Moving FAQ for Tacoma, WA
Short, direct answers to the questions people in Tacoma and Pierce County ask most before they hire movers.
What do people ask about moving costs and estimates in Tacoma?
How much do movers cost in Tacoma, WA?
Most local moves in Tacoma are billed by the hour: typically $140 to $190 an hour for two movers and a truck, and $190 to $260 for three. A one-bedroom apartment usually totals $450 to $900, and a three-bedroom house $1,300 to $2,400. Stairs, long carries and packing add time.
What is the difference between a binding and a nonbinding estimate?
A nonbinding estimate is the mover's calculation of the hours or weight involved, and the final bill follows what the job actually takes, within the limit the tariff sets above the estimate. A binding estimate is a fixed price for a listed inventory. It changes only through a written supplemental estimate when you add items or services.
What does basic valuation cover?
Basic valuation is the coverage included at no extra charge. It pays by weight, 60 cents per pound per item, so a 50 pound television is covered for $30 regardless of what it cost. Full value protection costs more and covers repair, replacement or a cash settlement at current value.
What is the cheapest time to move in Tacoma?
October through April, in the middle of the week and the middle of the month. Demand drops once school starts and the summer military rotation ends, so crews and trucks are easier to book and you are less likely to be squeezed into a late start behind another job.
What do people ask about planning and timing a move?
How many movers and hours does your move need?
A studio or one-bedroom usually takes two movers three to five hours. A two-bedroom takes two or three movers four to seven hours. A three-bedroom house takes three or four movers six to nine hours, and a four-bedroom house often needs four movers for a full day or longer.
How far ahead should you book movers in Tacoma?
Two to four weeks ahead is comfortable for most of the year. From May through September, and at the end of any month, aim for four to six weeks, since summer is peak season for both civilian moves and military orders at JBLM. Midweek and mid-month dates are the easiest to get.
Do movers work in the rain?
Yes. Rain is a normal working condition from October through April around Puget Sound. Mattresses and upholstered pieces are bagged or wrapped, floors are covered with runners, and the truck is backed as close to the door as the street allows. Only ice or heavy snow normally moves a date.
Who pays the Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll on a move to or from Gig Harbor?
The toll is collected on eastbound trips, heading toward Tacoma, and a truck pays more than a car because the rate goes up with the number of axles. It is normally passed through at cost and should appear as its own line on your written estimate.
What do people ask when choosing movers near them in Tacoma?
What will movers not move?
Movers do not carry hazardous items: propane tanks, gasoline, paint thinner, pool chemicals, ammunition and similar materials. Most will not take perishable food or live plants on a long-distance trip. Keep cash, jewelry, medication, passports and other documents with you in your own car.
Should you tip movers?
Tipping is optional and never part of the estimate. When a crew has worked hard and taken care of the house, many customers tip each mover directly once the truck is empty. Cold water or coffee on the job is appreciated just as much, especially on a stair-heavy move.
Can movers take a piano or a gun safe?
Usually, with notice. An upright piano or a safe changes the crew size and the equipment on the truck: a piano board, extra straps, sometimes a fourth mover. Say what it is, roughly what it weighs, and how many stairs are involved when you ask for the estimate.
How do you compare moving companies near you in Tacoma?
Check four things on each estimate. It should be in writing and show the carrier's Washington household goods permit number. It should state crew size, hourly rate and travel time, or weight and miles for a long move. It should name the minimum charge. And it should spell out the valuation covering your goods.
Service details: local movers in Tacoma, long-distance movers, commercial movers, piano movers and packing services. Prices are on the Tacoma movers home page.
Have a move date in mind?
(253) 527-6834Say where you are moving from and to, how many bedrooms or offices, and the date. You get a written estimate before anything is booked. Prefer not to talk? Text the details and a few photos of the big pieces.