Costs
The moving costs that aren't on the mover's quote
Plan a moving budget for costs outside transport, including date overlap, supplies, travel and temporary needs. Keep estimates tied to your plans.
5 min read
NYC moving costs: what goes into your quote.
A moving budget is easier to plan when you know what’s included. The amount you’re moving matters, along with access at each address and any packing or storage you need. We use those details to give you a guaranteed price in writing before you book.
If the move is easier to show than list, we can arrange a free video or in-person survey.
What sets the price
What changes the price of a NYC move
Two apartments with the same bedroom count can need quite different moves. Think about what’s in the closets as well as the main rooms, and include any belongings stored elsewhere. These are the details we use to prepare your quote.
- What is coming with you
- the furniture, box count and larger or specialty pieces tell us more than the number of bedrooms alone.
- The way in and out
- stairs, elevators, long hallways, service entrances and the distance to where a truck can park all change the work at each address.
- The distance between addresses
- a local move and an interstate move have different journeys, and every known stop needs to be included before we price it.
- Packing help
- packing selected rooms or a whole home adds work that should be included from the start. See packing services.
- Storage between dates
- when one lease ends before the next begins, we can arrange storage and quote the pickup and return as part of the job.
- Anything unusual or uncertain
- an awkward piano, a second pickup or access that is hard to describe should be on the page before the price is prepared.
If your next address is in another state, see long-distance moving from NYC for the route and delivery details to discuss alongside the price.
Comparing quotes
Make sure you’re comparing the same move
Before choosing a quote, check what it includes. Does it cover packing the kitchen or just moving boxes you’ve packed? Is the extra pickup listed? If you need storage, does the price include the stay and the return trip, or are those quoted separately?
Give each mover the same information and ask for anything unclear to be put in writing. You can use a free video or in-person survey with Keepsake to walk through the rooms and discuss what you’d like us to handle. Our moving preparation guides cover the next steps once you have chosen your mover.
Guaranteed pricing
How Keepsake’s guaranteed price works
The guaranteed flat price covers the belongings, addresses, access and services agreed in writing. A longer moving day does not add hourly charges.
If you add another stop, change an address or decide to bring more belongings, let us know before moving day. We’ll review the changed work and update the quote with you.
NYC moving cost FAQs
Do you charge by the hour?
No. Keepsake sends a guaranteed flat price for the move you describe. Duration does not change it.
Will stairs change the quote?
Stairs affect the job, so include them for both addresses. Once they are part of the agreed scope, a slow carry or a longer day does not add hourly charges.
What if I do not know how many boxes I will have?
Give your best estimate and say that it is an estimate. Update us before moving day if the final amount is materially different.
Is packing included?
Tell us whether you’d like us to pack selected rooms or the whole home. We’ll include the packing you choose in the quote.
Can storage be included?
Yes. Keepsake can arrange storage and include the pickup and return in the quote.
Is the survey free?
Yes. A video or in-person survey is free and can be arranged when the move is easier to show than describe.
What can change a guaranteed price?
A change to the agreed move can change the price, such as more belongings, different access or another stop. Taking longer than expected does not add hourly charges.
Can I get a price for only a few items?
Yes. List the pieces, both addresses and the access at each one. A small move still gets a written, guaranteed price before you book.
Worth reading before moving day
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