Hourly vs. Flat Rate NYC Movers – What’s the Difference

When you start searching for professional NYC movers you might get confused by the industry terms and jargon. One of the more important and confusing terms you might hear is flat rate and hourly. Some places even combine the two terms to tout a flat, hourly rate. So what does this mean and which option is the best one for your NYC move? 

Ultimately, each option has its pros and cons so you’ll need to figure out which one suits your budget and needs best.

Flat Rate

When you get a flat rate pricing model, it means that the moving company will provide a fixed price for the entire move regardless of how long it takes to do the job. So if it takes an hour or two longer than expected, you won’t have to worry about paying extra. Movers will determine the final fee and provide a detailed quote after they have performed a virtual inspection of all of your belongings and included any additional services you might need such as storage or packing and unpacking.

Pros

You should go for the flat rate price if you’re planning an interstate or cross-country move or moving a few hours away from your old apartment. That way, you won’t have to pay them for any additional time on the road due to inclement weather or bad traffic. The predictable pricing means you only need to budget what the movers quoted you (plus some extra for tip). And since the NYC movers aren’t charging by the hour, it also makes for a more efficient move.

Just remember that just because the movers say it’s a flat rate doesn’t mean that the price can never go up. If you ask for additional services the day of the move such as packing, you’ll get charged an extra fee for the packing and the materials. As well, companies will charge you a stair or even bulky item fee to the bill. That’s why it is important to mention everything to the moving company before hiring them. Once they have all the information they can provide you with an accurate quote that includes all of these additional fees.

If you’re not sure whether you’ll get charged extra money, don’t be afraid to ask! Reputable NYC moving companies will be more than happy to provide all the information and the extra fees will be cleared spelled out in their quote and bill of lading.  

Cons

As good as a flat rate might sound, it’s not always the best choice. After all, there’s potential for overestimation, which could lead to you paying a higher flat rate than you might have paid otherwise. And if you already agreed to the amount before the move, you can’t get a reduced price afterwards. 

It can also be difficult to compare quotes between other moving companies as each one uses a different method to calculate the flat rate. Some companies even avoid listing additional fees to appear like they are cheaper than their competitors and will only tack them on after you have signed the quote.

Finally, there’s overall less flexibility when it comes to flat rate moves. In order to get the flat rate, you will have to provide a detailed inventory of your items as that is what the movers use todraw up your quote. Once you’ve signed the contract, you might not be able to add or remove items from the move without adjusting the price. If you end up with a flat rate move, make sure you know exactly what you plan on bringing with you to avoid too much back and forth.

Hourly Moving Rates

As the name suggests, if you choose the hourly pricing option you will pay a set amount of money for every hour the movers work. That includes driving the truck to your old apartment, driving to your new apartment, then driving back to their headquarters/garage. As well, most moving companies also have a minimum time requirement, usually 3 hours, so make sure to ask before you book. If you think the move will only take an hour or less, you might want to look into DIY options or a hybrid approach where you rent a truck and hire people to help load it up for you.

Pros

In general, most movers offer hourly rates for local moves, moves within 50 miles or less of your current house. The hourly rate includes things like movers’ labor, use of the moving truck, and some basic packing materials. Some companies even include other services such as disassembling and reassembling basic furniture so make sure you ask them what is included beforehand! Of course, if you’re opting for an hourly move, it might make more sense for you to do all the tedious work beforehand so you don’t have to pay extra money. 

If you don’t have a lot of stuff, an hourly move can end up much cheaper than a flat rate move. Plus, it’s a lot easier to compare quotes between movers so long as they all provide the same service within the hourly rate. On top of that, there’s a lot more flexibility in services. Have an extra box or two? That’s totally fine and a few boxes won’t actually change your price drastically. Remember, you’re paying for the actual time worked and if the movers end up spending less time, you get to pay less! 

Cons

While you have more flexibility with your move, that also means your costs are more unpredictable. Most moving companies have a good idea how long it will take to load and unload the truck, but they can’t control the weather or traffic. So if there’s an accident and it takes them an hour longer to get to your new place, you’ll be paying for that extra hour. As well, some movers will purposely work slower to increase their hours. It’s up to you to notice and talk to the foreman so the crew works faster!

Since you’re paying by the hour, you’ll also be more stressed because you want to get the move done as quickly as possible. After all, the longer it takes, the more you’ll pay! If you’re worried about your moving budget, see if you can negotiate a way to cap the cost to a certain amount even if you go over the allotted time. You should also ask if they allow for partial hourly payments so if the crew spends an extra 30 minutes you don’t pay for a full hour.

Choose the Rate That’s Right for You

As you can see, the rate you choose depends on your needs. Choose a flat rate if you’re moving long distance or dealing with a very large move. An hourly rate is more suited for smaller, local moves. Of course, you also have to consider your budget. If you have a strict budget and need to know your cost upfront, a flat rate might be the better option. 

Of course, the most important thing for you to do is to hire the right professional NYC moving company. Not only will they answer all of your questions, they will also walk you through the entire moving process and come up with a customized plan that matches your needs and budget.While it does depend on how much you own and plan to move, in general a one-bedroom apartment should take between 3-4 hours to complete the move.

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