The Differences Between a Local Moving Company, Local Move, and Long-Distance Services
Is this your first local move? Maybe your past moves were across state lines, or perhaps across the county. But now you only need to go from one part of a city to another. If you're not sure how this move may differ from your past experiences, take a look at what you need to know about local moving company services, packing, planning, and more.
Are Local Movers and Long-Distance Movers the Same?
The answer to this question is no—but sometimes yes. Some companies only focus on local or long-distance moves, while others offer both services. Right now, you need a company that specializes in local services. This means the local moving company should have experience moving customers from one place to another in your city/town, know the layout of the city/town, and have references from real customers who live near you.
What Does Local Really Mean?
The term local may have different meanings to different people. You may define local as the immediate town, but someone else may think of local as the county or even the part of the state where they live.
According to the National Association of Realtors' Moving.com website, local moving includes same-state moves of less than 100 miles. But some local moving companies may limit their services to a 50-mile, 40-mile, or lower number mile radius. If you're not sure whether your move falls under the local category, contact the company to learn more about radius restrictions.
Along with the number of miles the mover will travel, the differences between local and long-distance moves also include licensing requirements and regulations. Individual states regulate local moving companies (where applicable). Some states have no licensing requirements for other companies, while others do. If your state's department of transportation does require a license, ask the contractor for verification before you agree to an estimate.
All long-distance carriers must have a valid license. Instead of the individual states, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) regulates movers that transport items between states. These movers must have a valid USDOT registration license number.
How Is A Local Move Different Than A Long-Distance Move For the Customer?
Both types of moves require planning, organizing, and packing. The actual packing processes shouldn't differ between each type of move.
You will need to declutter, take an inventory, organize your belongings, choose packing materials, wrap delicate or breakable items (such as dinnerware or artwork), and place everything into boxes, bins, or bags for both types of moves. Local and long-distance moves also will both require you to disassemble some pieces of furniture and cover these oversized selections.
Transportation and travel planning is the primary difference you may experience moving locally. You won't need to book a hotel room, budget for eating on the road, or coordinate a route with the moving company.
