Moving to a new home or workplace is an exciting project when you’re looking forward to a new location and a fresh start. Hiring professional movers can ensure that you enjoy every moment and the move progresses smoothly and efficiently.
Your moving team will make life a lot easier. If you’ve been wondering if it is even appropriate to tip your movers, the answer is a simple yes. Absolutely yes! While it is technically not required, tipping movers, especially when they do a good enough job, will show a basic level of courtesy. Your movers will really appreciate the gesture. The question is how much should you tip.
How Much to Tip Movers
Movers’ tips are not really mandatory and do not fall under the contract between you and the crew. It is really up to you to decide whether or not to tip them and how much. You can use both a flat rate or a percentage of the total cost of moving. Many people adhere to tipping about $5 for every hour the movers work. It is also accepted if you decide to offer about 5% to 10% of the total cost of moving.
How Much Should You Tip Local Movers
It is important to remember that moving locally is a lot easier than when you are moving a long distance. You need not tip local movers as much as you would tip long-distance movers. However, other things still come into play. The amount of stuff you are moving and how easy is your home or building to move into will determine the actual tip.
How Much Should You Tip Long Distance Movers
When moving across long distances, things like vans and trucks have to be accounted for when determining the total cost of the task. Then there is the fact that you may need separate teams of movers when moving long distances. The first team will dismantle and pack in all your possessions into the trucks. And, the second team will be tasked with unloading, unpacking, reassembling the furniture and other items. And setting them up per your specifications. Of course, you might have a single team executing the entire move.
So, in essence, you’re dealing with two separate teams of movers and possibly, experienced drivers who will be assisting with the logistics. The standard tipping guideline discussed above still holds true. But you might want to recognize that these people are doing a lot for you and deserve a bit more. Make sure to tip an adequate sum to compensate all the people who are helping you. Especially when you’re moving cross-country.
Factors to consider when tipping movers
Were You Properly Organized Prior to Their Arrival?
Are you properly organized and have your stuff in boxes, labeled properly, and ready for the move? In that case, the crew will have to put in much less time and effort. But, if they’re tasked with organizing the things, compensating them for the extra effort is reasonable.
The Weather
No one likes to move when the weather conditions are bad. Excessive heat, downpours of rain, or icy roads, will really make the moving process a lot more difficult. If you are one of the brave souls who does decide to move during these conditions, make sure you tip your movers a bit more. They will be working under extremely difficult conditions.
Compensating the Packing Crew
A lot of moving companies provide packing services on top of their main moving services. Normally, this is done by a separate group of people and not the movers themselves. So, while you may remember to tip the movers, also make sure that you allocate a bit of your tipping budget for the packers. Appreciate the effort they invested to make sure that all your stuff is safely packed for moving.
The Total Number of Hours Worked
If you were to take a typical three-bedroom house as an example, it takes about 7 to 10 hours on average to complete the move. Of course, the distance of the move can easily exceed this time frame. Then there is also the fact of whether your move took longer than expected. If it did, you should obviously consider tipping your movers a bit more.
Moving Upstairs/Downstairs?
Moving stuff up floors is no joke. You need to have really good muscle strength and the know-how to maneuver things properly. Has your moving crew done a lot of heavy lifting, navigated multiple stories with less space, and handled ungainly pieces of furniture? Then, they deserve special thanks for their efforts.
Can You Tip Using Credit Cards?
This scenario can happen to anyone. You appreciate the work the movers have done, but when you reach for your wallet to tip them, you’re short of the adequate amount of cash. What do you do? Paying using credit cards is becoming a lot more common and many movers now accept credit card payments. You can also contact their local office and ask for details about how they run their credit card payment options. Request a separate transaction form for tipping.
When Not To Tip Movers?
In rare instances, you can opt to not offer a tip if you’re not quite happy with the professionalism or efficiency of the move. Or, if the moving company expressly requests you not to tip the moving crew separately. Even though you aren’t offering cash, you can show your appreciation with pizza and soda for everyone or coffee and donuts if it’s a cold day.
Are Moving Tips Tax Deductible?
The Tax Cuts and the Jobs Act of 2017 made some major changes to the deductions available for your moving expenses. Most taxpayers will find that their moving expenses are no longer tax-deductible. This means you will not be able to claim it as a deduction on your returns. This policy will stay in place for another 3 years till 2025.
Moving can be a stressful process without professional assistance. When you have the right moving team, the whole process will become a lot more smoother and fun. Contact us at Starving Students and let’s talk some more about how to make your move a streamlined experience.
Call (888) 931-Move(6683) today to get a free quote or book!