What Do Movers Do? A Complete Guide

Feeling overwhelmed by an upcoming move? There’s no question that moving—whether it’s across town or across the country—is a stressful event for anyone. The good news is that enlisting the help of a local moving company can help ease the burden of this life change. 

So, exactly what do movers do? Let’s walk through what a full-service moving company does during a move so you can leave the packing, lifting, transporting, and more to the pros.

What Movers Do

Here’s what you can expect from your full-service movers during your move.

Supply Packing Materials

No need to guess how many boxes and rolls of packing tape you need. Your movers can give you an estimate on the quantity of materials based on your belongings, plus provide all of the materials and supplies needed to pack, such as boxes, bubble wrap, and tape.

Pack and Unpack Your Belongings

Professional movers are packing experts and will wrap and pack your belongings to stay safe during the move. Your items are not only packed more securely by a moving company, but the process is often faster than doing it yourself. However, if there are sentimental items that you’d rather pack and move yourself, let your movers know in advance. 

After your belongings are transported to your new home, most movers will unpack all of the boxes and place items in the correct room, as indicated by you. 

Disassemble and Reassemble Furniture

Dreading the thought of disassembling your bed frame? Leave it to your movers. A full-service moving company will disassemble any large or heavy furniture as needed and then reassemble it at your new destination. 

Load and Unload Items

Many people worry about hurting themselves during a move by lifting heavy furniture or going up and down stairs. Luckily, there’s no need to worry about hurting yourself when you hire professional movers.

Once your items are packed, movers will take care of loading everything onto the truck for transport. Once the truck arrives at your destination, the movers will carefully unload the boxes and furniture from the truck and carry everything into your new home. 

Transport Your Belongings

Movers will transport your belongings, whether you’re moving to a new neighborhood or a different state. The moving company will typically give you a delivery window for when your belongings will arrive so you can be home to let the movers in your new place.

Dispose of Packing Materials 

After everything is unpacked, you may find yourself in a sea of cardboard boxes, packing paper, and bubble wrap. Movers can take care of disposing of all of the packing materials so you can focus on organizing and decorating your new space. If not all boxes are unpacked by the movers on your moving-in day, most moving companies will send someone back at a later date to pick up any remaining trash or materials. 

How to Prepare for Movers

There are a few things you can do to help your movers make the process smoother and easier for everyone:

• Know your movers' services and policies: Before signing with a moving company, it’s important to understand the scope of work your movers are capable of, the estimated costs for those services, and any policies they may have. For example, some moving companies won’t move cleaning products, since those items can contain toxic chemicals and may leak.

• Give your movers an accurate estimate of your belongings: Let your movers know what kind of belongings you’ll need to be packed and moved, especially if you have special items like a piano or exercise equipment. Most moving companies have forms you can fill out that ask for your home’s square footage, photos of each room, and a list of heavier items. Many will even do an in-person walkthrough before putting together a quote.

• Be clear on where items will go: Let your movers know where you want your belongings to go in your new space. For example, tell your movers if you plan to keep your barware and glasses in an alcove near your living room instead of the kitchen where it was kept in your old home. This will help the movers label boxes more clearly so they can place boxes and unpack your belongings in the correct space. 

How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers?

Professional movers cost anywhere from $880 to $10,000 or more, depending primarily on distance. However, the size and the complexity of the move also impact the overall price. Transporting the contents of a one-bedroom apartment is much cheaper than moving a three-bedroom home. Movers tend to charge $25 to $50 per hour. 

DIY vs. Hiring Professional Movers

In most cases, hiring a team of qualified local movers is the right call. They will ensure that your stuff arrives at the desired location on time and without suffering any accidental damage. These companies are also licensed and insured should anything go wrong. As an added bonus, you don’t have to do any heavy lifting. Going the DIY route is appropriate for small moves, but only if you have some experience. If you go with a pro, pack up everything ahead of time to save money on labor costs.