Is moving a one-bedroom apartment really a three-man job?

[Anonymous]

I've gotten estimates from JK, Beltway and Great Scott -- all companies recommended by DCUMs. JK and Beltway quoted about the same and recommended three men. Great Scott came in considerably cheaper and recommended two men. All three companies estimated 4 to 6 hours for the move. Nothing special about the move. Moving from an apartment to another apartment 1/2 mile away. Elevator in the first building and only one step in the second building. Both in NW DC.

Thanks for any input.

[Anonymous]

I had two smallish moves in the DC area. From two bedroom apartments. I don't have much stuff.

3 people would make it much faster. 2 can carry furniture together and 1 can move smaller items. I don't think it should take 4-6 hours to do that, with the apartments only 1/2 mile apart. Is there a minimum that they charge? Is it based on time? If the move is completed faster, will it be cheaper for you? If that's the case, I think 3 is OK. Otherwise, I'd probably go with 2 and the cheaper quote.

[Anonymous]

we've moved a lot and like you just 1 bed close by.

they all charge a minimum so even if you're moving in the same building they won't charge lesser than X.

most of the time we just packed ourselves and hired college kids who're used to this kind of job. professional movers were just hired in our long distance moves and they always mess up anyway. ARGH!

[Anonymous]

We've moved a small 2BR twice and had 3 movers each time. I was skeptical too, but the 3rd person usually arranges things in the truck, or preps stuff while the other two are moving so things do move along much faster.

[Anonymous]

For my last move, it was from a studio apartment to a 1-bedroom apartment about 1/2 mile away. I hired two guys who had their own truck from craigslist. It cost me around $225. There's no way in hell I would pay thousands, or even a thousand dollars, for such a small move. It is relevant that I owned nothing of any value except for my laptop, which I moved myself.

[Anonymous]

Last time we moved (4 bedroom house to another 4 br) the team was supposed to be 3 but the leader added a 4th just before starting the job. It was very difficult to keep up with the crew. It was our worst move ever, in terms of things placed in the wrong place, stuff they didn't unwrap and we didn't realize until they had left, etc. Often fewer is better.

[Anonymous]

Try 2 men and a truck. They have a range of moving services from full-pack and move to just load and move. I've never used them, but I've heard from a couple of friends that they were cheap.

[Anonymous]

Are they packing or are you packing?

I just had a three bedroom townhouse move that took 4 guys 6 hours. I'd be really surprised if a one bedroom took 6 hours for three guys.

[Anonymous]

when we last moved (1 br to 1 br), we hired a uhaul and hired movers by the hour via uhaul. I think we had 2 guys for 3 hours, and didn't pay more than $150 plus the cost of the truck. Very reasonable, very professional.

[Anonymous]

Bookstore Movers

http://bookstoremovers.com/

[Anonymous]

V Street Movers just moved us

[Anonymous]

Yeah, three people seems to be standard. They usually charge by the hour instead of by the person, so it's in your interests to have more movers anyway.

I moved my 1 bedroom place with Haul Zing last year -- they were extremely reasonably priced; easy customer service; and the movers did a good job disassembling and reassembling my Ikea bed, even! They aren't luxury movers -- they want to get in and out as quick as they can -- but they are a great deal.

http://www.haulzing.com/

[Anonymous]

mytruckbuddy.com

They moved us out of our 2 bedroom apartment with 3 guys and it was about $1,000.

[Anonymous]

I used Beltway last April for a 1BR move and they quoted 3 men too. Only two showed up and I wasn't charged for the third. Cost me about $700.

[Anonymous]

I used Great Scot a few years ago to move a one bedroom apt less then a mile away in the Upper NW and the final bill was over $600. Need less to say, I was very surprised. The move involved two movers and a truck. We did not have a ton of stuff and we did all our packing so they only moved boxes and furniture. Additionally, the movers walked off with my mirror at the end of the day. I had to call to get it back. I would not use them again.