How to Find Best Short-Distance Movers

Our guide will cover everything you need to know about finding short-distance movers for your next relocation. Discover how to filter out the best possible moving company, find one that fits your budget, and have a successful move.

How to Find Best Short-Distance Movers

When planning a short-distance move, a good strategy is crucial. Key factors to check for when searching for short-distance movers include their reputation, the nature of your move, and any unique items you may have.

The size of your move can also influence the type of moving service you opt for. For smaller moves, self-moving might be better. For large moves, done-for-you moving services are always the best and safest choice.

Understanding certain aspects of your move will make finding short-distance movers much easier. Successful moves come down to preparation and proper planning. 

You’ll need to understand what items might need special moving services, your budget, and the size of your move to find a quality moving company.

Our guide will cover every aspect in detail so that you go into your move with no questions left unanswered.


Understand Your Move

You will need to understand your move first. There are a few things to consider before you even begin the process of finding short-distance movers. Many people skip this step with short-distance moves because they aren’t moving very far. 

The more time you take to understand your move, the easier it will be to find a quality moving company to assist you. A few important things to remember are:

  1. Special Requirements: Take a walk around your home and make note of any obscure items that might need special help- being moved. These items include but are limited to pianos, recliners, pool tables, and massage chairs. 
  2. Your Items: Many opt for selling all their furniture when moving and rebuying when they are settled in. If this is you, you’ll likely only be moving smaller items in smaller boxes. This is where a done-for-you moving company such as a U-Box is a great fit. 
  3. The Weather In Your Area: This is one of the most overlooked aspects of most moves. If you’re moving in the wintertime in an area where there’s snow, finding a skilled moving company that has a clean record of no accidents is best. As a general rule of thumb, the worse weather your area has, the more emphasis you should put on your moving company to have a clean transportation record.

Following these three steps will help you understand your move better and ultimately help you find a quality short-distance moving company.


Special Requirements

In the event you find items that will require special moving services, you’ll need to hire a separate moving company for that item.

Check out this iMoving article (link to pool table article) to help you understand what the process is like for moving these special items and how to find a quality moving company for them.


Make Your List

Your next step is to make a list of potential moving companies that offer short-distance moving services in your area. You won’t need to verify they operate in different states, as you’re only moving a short distance. 

Write this list down on a piece of paper somewhere and keep it close to you, as you will need it in the next step.


Do Your Research

Now, you’ll want to start going through that list and doing background research on every moving company. There are plenty of things to look out for, but the main ones are;

  1. Transportation Records: Make sure the moving company has clean transportation records and is not known for poor driving. They will be driving will your fragile belongings, so it’s important you find a moving company that cares about safe driving.
  2. Communication: Nothing is worse than someone having all your belongings, and lagging when it comes to texting you back. If you see any negative reviews about the communication of a moving company, it’s best to look elsewhere.
  3. Payment: Make sure there are no negative reviews from customers about paying said moving company. If there are reviews about additional unexpected fees or a contract being broken, it’s best to steer clear of that moving company.

The more research you do the better. If you have friends and family who have used specific moving companies in the past, ask them how their experience was and let their feedback factor into your decision as well.


Which Type Of Short-Distance Movers Should I Hire?

The general rule of thumb in moving is that it’s always better to let professionals handle your belongings. They have years of experience loading, unloading, and keeping items safe and sound during transportation.

However, there are a few scenarios where hiring a do-it-yourself short-distance moving service might be a better fit. As we mentioned earlier, if you don’t have enough items to justify ordering a full-scale moving truck, consider going for something like a U-Box.

If you are moving furniture, it’s always wise to hire a done-for-you moving service to ensure nothing gets damaged.


The Cost To Hire Short-Distance Movers

For most short-distance moves, the average cost will be between $300-$6900 depending on various factors of your move. Since the transportation fee won’t be too high, a high price tag will come down to other factors such as packing services and special moving requirements.

For a do-it-yourself moving service such as a U-Box, you can expect the price to be in the $100-$200 range.


Frequent Questions Answered

We recommend booking short-distance movers at least a month in advance.

This will give you the proper time to prepare everything for your move without scrambling at the last second to find a quality moving company.

A short-distance move is a move within less than 50 miles inside of the same state.

You should always get as many estimates as you possibly can. This will allow you to compare more moving companies and ultimately find the best one.

No, never hire the cheapest moving company, as this is an easy way to get scammed during your move.

Find a price point that fits your budget, but is more expensive than the cheapest estimates you have.

No, in fact we recommend doing the opposite. We recommend asking friends and family and looking on various forum websites to read about people’s experiences.

Yes! Even if you’re moving to a different house in the same neighborhood, moving companies will help you!

If you only need help packing and transporting bulkier items and want to handle the rest, you can work with your moving company to figure out a deal that fits your needs. This will make sure you don’t pay for anything that you don’t need!


Happy Moving

We’re wishing you a secure and seamless transition to your new home! We trust that this guide has helped you discover the most suitable short-distance moving company for your impending move.

Be sure to explore additional iMoving content here, as the more knowledgeable you are, the smoother your move will be!


Tommy Loutzenheiser

Meet Tommy, a writer from San Diego, California with a passion for interior design and moving! Coming from a family of interior designers from San Diego, he’s been involved in the world of moving and helping to create beautiful homes for the places people move to. He’s also moved over ten times in various states such as California, Washington, and Arizona! Through these moves, he’s worked with a variety of moving companies, and prides himself on knowing what to look for and how to have the safest, smoothest move possible! For the past few years, he’s bringing his talent of copywriting and knowledge of moving together to help people all across the world start new chapters in their lives through moving! When he’s not busy writing, you can find him doing extensive research all to help your moving process.

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