Sometimes the number of movers is the second step on the way, the first one, and the most important one is to find two or three men movers that make you feel confident and safe about hiring them. Because, If you find the right moving company, they will determine the best number of movers for the size and the type of your moving project, like professionals that they are!
Since you decided to hire professional movers to help you out with this endeavor, you should put your trust in their judgment when it comes to the number of movers. Don’t think that you know better. Don’t think that you need less movers only because you have regular furniture.
Your movers will explain why they suggest more movers, if they do, and give you a full plan about the moving day and who will do what. They will have a huge set of questions before they provide you with a moving quote, and all of that, although annoying, will be of help in deciding how many movers you should hire.
Even though every move is different from the other, and even though your neighbor with the same house hired four movers, that doesn’t mean that four movers will be “enough” for you. Maybe it would be too many, or just not enough.
That’s why there are rules and their exceptions, like in everything. We can’t say that there is a blind path to follow because we would underestimate some specific situations and fail to organize a successful moving padventure.
How do we determine the number of movers?
If every single house or apartment on this planet had the same size and the amount of furniture, and if all the people in this world had the same amount of clothes and shoes, then we would be in a position to say that the number of movers does not change or vary. There is a size of your home and then there is a number of movers- it would be that simple.
But since we don’t live in a perfectly aligned and organized world, and not all of us have the same habits and way of living, we will mention all those variables that affect the number of movers for your project.
Let’s see what are those:
- How many bedrooms are they helping you move?
- What is the square footage at your home?
- Do you live on the ground floor?
- Can the truck park in front of your home?
- Do you have some items that are bulky and heavy?
- Does your move require some special services?
In answers to these questions they will find that magic number. All of this equally affects the size of the crew that will tackle your move.
Once we go over all the options and answers, you will have a clearer picture.
So let’s start!
How many bedrooms are they helping you move?
This is almost always the first question that you will get when you start reaching out for different quotes. Obviously, this will be a base for their formula in determining the size of the crew, the length of the project, amount of materials etc.
Every single size of the move has its recommended number of movers. If all the other factors don’t show discrepancies from the ordinary, then that;s the number that they will recommend. However, if for example, your one bedroom move is different from the others, or you live on the fourth floor with no elevator to be used, that might change the situation.
Let’s see, starting from two movers, for what kind of moves are they usually recommended.
Two movers
2 movers and a truck are usually recommended in these situations:
- Studio move
- One bedroom move
- Labor move: only packing, loading or unloading
This shows that a team of two movers and a truck are suggested for small, ordinary moves. In a situation that doesn’t involve full packing, a lot of stairs, locations are easily accessible etc.
Three movers
3 men movers, if the move is completely basic, are recommended for a two bedroom place. Two bedroom apartment of regular size, no packing, no excessively heavy furniture…
But, a team of three movers is recommended for:
- Studio apartment FULL PACK
- One bedroom apartment FULL PACK
- For both above if there are a lot of stairs, no elevators, if there are exceptionally heavy items etc.
So, what does this show? The number of movers usually increases by one if you are having a full pack, or if the conditions of the move are more complicated than usual.
Four movers
Four movers are recommended for a three bedroom place.
But also for:
- Two bedroom place FULL PACK
- And for a two bedroom place when it is larger than most, has heavy furniture, stairs etc.
And the math goes on… These above are the most frequent citations and moving sizes. For larger homes, the ideal solution is to consult your relocation specialist for all details.
What is the square footage of your home?
The actual physical size of your apartment or house is also important. Square footage shows how big the place is. We can all agree on the fact that a studio of 500 square feet and a studio of 1100 square feet don’t have the same amount of furniture.
Imagine this difference in square footage when it comes to three bedroom houses and larger objects. Those larger places can have three family rooms but the same number of bedrooms.
That’s why your movers will need this information in order to check if they will need to add a mover on the base number, or that will be enough.
The usual square footage compared to size in bedrooms:
- Studio – up to 600 square feet
- One bedroom place – up to 900 square feet
- Two bedroom place – between a 1000 square feet and 1300- 1400 square feet
- Three bedroom place- between 1400 square feet and 2000 square feet etc.
For all houses larger than that, there is no good math, and your local movers will need to determine the size of the team based on many different things.
If the square footage of your place goes above the scale of the usual sizes above, you might consider hiring an additional moving helper to speed along the process of the move.
Yes, you will pay more by the hour probably, but the move will take less time. Less time means less pressure. In the end you will be paying the same amount of money but the project will be done faster. Not to mention that it is safe with more people. Especially with large furniture pieces.
Do you live on the ground floor?
Too many stairs involved are making things more complicated. 3 men movers will break their backs while carrying the contents of two bedroom places up or down 3 flights of stairs. That isn’t good to no one.
That’s why furniture movers need to know what is the floor that you are living at, and what is the floor that you are moving to, before they suggest a certain number of moving helpers for your move.
Can the truck park in front of your home?
Accessibility is also important. Why?
Imagine the moving truck being parked 500 feet away, and imagine a 3 man team walking that distance every time when they need to load something onto the truck.
Doesn’t sound good, does it?
When there is a long carry included, additional movers would be helpful, especially because of the time efficiency. They will do more, and spend less time.
Also, it is really important to mention that some quality movers will ask for a flat fee if there is a long carry included. Same applies for too many flights of stairs. Be careful if you are in this situation, and make sure that they are aware of the real situation with stairs and the parking distance.
Do you have some items that are bulky and heavy?
Professional movers will need to know this information so they can plan a safe and efficient project. Out of the ordinary and over weighted furniture can turn a smooth move into a nightmare.
If your moving crew is aware of them before they arrive, they will know what tools to bring, what team members are experienced in similar situations etc.
If you own this kind of furniture, you should brace yourself because the number of movers will probably increase in order to safely complete the project.
Such items are: pianos, pool tables, marble tops, exercise equipment, safes, gun safes, large filing cabinets, big furniture pieces that can’t be disassembled etc.
This also brings the possibility of additional flat handling fees for heavy furniture. Make sure that you talk about it with your movers.
Does your move require special services?
Special, additional, extra services are those that are utilized to handle out of the ordinary situations and to move out the furniture in the only possible way. For example, if the bed can’t go through the doors, it will have to be taken out through the window, and that’s called hoisting.
And hoisting is never regularly included in the moving quote.
It is important that you are aware of these needs, and that you know that the bed won’t be able to go out through the doors, and most importantly, that you told your movers about it.
Not all moving companies provide these special services. That’s why this is something that you will need to check at the very beginning. Because, if they won’t do it, and this is a dealbreaker for you, it is good to find that out while you still have time to search for a company that will be willing to do it.
Full pack service
Full pack means that you decided to hire movers for everything- packing your personal belongings into boxes, and moving all of it to your new place.
Full pack will increase the number of movers by one, and that means that you will need to hire:
- For a studio- 3 men movers
- One bedroom- 3 men movers
- Two bedrooms – 4 men team
- Three bedrooms- 5 men team etc
Everything that you will read here will be a good guide, but not more than that. Remember that moving companies are specialized in this, they make their living out of it, and they are the ones who know best.
It is good to be informed and careful, to know the details about your move, but don’t reject recommendations that come from experiences and expertise. If your residential movers recommend 3 men movers, just go with it!
If however, you have doubts, all of your concerns should be heard, and we are thinking about you! Give us a call and ask everything that you worry about, and our relocation specialists will be happy to help you out, explain and promise a stellar moving experience!