Tacoma is located in Pierce County, WA, and is known as one of the best places to live because of the family-friendly atmosphere. If you love being surrounded by breathtaking views of the great outdoors without giving up the accommodations of living in a city, then moving to Tacoma will be perfect for you!
You officially decided to relocate to Tacoma and are excited about the new beginning. Congratulations! Even though you’re excited about this journey, you might start to worry about how you can afford the actual move itself. Don’t worry, though, because moving costs can be affordable.
In addition to affordability, when you hire full-service Tacoma movers, you reduce your stress, save time and energy, and have peace of mind knowing that your items are being professionally taken care of and will arrive damage-free.
Before you start, you need to calculate the local moving costs (a move within the same city metro area–only takes one day to complete), but you’re not alone because All Ready Moving is here to help you!
Factors That Affect Your Moving Costs in Tacoma
When you’re relocating locally, you will be paying by the hour. To help figure out the final moving cost, you will take the total number of hours and multiply it by the company’s hourly rate. It is essential to note that other variables, such as items like a piano, can also influence the total cost. To help you get a better sense of what can determine your final moving price besides the hourly rate, we’re breaking it down for you here. Think of this a bit like a moving cost calculator.
Volume of Goods
When it comes to the volume of goods, it’s simple. The more items you’re relocating, the longer it will take to move it all to your new place.
Packing
Depending on the service (full service, partial service, or just unpacking) you decide on when it comes to packing, it will influence the price. Let’s say you decide on the full packing service. All of the movers will begin packing each of the rooms in the house, and the more items that need packing, the longer it will take. Then with the full-service, they will also unpack the boxes from the truck once they arrive at your new home.
Supplies
If you decide to have the moving company pack up your belongings, you will have to pay for the extra materials like boxes, bubble wrap, and tape.
Access
If the movers can park as close to the residence as possible, it will decrease the overall time to load and unload the truck. But if they can only park up the street, that extra time it takes going back and forth can drive up the price.
Stairs/Elevators
As we mentioned in the access point, having accessibility to the residence will help make the process go more quickly. If you’re located on any floor above the and don’t have an elevator, the stairs will add extra time. But if your elevator takes a long time to get to you, it might be faster for them to go up and down the stairs. Each situation is unique, so be aware.
Furniture assembly/disassembly
Disassembling and properly reassembling your furniture will take time.
Distance of the Move
The distance between your current residence and your new home will add to the final price of your move, so everything from the number of miles and everyday traffic will influence your cost.
Special items/request
Specialty items like pianos, antiques, artwork and collectibles will take extra time, equipment, and care.
Full Servive Movers vs. DIY Moving in Tacoma
When it comes to the difference between full-service movers and DIY moving in Tacoma, here’s a breakdown:
Full Service
- Reduces stress
- Gives you a peace of mind
- Saves you time
- Rather than trying to juggle everything yourself, allow a team of professionals handle all of the details of your relocation
- Movers provide expert services
- They know how to protect your furniture and home to prevent any damage from occurring
- If you need it, most movers provide short and long term storage options
- The crew is a team of licensed and insured professionals
Do It Yourself (DIY)
- You have to rent a truck and the necessary equipment and supplies to complete the relocation
- Endless to-do list
- Have to ask friends and family members to help you move
- If something breaks or gets damaged, you personally have to replace it
- Stress overload
- Having to take time off work or use your weekend
Average Moving Costs in Tacoma | Tacoma Moving Estimates
As we mentioned earlier, moving companies have hourly rates, and the final moving costs can depend on things like additional time, supplies, or the number of crew members needed. A professional and dependable full-service mover will provide you with their hourly moving rates before starting work, along with helping you decide the number of movers you will need to complete your relocation.
Cost to Move a 1 Bedroom Apartment in Tacoma
In a 1-bedroom apartment relocation, there will be 2 movers helping during this process, and the move itself can take anywhere between 3-6 hours to complete. If you’re curious about how to get a moving estimate, take the number of hours and multiply that by the hourly rate.
Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom Apartment in Tacoma
If you live in a 2-bedroom apartment in Tacoma, it will require 3 professional movers, and it will take 3-6 hours to complete. You will then take the number of hours and times that by the hourly rate to get your moving estimate.
Cost to Move a Home in Tacoma
When it comes to a house since they’re a bigger space, it will require 3-4 dependable movers depending on the square footage, and it can take anywhere between 4-7 hours to complete the move. Then the same way we said before, take the number of hours and multiply that by the hourly rate, and you’ll get your moving estimate.
It’s essential that in each case to call for a free moving estimate based on the size of the apartment or home, the items that will be moving, and the different services you’d like so that you can get an accurate idea of the final moving price.
If you are moving out of the designated area, state, or across the country, that is considered a long-distance move, and you will need to get a binding moving quote.
Tips to Make Your Tacoma Relocation More Affordable
If you’re wondering how you can reduce the cost of a local move in Tacoma, keep reading.
Declutter
Have you noticed that you have items in the back of your closet that you haven’t touched in 5 years? Rather than lugging that to your new place and having it take up space, get rid of anything you haven’t used in the last year. Of course, there are items like family heirlooms or special memories like your grandpa’s favorite cardigan that you can keep. But we are talking about everyday belongings that don’t provide you with joy. Doing this can help make the relocation go faster, resulting in a reduced price.
Prep Yourself
Yes, utilizing a full-service moving option can save you time and stress, but if you can’t afford it, consider doing a DIY pack and unpack option to help reduce the cost.
Get Pre Approval
Make sure to talk with your landlords, the HOA, and anyone you need approval from ahead of time, so you’re not having to do it on moving day.
Accept Your Inner Hall Monitor
We all have an inner hall monitor in us, so use it. When you get to your new house, be prepared to tell the movers where everything goes, what rooms are whose, and where to put any specific items.
Make It Fun
Consider providing water, Gatorade, and snacks for the moving crews. When they’re well hydrated and nourished, they will be able to continue moving. Plus, they will appreciate it and encourage them to continue working hard.
How To Choose a Tacoma Moving Company
When it comes to finding the best Tacoma moving company, it requires you to do your homework and ask questions because you need to find a trustworthy and professional team that will treat your belongings with the same respect that they treat their own. Before making a final decision, consider getting these questions answered:
- How long have you been in business?
- What is your claim rate?
- How many customers have you served since opening?
- On average, what are the number of total moves you preform in a given year?
- Are you licensed?
- Do you have insurance?
- What are your Google Reviews?
- When it comes to proper equipment and supplies, what do you have to ensure a safe transportation of my belongings to prevent any damage?
Additional Tacoma Moving Tips
How Much Should You Tip Mover’s in Tacoma?
Generally, you should tip $25 per mover. You can also do 18-20% of the final moving cost, and it will get split between all of the movers.
City Utilities
Here’s an ultimate guide for everything you need to know about utilities in Tacoma.
All Ready Moving is the best crew of professional Tacoma movers that are here to help make this transition seamless. As an award-winning company, you can rest assured knowing that your belongings are in good hands, and we will always treat your items with the same respect we give our own.
To learn more about our Tacoma local movers, call us at (360) 507-2447 or fill out our form to receive a free estimate!