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When it comes time to move, you may feel stressed at the thought of all of the time and hard work the job will require. Even if you think you've anticipated every obstacle, there are still hiccups and stressors that could crop up around moving in Altoona.
With so many problems to be ready for and things to keep track of, you might not be so eager to start your move at all.
Luckily for you, our carefully crafted guide to Altoona's best movers can help you connect with the right experts and eliminate a lot of the stress.
Are you planning a short and sweet move? You may want to think about hiring a local moving company that knows Altoona like the back of their hand. These companies are better for short moves, and they often have better short-notice availability and lower prices.
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One of the most important questions people might have is how much their move is going to cost. The typical hourly cost for moving in Altoona is:
The first step to deciding on a company is to figure out if you need a local or national mover. As shown above, different types of movers are better for different types of moves. There is also the decision between a self-service versus a full-service mover. A self-service moving company will provide a truck and a driver, but you will be expected to have everything packed and ready when they arrive. A full-service mover will offer packing services, which can be a way to ease your stress if you're someone who loathes packing boxes.
You can read up on a company's reputation via online reviews and the BBB. You will also want to know which movers near you meet the mover licensing requirements in Iowa. All of the companies on our list of Altoona's best movers are well-reviewed and picked by our experts.
After you've found a couple of companies you like, you can begin getting estimates from them. We recommend speaking to at least one or two of the companies from our above list. When you do speak with a mover, make sure you discuss with them all the services you think you'll require. You should also confirm that you are given a "binding estimate" — otherwise, it may be subject to change.
Before and after moving to a new city or state, there are certain resources that are helpful to know about:
Altoona currently has a median house value of approximately $166,034. Some other facts about living in Altoona are:
There is more tree coverage in Altoona than in 43% of the U.S. Other natural features include:
The median income in Altoona is $77,444, which puts it in the 82.2% percentile. In addition:
In Altoona, around 82% of the 19,503 citizens are physically active. Other health stats about Altoona include:
There are about 28 eating places around Altoona. In addition:
Is your move going out of Iowa, or farther than 75 miles? A national moving company may be better for you. National movers tend to have higher-capacity trucks, more interstate moving experience, and better knowledge of regulations across multiple states.
International Van Lines (IVL), founded in 2000, can act as a carrier or 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 build custom moving packages that fit their unique needs.
For over 20 years, Moving APT has been providing an excellent interstate moving experience to customers all over the U.S. From humble beginnings as 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 all across North America. They provide both residential and corporate moves, and can take care of moves that are local, long-distance, or international. The company offers packing, loading, and storage services, and they back up all of their services with 24-hour customer service.
American Van Lines, originally founded in Pompano Beach, Florida, now provides long-distance moving across the country. For over 50 years, the company has been offering a variety of full-service moving packages. 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 complete moves with their own team, or they can outsource to other carriers in an area where they don't offer direct services. A representative from Allied Van Lines will be able to tell you what options are available for your move. 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 use tools like 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, Fight for Children, and Habitat for Humanity.
Per our research, the best movers in Altoona are Allied Van Lines, Adamantine Spine Moving, and AAA Movers LLC.
We compile our list of best movers in Altoona based on multiple weighted factors. These include the sorts of moves the company 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 needs moving, you'll want to go with a moving company that has expertise and experience in moving them. Not every company offers 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 for references for past piano moves.
There are some items you'll want to keep in your possession to be sure that they are safe and sound during your move. These include sensitive personal documents as well as valuables like safes, firearms, jewelry, and antiques.
Cost and convenience are both important when planning your move. The majority of people move during the summer, which makes moving during these months busier and more expensive. With about 21,407 students attending college within 15 miles of Altoona, you may want to reconsider moving in May and August, when the majority of them will be moving as well.
You'll also want to take into account the weather when you move. Altoona tends to have moderate temperatures. This means that weather may not affect what time of year you move as much as it would in some other places — instead, you'll want to think mainly about when other people are moving near you.
You should plan to book your mover about two months ahead of time, and start packing about four to six weeks out. For long-distance moves, you may want to give yourself more time to prepare. (Also keep in mind that you might need to book a national mover further out than you would a local one.)
How long you should anticipate your move to take will depend on factors like the traffic in Altoona, the weather, and the size of your home. Altoona tends to have more traffic than many parts of the country, which may affect what day of the week or time of day you decide to move.
