A local moving company in Austin usually costs a rate of $109 – $149 / hour on average. Now, that’s a pretty generalized figure. The final can be lower, higher, or within that range, depending on your needs. Below is a more in-depth explanation of what affects the cost of your move.

What Determines Your Move’s Cost?

In general, local moves are obviously cheaper than long-distance ones. Many factors associated with interstate moving will be absent or significantly reduced in a local move, such as the distance, toll fees, parking permits, fuel, etc.

However, it’s still important to understand the involved factors so you can work around your budget. Knowing this, here are basic elements that will determine how much you’ll spend.

Services

The primary reason why you’re hiring movers is to have them do the job for you, right? Then it’s only natural that the biggest chunk of your expenses will come from the services they provide. If you don’t like having to lift a finger, you’d want to opt for a full-service move which includes:

• Planning: Your local movers will take care of devising a strategy to safely move your belongings through doorways, corridors, and stairs.
• Packing Services: Anything from your smallest utensil to large appliances will be boxed up by the movers using A+ quality materials.
• Loading and Unloading: The movers will handle the heavy work, including balancing the shipment’s weight inside the truck.
• Unpacking: This saves you a lot of confusion later. Just be sure to be present and guide them on what room the boxes go to.
• Disposal: Leaving a bad impression is the last thing your local movers want. Expect no traces of packing paper, cardboard, and bubble wrap when everything’s over.

Of course, a full-service move costs a good deal for the convenience. However, there are plenty of ways to cut down on costs, which we’ll get to later.

Size of Your Home

Actually, the cost isn’t entirely about your house’s area but more specifically, the amount/weight of stuff in the rooms you want to move. You could be living in a mansion, yet you only want to transfer items in the kitchen, living room, and bedroom. Knowing this, a two-bedroom apartment will cost more than moving a simple studio if you want to relocate everything inside.

Number of Movers 

In addition to moving companies imposing a minimum number of movers for different home sizes, having more people working on a move dramatically reduces the timeframe. To give you a rough idea:

Home Size	# of Movers	How Long Will It Take?
Studio	2 movers	3 hours
1-bedroom	2 movers	4 hours
2-bedroom	3 movers	6 hours
3-bedroom	4 movers	6 – 7 hours
5-bedroom or more	5 – 6 movers	10 – 12 hours or more

Time of the Year

Seasons have a significant impact on the moving industry. Demands for relocation spike during the summer thanks to the amazing weather and school being out-of-session. This increased demand causes prices to skyrocket. It’s also pricier to relocate in September when students are making the transition to their new dorms. On the contrary, it’s friendlier to your wallet if you move during the winter season. People hate moving during the cold months, so local movers are more willing to negotiate the price to land a gig.

Other Factors That Affect Moving Costs

While the factors above are definite, some aspects may or may not affect your move. Here are some additional costs you might want to account for:

• Insurance: If you don’t find the basic coverage enough to ensure your belongings, you’ll have to pay more to get yourself full-value protection insurance. 
• Storage services: Are you between homes? You could always entrust your extra belongings to your movers while you sort things out.
• Lack of elevator/extra stairs: Your movers might charge you extra if you’re moving to a high apartment floor with no elevator access since they’ll have to manually carry your possessions. 
• Extra services: Anything not included in a basic move, such as furniture assembly, white-glove moving, last-minute moves, and junk removal.

Tips on How to Save During a Move

Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce the cost of a move. You just need to exert a bit of effort. Here are some practical ways to help you save money on your move:

• Plan ahead. This includes preparing a budget, researching for affordable yet reliable movers, and organizing your home’s inventory. 
• Sell things you don’t need. Instead of bringing along something you barely use, why don’t you use it to generate cash? Sell your extra stuff in a yard sale or through online marketplaces.
• Pack smart. If you choose to do the packing yourself, save money by buying boxes in bulk, using old linen to wrap furniture, or wrapping breakables in old newspapers. Hit up the internet for other resourceful ways to prepare a move.
• Compare rates. One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting a good rate is by comparing rates from multiple local moving companies. Remember, going with the cheapest option doesn’t always mean the best value for your move. The key is finding a local mover that offers a blend of affordability and great service.
• Move during the off-season. If you’re moving long distance, try to plan your move during the moving off-season. Peak moving season generally runs from May-August, and busy moving companies often charge a premium for their services during this time. If you can time your move during the off-season months, you may be able to get a better deal on your move.
• Moving on a weekday. If you’re moving locally, try to time your move on a weekday. Most people book their moves for the weekend when they are off work. If you have the flexibility to move on a weekday, you may be able to ask your moving company about a lower rate.