Written by: Nathan Steele
Date:

What makes country-wide moves so complex in comparison to others? For one, you need to check everything twice and have double the obligations to consider. Another matter is the overall expense because due to the larger distance, the cost of the move naturally jumps up. However, there are ways for you to make the most out of your move. To begin with, Verified Movers can help you find companies that accommodate all your moving needs. But, another thing you can do is negotiate with interstate movers to lower the overall price and save some of that moving budget. And just in case you are at a loss for ideas on how to do that, in this article, you’ll learn a few ways to do so.

Is it possible to negotiate with a moving company? It definitely is!

Although it may seem odd at first, negotiation with movers can often be a success. It is one of the legit methods for reducing moving costs, and all it takes is a little knowledge and effort. Movers are open to negotiation more than you think. Needless to say, this works only to some extent. You can’t expect anything unrealistic. But, a small decrease in price is often on the table, and the best thing is, you have nothing to lose. Therefore, we’ll show you how the whole process of negotiation with interstate movers works, and hopefully, it will bring you some concrete results.

A man and a woman talking while sitting in front of a blue and yellow wall
You’d be surprised how many interstate moving companies out there are open to negotiations.

But first, make sure that the companies you’re considering are licensed

One of the first things you need to do, not only when preparing for a negotiation, but in the whole process of hiring movers in general, is make sure that the company you’re considering is legitimate. This can be done by checking if they have the necessary licenses. All interstate moving companies are regulated by federal agencies. They need to abide by USDOT and FMCSA rules in order to conduct their business legally. Why is this important? Lowering the price a bit will mean nothing if you end up moving with scammers. That would put the whole relocation and the safety of your items in jeopardy. So, jump to the website of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website first, see if the company is licensed, and then focus on your negotiation strategy.

Don’t let the ridiculously low estimates blind you into hiring fraudulent movers

One proven method for fraudulent relocation companies to attract customers is to offer ridiculously low prices. They know they can’t compete with average prices when their competition are reputable companies with many good reviews. So, they try to scam their customers by offering lowball offers, and unfortunately, it works sometimes. That’s why you can’t bring yourself into this situation. Reducing moving costs is good of course, but only to some extent. As soon as you see some suspiciously low estimates, look elsewhere, because you’ve probably encountered a classic case of a moving scam.

A man sitting on the floor and researching how to negotiate with interstate movers on his laptop.
Before you negotiate with interstate movers of your choice, you need to make sure that they are legitimate and trustworthy.

Another piece of advice for you would be to read the reviews. The importance of reviews today is huge, and they are arguably the best indicator of which company is trustworthy and which is not. So, consider sparing some time to read the reviews and ensure the legitimacy of the company you’re thinking of hiring.

Things to know before you start with the negotiation

Getting the best deal and saving on professional movers is a significant accomplishment. After all, relocating happens to be a costly undertaking. And negotiating a better deal and cheaper moving costs may benefit you. However, you will need to calculate several factors in order to plan your cross-country relocation. Also, writing down most of these things will be useful to know when making your moving budget, so make sure to check out the list below.

  • The distance you plan to cross
  • Extra moving and packing services required
  • Item inventory
  • The approximate moving date (negotiating a move is much easier in off-peak season)

You should know that moving companies’ rates are usually not firmly established and that difficult to influence. Besides, you really have nothing to lose if you try to negotiate with interstate movers for lower estimates. The things we mentioned in the list impact the cost of cross country moves. So, for example, if you want movers to assist you with packing and you’re moving a 2-bedroom apartment, you can expect movers to charge you as much as they would for a studio apartment with no special services provided. Things simply don’t work that way. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of the realistic price and stay within a reasonable radius. You can achieve this by knowing all the details of your move, which is why we mentioned it in the first place.

A woman writing down an inventory list of her items before she starts to negotiate with interstate movers.
Write down an inventory list of all your items and other details about your move to be aware of the realistic price.

Before bargaining with movers, compare a few estimates

Hiring a premium moving and storage company will help you reduce the unavoidable stress that comes with relocation. But what if the cost of their services is holding you back from making the right decision? Yes, moving can easily burn through your budget, but the good news is that moving rates will vary from mover to mover even when your moving parameters remain the same. And this basically means that before you take a stand in your negotiation with interstate movers, you need to understand what exactly you are negotiating for.

To work out the best deal for a moving service, start by getting and comparing at least 3 estimates from licensed and accredited professional moving companies. Request an in-house estimate from moving experts. This is done to guarantee that the written estimate you receive will be as close to the final bill as possible. Keep in mind that the more estimates you have from cross-country movers, the larger your bargaining power is.

Incorporate additional costs for a wider picture

Use the following tips to address any unexpected moving company fees and charges:

  • Explore additional services and what they include. The majority of those charges for additional services are negotiable. So go through each one with the moving company and see whether you really need to use them. Your mover will be motivated to lower their prices if you give up on any of the offered extra services. After all – less work for them.
  • Consider the matter of packing – will it come down to you or your movers? Best case scenario – a beneficial joint effort where you will pack up all your stuff except large furniture, heavy appliances, and specialty items. This will save you money while still ensuring ultimate protection for your most prized possessions.
  • Negotiate with interstate movers the potential of unplanned expenses. You might not believe the unplanned fees your interstate moving companies might charge you. From extra fees for loading/unloading the moving truck to disassembling/re-assembling some of your furniture pieces. Make sure to negotiate these terms with the moving company you choose before the actual moving day.

Time to awaken your inner salesman and negotiate with interstate movers

Once you gathered moving quotes from different reputable cross country movers, time to take advantage of those same quotes. The goal is to get the best deal possible for you. Depending on your preferences, there are several tactics you can use. In fact, you may already have some idea. One thing is sure. You’ll encounter a lot of interstate movers who are open to negotiations. Therefore, you definitely have something to play for here. Here are some tactical scenarios to help you understand and negotiate with your interstate relocation company for a lower cost.

Ask for a lower price directly, but prepare to be flexible

One simple answer to how to negotiate with interstate movers is to ask them to lower the price directly. Sure, mind games are sometimes fun, and they can give you the result you want. But you’d be surprised by how much you can achieve if you simply ask for a lower price directly. However, remember to be realistic in terms of your offer. We said this before, but it’s really important to emphasize. Nobody will take you seriously as a customer if you name an insultingly low price. Also, it’s important to be flexible. Interstate movers could come up with a counteroffer, so make sure to be flexible and be prepared to accept it if it’s generous enough.

A man and a woman shaking hands in the meeting.
Asking for a lower price directly and right away could expedite the negotiation process and bring you the results you are looking for.

Play the competitiveness card

Under normal circumstances, the majority of moving companies would rather lower the price they have quoted you than lose your business to their competitors. You can use this as a bargaining chip later on in the negotiation. By this point, you should already have a mover that you’ve got your eye on hiring. If that professional state-to-state moving company has offered you the best price, you have little to worry about. If not, contact the company to inform them that you were offered a lower price by their competitors. Give them your lowest bid and ask them if they would be willing to match the price or lower it.

Keep an eye out for discounts

We briefly mentioned the off-peak season in the introduction. Well, this could prove to be a key to your negotiation. During the off-peak seasons (usually from November to April), movers don’t have too much work up their sleeves. Therefore, they could offer you some discounts, which certainly means a lot for your moving budget. Also, since they don’t have too much work, they will have more time to negotiate. So, if you have the luxury of moving during the off-peak season, know that it could benefit your budget in several ways.

Even though cutting costs is great, hiring a reputable and experienced team is the most important thing

Just remember that even when if you cannot get the price down – the quality of the service is more important. Better to pay an average price for quality moving rather than get the lowest possible quote and risk having a disastrous moving experience. So go all in – negotiate with interstate movers, but do not let greed guide you down the wrong path. The most important thing is that your belongings arrive safely at your new home and that your relocation across the country ends up being a success.