Sacramento is a mid-sized city with many beautiful, tree-lined streets, giving it a small-town feel. Unlike places like Los Angeles, Sacramento gives you the change of seasons. The winters are mild and the summers are hot. The cost of living is lower than in most parts of California, and outdoor lovers will find many rivers and lakes to enjoy. A huge perk of living in Sacramento is that the ocean, the wine country, and the mountains are only short drives away.
Moving is a big undertaking. You have a long checklist of things to do, which makes moving a stressful and sometimes overwhelming process. You’re wondering how much it will cost, how you’ll pack everything, and how you’ll get it to your new location. This article will help you understand all the parts of your move and let you know Sacramento movers rates so you can decide what you can and can’t afford.
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Factors That Affect Your Moving Costs in Sacramento
Local moving costs in Sacramento are based on an hourly rate. However long it takes the team to transfer your belongings multiplied by the hourly rate will be the cost of your relocation.
Here’s what can affect the cost of movers in Sacramento:
- The volume of your goods: The more you have to move, the longer it will take the crew to move it.
- Packing: Packing services take time, even for professional movers. Packing and unpacking will raise the final cost of your move.
- Supplies: If you want the movers to pack for you, additional supplies such as boxes, packing materials, and bubble wrap are available for an additional cost.
- Access: How close the movers can park to your location, and how far they have to walk to and from the truck when loading your possessions, varies with every move. The farther away the truck is to your old and new locations, the more time and cost are involved in loading and unloading.
- Stairs/elevators: Any time movers have to go up and down stairs, it adds time to the move. This is especially true when handling bulky and/or heavy items. Elevators make moves to and from upper floors easier, but they can sometimes make the move slower than using stairs because the crew has to wait for the elevator.
- Furniture assembly/disassembly: Furniture or other items that movers need to break down and re-assembled at your new residence will add time to your move. The more things you have to disassemble and reassemble, the more time it will take.
- Distance of the move: Driving time is included in any local move, so the farther the movers have to go to arrive at your new home, the more time it will take. Time of day is a consideration here because traffic can affect the travel time. When traffic is heavier, the time it takes will increase, sometimes significantly.
- Special items/requests: Things like piano, antiques, or other precious items will require extra time and care, which adds to the final cost of the move.
Full Service Movers vs. DIY Moving in Sacramento
When you’re ready for your local relocation, you can either do it yourself or hire professional movers. A DIY move is cheaper, but it might not be the best option for you. The main considerations when moving on your own are how much time and energy do you have or want to put into the move and who are you going to get to help.
Even though a DIY move can save you money, the relocation costs can add up quicker than you think when you consider a truck rental, moving equipment, boxes, tape, packing materials, fuel, and your time and trouble. Not to mention, the stress can make your move a miserable experience.
Here are several reasons why a full-service mover might be a better option for your move.
- Do it Yourself Moves don’t necessarily save you money
You know you’ll need a truck, boxes, and packing materials for a DIY move. But when you start adding in gas for one or numerous trips back and forth, moving equipment, lunch for your friends, and other “hidden” costs, a DIY move may end up being close to the cost of hiring professional movers.
- Reduce stress
A DIY move can be hard, backbreaking, and stressful. Professional movers can take that stress and those aches and pains away. You’ll have peace of mind that they’re handling every aspect of the move. That’s because professional movers have the training and know-how to do the job right. They will greatly reduce any potential damage to your new home and your possessions.
- Save Time
A professional mover can pack and load your belongings much faster and more efficiently than you can. They plan out the details of your move in advance, bringing all the materials needed the first time, which saves a lot of time and energy. Experience makes a difference when it comes to all aspects of a move. Let the pros do it, and you won’t have to waste any of your valuable time or energy doing the planning and manual labor yourself. Instead, you can focus on other things like setting up your utilities, forwarding your mail, etc.
- Movers provide expertise & experience
A reputable, established mover will have all the expertise and experience needed to make your move smooth and stress-free. They remove the mistakes and guesswork. They show up with the right trucks, tools, ramps, and moving equipment. Your heavy furniture and precious valuables are no problem for a professional. They know how to pack and transport them properly, efficiently, and safely.
- Protect your furniture and house
A professional Sacramento mover comes prepared with moving blankets and shrinkwrap to make sure your furniture, doors, floors, counters, and staircases are protected from damage.
- Movers provide packing services
If you’ve ever packed up your things, you know packing is one of the most difficult and tedious parts of a move. The time involved in packing and repacking because you did it wrong the first time can take hours and hours, not to mention the possibility of breaking or damaging your valuables in the process and multiple trips to the store for more supplies. A professional mover brings all you need with them and packs your belongings right the first time.
- Movers provide quality moving materials, equipment, and specialized trucks
Professional movers use the best quality boxes, materials, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, and moving blankets. They have the right equipment for your valuable and fragile items, and their trucks are specialized to get all your belonging to your new location securely.
- Safety
Moving heavy and bulky items is a difficult task and can be dangerous if done incorrectly. The last thing you want is a doctor’s bill for your back on top of your moving costs. With a professional mover, you don’t have to lift a finger. No injuries, no pain, no doctor’s bills.
- Storage
A bonus of a professional mover is they provide short and long-term storage if you need it.
Average Moving Costs in Sacramento | Sacramento Moving Estimates
The average cost of a local move in Sacramento will vary as we mentioned above. Most movers will charge an hourly rate ranging from $60 to $150 an hour for a 2-man crew after a two-hour minimum. Every additional man runs about $40 to $50, and an additional truck will add about $30 to $40 to the cost.
Mother Lode Moving will help you decide on the number of movers and trucks you’ll need to get your move done in a reasonable amount of time. Additional movers add to the cost, but they will do the job faster, cutting down the time needed and can sometimes result in the relocation costing less.
Cost to Move a 1 Bedroom Apt in Sacramento
A typical move for a 1-bedroom apartment requires 2 movers and about 3-6 hours for an average cost of $300 to $600.
Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom Apt in Sacramento
A 2-bedroom apartment move normally requires 3 professional movers for 3-6 hours. The average cost is between $450 to $750.
Cost to Move a Home in Sacramento
Smaller homes require 3 to 4 movers and about 4-7 hours, and the average cost is from $640 to $1120.
For an accurate Sacramento moving estimate, you’ll want to call us so we can provide you with a free quote based on the size of your home, the number and description of the items you will be moving, and what services you need. For jobs out of the area, out of the state, or cross country, we will give you a binding quote for a long-distance move.
Tips to Make Your Sacramento Relocation More Affordable
A question you’re asking yourself is “how do I reduce the cost of moving to Sacramento?” We have the perfect checklist for you that can help you cut costs.
- Get rid of things: Whatever you don’t need or can live without, leave it behind to reduce the moving time and your final cost.
- Pack and unpack yourself and label boxes: This is one less task the movers have to do, reducing the amount of time they will be needed.
- Disassemble and assemble furniture yourself
- Unplug electronics ahead of time and wrap the cords.
- Get the approvals you might need from your new HOA, landlords, etc ahead of time.
- Know where all your things are going in your new location before you get there. All you’ll have to do is tell the movers which room to put things in and where.
- Give the moving crew drinks and snacks. They will appreciate it and will work harder and faster for you.
How To Choose a Sacramento Moving Company
- Check Yelp and Google reviews
- Get recommendations from family, friends, and coworkers
- Check how long the company has been in business, how many moves they’ve done, and how many claims they’ve had against them
- Make sure they are licensed and insured
- Check that they use the proper equipment and that their trucks are well-maintained and can handle expensive and fragile items.
- Look for companies with awesome customer service
- Don’t settle for the first estimate you receive. Get one from at least three different companies before you decide on one.
- Keep away from companies that ask for a cash deposit before your move.
- Check out the companies Better Business Bureau rating
Mother Lode has 65 years of experience, has served over 200,000 customers, and is always up to date with our licenses and insurance. Not to mention, we’re proud of our 1% claims rate and 4.8 star rating! Don’t take our word for it. Check out our great reviews.
Additional Sacramento Moving Tips
How much should you tip movers in Sacramento?
The generally accepted amount is $25 per mover or 18-20% of the final moving cost to be split by the crew.
Ultimate Sacramento Moving Checklist
Click here to get our ultimate Sacramento moving guide.
Sacramento Utilities
Find out all about Sacramento utilities in our Sacramento utilities guide by clicking here.
You’re excited and ready to move to your new home in Sacramento. Give Mother Lode Van & Storage a call at (916) 631-4285 for a free moving quote from our Sacramento local movers. Let us help you!
