Average Cost To Move A 5 Bedroom House

Here, we’ve laid out some average price points for five-bedroom moves, by varying distance. Local moving costs are determined by hourly rates, while long-distance costs are calculated using shipping weight and move distance. The figures below are just averages. Although they’ve been derived from current move data, they should only be used to establish a baseline. They are not a substitute for getting your own quotes.

Factors that Influence Cost

Aside from move distance and shipping weight, the following are some of the main factors which can inflate costs.

• Bedroom vs house: Nearly all five-bedroom homes will be houses, rather than apartments. However, this is still worth considering. Houses are typically easier to access but have increased storage potential in the form of garages, basements, attics, and sheds. However, elevator access to certain apartments, or lengthy walkups, can increase labor costs due to the necessary added time on a move.
• Ease of access: This primarily applies to whatever your parking situation is at your home. Most moving companies use 26-foot box trucks. If either side of the move has low-hanging trees around a point of entry, a small parking lot, or a winding driveway, you may be stuck paying more. Increased charges would be a product of more labor time spent.
• Long carries: Many movers will have some form of long-carry fee built into their contracts. This will typically kick in at any distance greater than 75 feet. If your mover doesn’t have any such charge, then you will likely pay more for any long carries in the form of labor costs.
• Specialty furniture: Special items like pianos will have defined fees attached to them. Glass hutches may come with charges for crating as well.
• Time of year: Moving is a highly seasonal job, so you will likely pay more for any move scheduled between May and September.
• Last-minute booking: Booking your move within a week of moving day will typically come with increased fees. This can be especially true during the summer months.
• Add-ons required: Add-on services, especially packing, can substantially inflate your final costs.

Popular Add-Ons

The following services are some of the most popular among moving clients today. Most full-service moving companies will offer the majority of these, if not all of them.

• Packing services
  • Full packing
  • Partial packing
  • Fragile-only packing
• Crating
• Debris removal
• Furniture assembly and disassembly
• Appliance installation
• Debris removal

Planning Your Four-Bedroom Move

• Give Yourself Ample Time: Begin planning your move around eight weeks ahead of time. Begin researching movers near you and setting up in-home or virtual estimates. Ideally, your move should be booked a month in advance.
• Take Full Inventory of Your Home: Prior to any estimates, you should take a detailed inventory of your home and all of the items you will need moved. Along with this, making a list of all services you may need will improve the accuracy of any quotes you’re given.
• Get Quotes: Even if your move is fairly simple, getting quotes from different providers is necessary if you want to get the best possible price for your relocation.

Buyers’ Guide for Moving

During any estimate, you should request proof of all of the required insurance policies and registration below.

• FMCSA Registration: Any company conducting interstate moves has to be registered with the FMCSA. As such, they are required to maintain active USDOT and MC numbers. These can be used to look up a given mover’s registration status and complaint history through this link.
• Local Registration: Any mover primarily (or solely) based in a certain state has to maintain some kind of local or state level registration. A few states are exceptions to this rule, but even movers based in those areas have to carry some form of local DOT or USDOT number.
• Properly Insured: Movers have to maintain multiple insurance policies in order to legally operate. These include:
  • Workers’ Compensation: This protects you in the event of a work-related injury during your move. Without this, you could be held liable for damages.
  • Released Liability: At $0.60 per pound, per item, this coverage is included in the base cost of your move. It provides for a small amount of reimbursement for lost or damaged goods. While it won’t cover the value of most of your items, you can supplement it with released liability coverage for an added cost.
• Well-Reviewed: Positive reviews are a must when evaluating a company in any service-based industry. Valuable resources for this feedback include:
  • Google
  • Yelp
  • Social media
  • Better Business Bureau

Our Top Moving Providers

Now that you know how much a five-bedroom move should cost, we’ve put together a basic outline of our top-five moving service providers. Whether you require a full-service solution or want to go the DIY route, this list of companies has you covered. All of these operators are excellent choices for a wide array of moving needs.

* Long-distance average cost is based on aggregate data from customer reviews for a two-bedroom home, moving 500 miles. Cost can vary significantly based on move weight and distance. Be sure to request a free quote to get an accurate estimate for your move.