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Nobody enjoys moving — it's stressful, busy, and you might feel like there are always more things that need to be taken care of. Even if you're normally organized and a good planner, your move in Modesto may still be very stressful.
During rush hour, you might have to contend with a lot of traffic, which can make moving day more stressful.
You can eliminate your stress with our carefully crafted guide to Modesto's best movers, who can help you make your move hassle-free.
Looking to make a last-minute or shorter move? A local moving company might be your best fit. Your local movers are going to be the most familiar with the streets in Modesto. They may also have lower prices and better short-notice availability.
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Something that most people worry about when moving is the cost. In Modesto, the typical hourly cost for movers is:
The first step to picking a company is to figure out if a national or local mover is going to be better for you. As outlined above, different types of moves benefit from different types of movers. There is also the question of a self-service versus a full-service mover. A self-service moving company will provide trucks and drivers, but you'll need to have everything packed and ready when they get there. A full-service moving company will offer packing services, which can be very helpful if you hate packing boxes.
Some good ways to learn about a company's reputation are through online reviews and the BBB. You can also check to see which movers near you meet all of California's licensing requirements for movers. Every company on our list of the best movers in Modesto is well-reviewed and picked by our expert team.
Once you've found a handful of companies that you like, you can start getting estimates from them. It is in your best interest to talk to at least one or two of the companies on our above list. When you do reach out, be sure that you tell them about all of the services that you're going to need. Also check that the company provides you with a "binding estimate" — otherwise, it may be subject to change.
Below, find our list of helpful resources for before and after your move:
Modesto currently has a median house value of about $275,270. In addition:
There is greater tree coverage in Modesto than in 30% of the country. In addition:
$57,233 is the median income in Modesto. In addition:
77% of Modesto's 215,666 residents are physically active. Other health stats about Modesto include:
There are around 470 eating places around Modesto. On top of that:
A national mover will be more experienced at moving across state lines and have more familiarity with regulations in multiple states. This makes them a good choice if your move will take you out of California or over 100 miles. These moving companies often also have higher-capacity moving trucks.
International Van Lines (IVL), founded in 2000, acts as both a carrier and a broker for long-distance moves. IVL provides full-service moving, offering services such as packing and loading for customers to choose from. Since 2005, IVL has been operating in over 180 countries, helping customers worldwide create custom moving packages that meet their unique needs.
For more than 20 years, Moving APT has focused on providing a top-notch interstate moving experience to customers across the U.S. Originally founded by a five-person crew in Florida, Moving APT has now served over half a million customers. The company is fully compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Founded in 1933, North American Moving Services now has over 500 agents across North America. North American provides both residential and corporate moves, and can handle moves that are local, long-distance, or international. They offer packing, loading, and storage services, and everything they do is backed by 24-hour customer service.
American Van Lines, originally founded in Pompano Beach, Florida, now provides long-distance moving across the U.S. The company has been offering a variety of full-service moving packages for over 50 years. American Van Lines has won one of Newsweek's 'Best Customer Service' Awards twice, in 2019 and 2021.
Allied Van Lines is an expert broker-carrier. This means that they can take care of your move with their own team, or they can outsource to other carriers in areas where they don't offer direct services. A company representative can inform you about what options are available in your area. Allied Van Lines has over 90 years of professional moving experience.
JK Moving prides itself on the use of modern technology to help make moving fast and easy. They utilize technologies such as climate-controlled storage and GPS tracking to help everything go smoothly with your move. Since its founding in 1982, JK Moving has also prioritized the use of sustainable practices, such as recycling its materials. The company partners with the Race for Hope, Habitat for Humanity, and Fight for Children.
The top movers in Modesto are May Transfer & Warehouse, Pete's Moving Services LLC, and Mid Cal Moving & Storage - Bekins, per our research.
We rank our best Modesto movers based on multiple weighted factors. These include the types of moves a mover offers (local, interstate, and/or international), if they provide additional services like packing, their insurance offerings, the ease of scheduling, and reviews on other websites including the BBB.
If you have a piano that you need to move, you'll want to go with a moving company that has knowledge and expertise in moving them. Not all movers can provide this service. It is a good idea to contact two or three companies to learn which ones have the ability to move a piano, and to ask them for references for pianos they've moved in the past.
When you are deciding when to move, you'll want to consider both cost and convenience. Moving during the summer months is often more expensive, as most people move during this season. Traffic may also be heavier during these months. You will probably want to avoid moving in May or August specifically, as the 25,024 college students attending school within 15 miles of Modesto will be moving in those months as well.
Don't forget to think about the weather, too. Modesto's temperatures tend to be hot. Your move will likely be inconvenient and possibly dangerous if you move on a day where the weather is too hot.
If you decide to handle your move on your own, you'll have to be prepared to do all steps of the process: renting the moving truck, packing your possessions, loading boxes, and driving to your destination. Self-service moving companies provide a truck and people to drive it, although you'll still be responsible for packing, loading, and unloading everything. A full-service moving company will provide packing and loading services in addition to supplying a truck and a driver.
Which type of company is right for you will depend on how much money you want to spend and how much work you want to do. Full-service companies will typically be the most expensive, but will call for the least manual labor on your end. Moving on your own is at the opposite end of both spectrums, and using a self-service moving company will fall somewhere in the middle.
We recommend reaching out to two or three companies from our list of the best movers in Modesto to get price estimates. At that point, you can compare prices and decide which option is best for you.
