on the particular movers you choose. There is no set

Cost of Moving · June 22, 2013

Get Quotes