Cost to Move a 3-Bedroom Home in the DMV

The price range

Most local three-bedroom moves cost $1,540 to $3,080 as a flat rate, and large or heavily furnished homes run higher. The number is set in writing before move day and covers the following.

• The truck, fuel, and travel time
• Furniture wrapping and pads
• Floor and doorway protection
• Taking apart and putting back standard furniture
• TV and mirror protection
• Stairs and long carries that we knew about when we quoted

Crew, truck, and time

A three-bedroom home usually takes three or four movers, a 26 foot truck so everything fits in one trip, and a full day. A typical house this size is 80 to 120 boxes plus furniture for seven or eight rooms.

The spaces people forget to count

The bedrooms are rarely what pushes a quote up. These are, and each one can add as much as another room.

• The garage, including tools, bikes, and shelving
• The basement, finished or not
• The attic and any crawl space
• A shed
• The patio or deck, with the grill and outdoor furniture
• A second refrigerator or a chest freezer

Heavy and specialty items

Name these in your quote request, so the right crew and equipment arrive.

• Pianos. Uprights typically run $385 to $605 and baby grands $660 to $1,320.
• Safes, treadmills, and other gym equipment
• Large sectionals, armoires, and dining sets
• Appliances that are coming with you. Empty and defrost the refrigerator the day before, and disconnect the washer.
• Gas appliances and hardwired dryers should be disconnected by a plumber or electrician before the crew arrives.

How to get an accurate quote

At this size a quick list is not enough. Walk the house with your phone and send photos or a video of every room, including each space in the list above. Open the closets and the garage. Add both addresses, the number of floors at each, and where a 26 foot truck can park. A ten minute walkthrough is what makes the flat rate hold.

Packing a house

Packing a three-bedroom home yourself takes most people three to four weeks of evenings. If that is not realistic, we can pack all of it or only the kitchen and the fragile things, and the packing goes in the same flat quote. Packing can be done the day before the move, which keeps move day to loading and driving.

How to keep the price down

Volume is the biggest lever on a house move.

• Clear the garage, basement, and attic first. Sell, donate, or have us haul away what you do not want.
• Box everything, and label each box with its room in the new house.
• Take apart beds and tables yourself if you have the time.
• Clear the driveway so the truck can back up to the door.
• Pick a midweek, mid-month date if you can.
• Draw a simple floor plan of the new house and tape it by the front door, so the crew knows where each room is.

A six-week plan

A house move needs a longer runway than an apartment.

• 6 weeks out. Do the photo walkthrough and get a written flat rate.
• 5 weeks out. Book the date with the $100 hold. Start on the garage, basement, and attic.
• 4 weeks out. Schedule haul-away or donation pickups. Order boxes.
• 3 weeks out. Pack guest rooms, books, and decor.
• 2 weeks out. Transfer utilities and file your change of address.
• 1 week out. Pack the kitchen and closets. Confirm parking at both ends.
• The day before. Defrost the refrigerator, disconnect the washer, and finish the last boxes.