If it’s been some time since you last moved, you might be interested in learning about the modern moving trends. Like most industries, the moving industry has undergone transformations over the past few decades. Some changes have evolved how business is done; others have affected where and what we are moving. As lifestyles and priorities shift, so does what people own and how they live. Technology, consumer behavior, and economic trends may have shifted since your last move.
Here are some of the modern moving trends you might find helpful and interesting.
Modern Moving Trend 1: Increased Use of Technology
Online Booking & Virtual Estimates
Consumers can now book estimates online and use virtual visits with FaceTime and other apps to get estimates.
Top Notch Moving offers online booking as a convenient option to schedule an estimate. This way, if your plans change, you can switch your estimate appointment without having to contact someone.
We also offer virtual estimates for everyone. However, nothing beats the accuracy of an in-person estimate. So, we try to reserve the virtual estimates for customers who are contagious or immune-compromised.
Instant Quotes
Some moving companies even offer instant quotes. An instant quote can provide an easy and quick way to get a ballpark figure for your move. If you have never moved before or don’t know what the current moving costs are, then it is handy for getting an idea of the budget.
It is also beneficial because you can avoid the potential sales pressure of an in-person estimate. Some moving companies will have their estimators use sales tactics and incentives to have you commit right then to book with them. So, getting an instant quote online avoids that scenario. (Of course, they will still send you a plethora of follow-up emails and try to get you to speak to someone, but you can ignore those if you want.)
However, instant quotes can lack accuracy because they might leave out many factors. For example, even the amount of time it takes to move a couch can vary greatly. A small couch by the front door might take less than a minute to get out of the house and on to the moving truck. But what if you need to move a large, four-piece sectional couch in a basement with a 90-degree turn on the stairs? (Oh, and you have to take the handrail off the wall, too.) That could take 30 minutes longer to move than the small couch by the door.
So, if you’re trying to estimate the cost of moving for a whole house, then an instant quote could severely underestimate or overestimate the time needed. The only way to make it accurate enough would be to ask enough specific questions, but that would make the instant quote questionnaire too long and tedious for many people to complete. For these reasons, Top Notch Moving doesn’t offer instant quotes. We prefer to provide quotes that are more accurate.
GPS Tracking
Particularly for long distance moves that have an uncertain delivery date, some of the larger moving companies offer customers the ability to track which day their trucks will arrive. This provides customers with a more accurate timeframe.
For example, if you’re moving from the East Coast to the West Coast but only have enough belongings to fill up half of an 18-wheeler, then a larger moving company might load another household’s belongings in the same moving truck. In fact, they might make multiple pickups and deliveries along the way to your new house so they can maximize efficiency and profit.
This is why a 7-day job could take twice as long. In the past, customers would have to keep calling the company to get updates. Or they would have to just keep waiting several days until their belongings arrived. Now, with GPS tracking, customers can see which day their belongings will arrive. (Typically, the tracking just shows the delivery day, not where the truck is on a map.)
Modern Moving Trend 2: The Rise of Hybrid & DIY Moving Solutions
This modern moving trend has developed in light of inflation and higher moving costs. Customers who are more budget-conscious have been deciding to pack their belongings themselves and/or move some of the easier items on their own. (If you’re interested in packing items on your own, check out our packing tips.)
Here are some of the popular hybrid and DIY moving solutions.
Portable Storage Containers
Portable storage containers such as PODS and U-Haul’s U-Box have surged in popularity. They allow customers to work at their own rate, cut out the costs of hired manual labor, and remove the hassle of a rental truck.
However, it’s important to know that these containers might go through a rough transportation. Most of them even have to be tilted the right way to be slid onto the flat-bed truck. So, it’s a good idea to have them professionally packed and loaded so you can minimize the risk of damaging your belongings.
Truck & Van Rentals
The rise of rental platforms like U-Haul, Penske, and Enterprise has made DIY moves more common. (If you’re trying to decide between a DIY move and hiring professionals, check out our article “Is it worth it to hire professional packers?”)
Labor-Only Moving Services
Most moving companies have adapted to the rental industry and offer labor-only services. This includes loading and unloading rental trucks and portable storage containers. Hiring professionals to move your furniture in and out of the home decreases a lot of your risk—risk of damaging the furniture, the home and its walls, and injuring yourself.
Top Notch Moving does offer labor-only moving services. Not only do we load and unload portable storage units and truck rentals, but we also do in-house moves. One common example of an in-house move is when the hardwood floors are getting refinished, so all the furniture needs to be moved to the garage or basement. Hiring professionals is very useful, especially when it comes to putting the furniture back. You won’t want to risk doing it yourself and damaging the floors, so hiring professionals who won’t drag the furniture is worth it.
Modern Moving Trend 3: Decrease in Moving Bulky, Heavy Furniture
One reason for this modern moving trend is because of the economy. Due to the higher cost of things like lumber, labor, and transportation, the popularity of big, high-quality furniture has decreased. People are opting for cheaper furniture that is more affordable to ship and that they can assemble on their own.
You might think that these items are easier and faster to move because they aren’t too heavy. However, that’s not always the case. Sometimes the cheaper furniture is quite flimsy. This means they can actually be harder to move because they’re so fragile. You might need two people to move something because it could fall apart otherwise. Also, it takes longer to find a safe place for it in the truck because it’s not sturdy and can’t support a lot of weight.
These cheap items usually have a shorter lifespan and are not necessarily meant to be moved. Some owners decide to leave the cheap furniture behind and buy newer and/or nicer items for their new home. Other owners take the cheap furniture with them and are fine with the possibility of it being a bit ricketier afterward or even falling apart entirely.
Another reason that there is a decrease in moving bulky, heavy furniture is because of new house designs. For example, separate dining rooms have been decreasing in the typical home. Newer builds are trending towards larger kitchens with increased counter and storage space, and having a kitchen table as the only dining spot. This leads to buffets, corner cabinets, and dining room tables becoming increasingly uncommon.
Also, most of the newer houses have built-in light fixtures in every room, making table and standing lamps obsolete. Cabinetry, closets, and storage solutions are now more commonly built-in, leaving kitchen islands, wardrobes, and other oversized items unnecessary.
Modern Moving Trend 4: The Remote Work Boom
In recent years there’s been an uptick in people being able to work remotely. Therefore, more people are leaving urban areas. Also, they are prioritizing having a home office in their new home.
Enjoy a Top Notch Modern Moving Experience
The moving industry as a business has evolved with the times, and even more changes have occurred with what we are moving. New trends and styles of furniture will continue to come in, and old ones will leave. One thing remains constant: change itself is always on the move.
If you have any questions about the modern moving trends or an upcoming move you plan to make, feel free to contact us or request a free estimate.
