How Much Do Movers Cost for a 2-Bedroom Apartment?
Getting ready to move makes it difficult to balance everything else going on in your life. It’s even hard to focus on important details of your move, such as timing and budgeting. So, how much do movers cost for a 2-bedroom apartment?
Moving from a 2-bedroom apartment costs $450 to $3,000 for local moves and $2,500 to $5,000 for long-distance moves. Additional services like full packing add at least $100 to the cost of moving. You can also expect to spend up to 2% of the value of your belongings on a premium insurance plan that entails full coverage.
Make sure to ask about additional charges, such as stairway and elevator fees. Luckily, it’s easy to understand the cost breakdown of your move during the consultation process. Follow along as we explore how much movers charge for a 2-bedroom apartment.
2-Bedroom Apartment Moving Cost Factors
1. Distance
The distance between your current home and future home is the biggest cost factor when moving from a 2-bedroom apartment. Local moves within 50 miles are quite affordable and cost $450 to $3,000. However, you will likely pay around the average $1,250 for a local 2-bedroom apartment move if the shipping weight is low.
Professional movers typically charge $0.50 to $0.80 per mile for local moves. You may spend as little as $22 on gas for a local move depending on how close your new home is. Naturally, long-distance moves cost more because of the additional mileage and labor.
The standard price range for a long-distance 2-bedroom apartment move is $2,500 to $5,000. However, moving across the country can cost up to $10,000. Long-distance moves entail toll fees, travel time, labor, and sometimes even boarding costs.
2. Volume of Belongings
The volume of your belongings accounts for how much you must pay for the shipping weight. Naturally, having more furniture and belongings adds to the shipping weight when moving. Your belongings likely weigh between 3,500 and 5,000 pounds as that’s the standard range for a 2-bedroom apartment.
However, minimalists may only have 2,000 pounds worth of furniture and belongings. During the consultation, the moving company will assess your belongings and approximate their weight. This is one of the biggest factors to help provide a cost estimate.
3. Moving Services
Moving services like furniture disassembly, TV installation, full packing, and insurance add to the cost of your move. You can save money if you forego moving services, but they make moving much easier. For example, full packing comes in handy if you are busy working and tying up loose ends before moving.
Depending on how much stuff you have, full packing can add $100 to $4,500 to the cost of your move. However, it typically comes closer to the low end of the range in a 2-bedroom apartment. Furniture disassembly and assembly typically add at least $110 to the cost.
Premium moving insurance costs 1% to 2% of the value of the belongings being moved. The more you move without help, the less you’ll spend on insurance and shipping weight. You can also save money if you disassemble your furniture and pack your belongings without help.
4. Accessibility
Accessibility is a big factor when it comes to apartment buildings. That’s because many apartment buildings have elevators, stairways, and tight hallways. Such obstacles can make a move somewhat difficult, and they add to the cost of moving.
A single stair set is sometimes included in the cost of moving, but you must pay more for additional stairways. Some moving companies charge $50 to $200 per stairway depending on its size, layout, and condition. You may also be charged for the distance between the truck and the apartment itself.
This is mostly a big cost factor in cities and areas with limited parking. For example, the moving crew may not be able to park near the building if they cannot reserve parking. In some cases, you must also pay to reserve elevator space.
5. Labor
Labor is an important cost factor whether moving from a 2-bedroom apartment or a 5-bedroom house. Moving companies offer both hourly rates and flat rates to their customers. Flat rates entail paying one price that is determined before your moving day.
Conversely, hourly rates are based on how long your move takes on the big day. Some people prefer flat rates because they want to know how much they’re going to spend on their move. However, hourly rates are also quite popular for 2-bedroom apartment moves because they often take 3-5 hours.
That said, you may spend less with an hourly rate if your move takes less time than they estimated. For example, the crew may move quickly if your boxes and furniture are already packed and ready to go. Moving crews often charge $175 to $225 per hour. There is no ironclad rule for which option is cheaper as unpredictable factors like traffic can affect how long a move takes.
When is the Cheapest Time to Move Into an Apartment?
The cheapest time to move into a 2-bedroom apartment is between fall and the end of winter. This is considered the off-season for movers, so you can often find affordable rates. Off-season moves are often 15% to 30% cheaper because of availability.
Conversely, June through August is the worst time to move into an apartment. This is peak move-in time because of the weather and the extra free time many people have. No matter when you book your move, you will likely pay extra if you schedule it last minute.
Last-minute moves are 35% more expensive, on average, are at least 20% more expensive. You may even spend 50% more if you book a move within days or weeks of your moving day. Call a moving company 60 to 90 days before moving to save money and get more scheduling freedom.
Call Optimum Moving to Schedule a Prompt and Easy Move
At Optimum Moving, we have helped New Jersey residents move from homes of all sizes. Moving to and from a 2-bedroom apartment comes with unique challenges that we have a wealth of experience with. This lets us quickly plan and maneuver around tight stairways, hallways, and elevators as needed.
We also have great relationships with many apartment buildings throughout New Jersey and New York City alike. This helps us reserve elevator space and reserve truck parking to make your move go as smoothly as possible. Call Optimum Moving at (855) 315-6683 and we will plan your 2-bedroom apartment move.