Tampa is known for sunshine. Lots of it. It also has over 165 parks and some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. You’ll find major theme parks and attractions here, such as Busch Gardens Tampa, Adventure Island, Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, and the Florida Aquarium. A number of Fortune 1,000 companies are headquartered here, including Publix Super Markets, OSI Restaurant Partners, WellCare, TECO Energy, and Raymond James Financial. Tampa’s port is the seventh largest in the nation and serves as a port of call for three major cruise lines, making tourism a big part of the local economy.
Ready to move to Tampa? The first thing you’ll want to consider is how much it will cost. This article will explain what you need to know about Tampa’s mover rates so that you can make the best choice for you and your family and stay within your budget.
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Factors That Affect Your Moving Costs in Tampa
Local Tampa moving costs, within 50 to 100 miles, are based on an hourly rate. You pay for the total time it takes for the move, multiplied by the hourly rate.
Below are several factors that can affect your move.
- Size of your move
How much you have to move to your new home will affect how long it will take and how much it will cost.
- Special items
Specialty items increase your moving cost, especially for items such as a piano, a grandfather clock, or antique furniture, which must be handled with extra care.
- Move distance
The greater the distance between your old and new locations, the more it will cost.
- Packing
Packing is the most requested additional moving service. You can save on packing costs by packing some or most of your belongings yourself.
- Packing supplies
Any packing supplies needed, such as boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, are part of the final moving cost.
- Access
Accessibility to your old and new destinations can add to costs. If the movers have to park the truck farther away from your location, the more time they’ll need to load and unload your belongings, increasing your final cost.
- Stairs/elevators
Whenever stairs are involved, this adds time and cost. Elevators can also increase how much time the crew spends moving your things depending on how long and how often they have to wait for the elevator.
- Furniture assembly/disassembly
If you want the movers to disassemble and reassemble your furniture or other items, it will take extra time and will increase your cost.
Full Service Movers vs. DIY Moving in Tampa
Many people opt for a DIY move because it saves money. All you have to do is rent a truck, right? Not exactly. You have to consider the cost of moving equipment, boxes, tape, packing materials, fuel, and your valuable time and trouble. The final cost of a DIY move can cost you almost as much as a full-service move.
Below are some reasons why a full-service mover might be a better choice for you and your move.
- Do it Yourself moves don’t always save you money
What size truck do you rent? A smaller truck will be cheaper initially, but then you’ll have to make more trips. You’ll want to have truck rental insurance too, just in case. You’ll have to add in the cost of gas and moving helpers. Friends and family will likely help you for free, but you’ll want to pay them for their hard work by supplying food and drinks at the very least. You might also need to hire independent movers for labor only.
- Reduce stress
Moving is stressful. No way to get around that. Professional movers can reduce much of your stress because they do this every day. They’ll plan your move, show up at your door on time and ready to go, and do all the hard work for you.
- Save Time
Planning for your move takes time, but will save time in the end. Most DIY plans include renting a truck, buying boxes, and figuring it out on moving day. Professional movers will plan your move ahead of time and show up with everything they need. They’ll pack and load your belongings quickly and efficiently, allowing you to focus on things like setting up your utilities, forwarding your mail, etc.
- Movers provide expertise & experience
The difference between you and a professional mover is they have the experience and expertise, and you don’t. They’ll bring the right trucks, tools, ramps, and moving equipment with them. They have the muscle and know-how to handle your heavy furniture and bulky items the right way. They’ll pack your things and transport them efficiently and safely.
- Protect your furniture and house
Professional movers use moving blankets and shrinkwrap to protect your furniture, walls, doorways, floors, and staircases from damage.
- Movers provide packing services
Packing is one of the things most DIY movers dread. It’s tedious and time-consuming. And if you don’t pack your items correctly, you might end up with broken or damaged valuables. Professional movers are trained to pack your belongings securely so they arrive safely at your new home.
- Movers provide quality moving materials, equipment, and specialized trucks
Your family and friends mean well, but the likelihood of them breaking or damaging your fragile items, your doors, your walls, etc., is much greater than if you hire a professional mover. Professional movers have the experience and bring the highest quality boxes, materials, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, and moving blankets. They have specialized equipment to move your fragile valuables, and their trucks are designed to transport all your belongings to your new location safely and securely.
- Safety
When you’re moving heavy or bulky items, the risk of injury is always a concern. The last thing you want is your friend or family member getting hurt while helping you move. Hiring a professional mover means you don’t have to lift a finger or put friends and family in harm’s way.
- Storage
Professional movers offer short and long-term storage for when or if you need it.
Average Moving Costs in Tampa | Tampa Moving Estimates
How much does a local move cost in Tampa? The average cost of a local move in Tampa varies depending on many factors, such as those we mentioned above.
2 College Brothers can help you decide how many movers you’ll need for your move. Extra movers will cost more per hour, but when working with extra movers, your relocation will go much quicker.
Cost to move a Studio Apt in Tampa
Tampa movers rates for a studio apartment will vary depending on the number of movers you hire and how many belongings you have, but should take between three and four hours.
Cost to Move a 1 Bedroom Apt in Tampa
Moving locally from a 1-bedroom apartment will take 2 movers about 4 hours to complete. Tampa moving costs will depend on the number of movers you have.
Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom Apt or House in Tampa
Moving a 2-bedroom apartment or house will take 3 movers about 6 hours to do depending on the amount of belongings you have, whether there are stairs, and more.
Cost to Move a 3 Bedroom Home in Tampa
If you are moving a 3-bedroom apartment or house, you can expect to pay quite a bit more than smaller jobs. The cost will typically include a local moving crew of 4 members and will take approximately seven to nine hours.
If you’re looking for an accurate estimate for your move, look no further than 2 College Brothers. If you give us the details on the size of your apartment or home and any special items you need to be moved, we can prepare you a free Tampa moving quote based on our moving cost calculator. If you’re moving out of the area, out of the state, or across the country, we can give you a binding quote for a long-distance move so there are no surprise costs.
Tips to Make Your Tampa Relocation More Affordable
Below are several tips on how you can save money during your move to Tampa.
- Get rid of things you don’t need!
A move is a good opportunity to get rid of anything you don’t truly need. The less belongings you have, the easier they’ll be to relocate.
- Pack and unpack yourself
A great way to save money is to pack yourself. Even if you only pack some of your belongings, you’ll save money and time.
- Disassemble and assemble furniture yourself
You’ll save money by disassembling and reassembling your furniture before the movers arrive. You might not have the tools or expertise to do all of it, but whatever you can do will save the movers from doing it and save you money.
- Unplug electronics ahead of time and wrap the cords.
These things take little time and will save you money.
- Get the approvals you might need from your new HOA, landlords, etc ahead of time.
Not only will this save you time and money, but it will also save you some stress as well.
- Know where all your things are going in your new location before you get there
Label your boxes so you don’t have to waste time looking through them at your new location to find out where things go. For heavy items, know ahead of time which rooms they go in and against which wall. This makes it easier on the movers and reduces the time involved.
- Give the moving crew drinks and snacks.
If you keep your movers happy, they’ll show their appreciation by working harder and faster for you, saving you time and money.
How To Choose a Tampa Moving Company
- Check Yelp and Google reviews
- Ask for recommendations from family, friends, and coworkers
- Find out how long the company has been in business, how many moves they’ve done, and how many claims they’ve had against them
- Check their licensing and insurance
- Research the company. Do they use the proper equipment? Are their trucks well-maintained? Can they handle expensive and fragile items?
- Find companies with outstanding customer service
- Get at least three estimates before you decide on which company to go with.
- Stay away from movers that ask for a cash deposit before your move.
- Check the Better Business Bureau rating
2 College Brothers is the best moving company in Tampa. We’re proud of our countless positive reviews.
Additional Tamp Moving Tips
How much should you tip movers in Tampa?
Generally, you’ll want to tip each mover between $4 and $7 per hour for your relocation, depending on how well they did. Anything over $7 an hour would be considered very generous.
Ultimate Tampa Moving Checklist
Click here to get our ultimate Moving to & Living in Tampa guide.
Tampa Utilities
Check out our Tampa utilities guide here.
Ready to plan your move to Tampa? 2 College Brothers is here to help. Give us a call at 813-922-1528 for a Tampa moving quote today!
