Bakersfield is a beautiful, affordable place to live with a healthy job market and booming oil and agriculture industries. The famous country music ‘Bakersfield sound’ was born here. Bakersfield has a growing culture and arts scene, making it a great destination for fun and entertainment. Boasting a dry climate, with hot summers and mild winters, you’ll enjoy the hundreds of miles of bike paths and lanes, nearly 60 parks, and nearby national forests all year round.
Moving to Bakersfield is exciting, but any move comes with important things to consider. One question you’ll have is how much will it cost to move to Bakersfield. This article will help you understand everything you need to know about your move so that you can choose the best options for you and your family and stay within your budget.
Factors That Affect Your Moving Costs in Bakersfield
Local Bakersfield moving costs, for moves within 50 to 100 miles, are based on an hourly rate. The total time it takes the moving crew, multiplied by the hourly rate, equals the cost of your relocation.
Below is a list of factors that can affect your movers costs in Bakersfield:
- Size of your move
The more things you want to move to your new home, the more money you’ll pay for their transportation.
- Special items
Specialty items will increase your moving cost. For instance, if you have things such as a piano, a grandfather clock, or antique furniture to move, the time involved in moving these items safely and securely will add to the final cost.
- Move distance
The greater the distance between your old and new locations, the more it will cost.
- Packing
Extra services like packing will cost you extra money. Packing is the most frequent additional moving service, but you can avoid the extra cost by packing most of your things by yourself.
- Packing supplies
Any packing supplies needed, such as boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, are part of the final moving cost.
- Access
The farther away the movers have to park the truck to your old and new locations, the more time they’ll need to load and your belongings, increasing your final cost.
- Stairs/elevators
Carrying items up and down stairs adds time and cost. Elevators can take as long as moving up and down stairs depending on how much time the crew spends waiting for the elevator.
- Furniture assembly/disassembly
Any time the movers have to disassemble and reassemble furniture or other items, it takes time and will affect your cost.
Full Service Movers vs. DIY Moving in Bakersfield
You might consider a DIY move because it’s less expensive to rent a truck. But when you add in all the extra costs such as moving equipment, boxes, tape, packing materials, fuel, and your time and trouble, your DIY move can cost you almost as much as a full-service move.
Here is a list of reasons why a full-service mover might be a better option for your move.
- Do it Yourself Moves don’t necessarily save you money
You’ll save money when you do all the work yourself, but that doesn’t mean it will be cheap. You’ll need to rent a moving truck. A smaller truck is cheaper, but you might have to make more trips. You’ll also have to factor in the cost of truck rental insurance. Don’t forget to add in the cost of gas and moving helpers. The labor is cheap, but offering friends and family food and drinks for their help on the day of the move is something you’ll want to do to thank them. You might even have to hire independent movers for labor only if you need extra help.
- Reduce stress
If you’ve ever moved yourself before, you know how hard and stressful it can be. Professional movers do this every day, and they know how to move fast and efficiently. They’ll plan the move in advance, based on what you have to move, show up at your door on time, and do all the work.
- Save Time
Just planning a move can be time-consuming, but it saves a lot of time in the end. Most people don’t know how to go about planning for their move other than renting a truck and buying boxes. Then they wing it on moving day. Professional movers plan your move ahead of time, so when they show up, they have everything they need. This saves lots of time. Movers know how to pack and load your belongings quickly and efficiently. Instead of wasting a lot of time figuring out what to do on moving day, let the pros do everything for you. You’ll be able to focus on other things like setting up your utilities, forwarding your mail, etc.
- Movers provide expertise & experience
Two key differences between you and a professional mover are experience and expertise. They have lots of it, and you don’t. You’ll save yourself a lot of time, effort, and stress by letting the experts with years of experience do all the work. They’ll come to your door with the right trucks, tools, ramps, and moving equipment ready to go. They have the muscle and knowledge needed to move your heavy furniture and bulky items. Rest assured that they’ll pack your things and transport them properly, efficiently, and safely.
- Protect your furniture and house
A professional mover comes prepared with moving blankets and shrinkwrap to make sure your furniture, doors, floors, counters, and staircases are protected from damage.
- Movers provide packing services
One of the worst parts of moving is packing all your things. It’s time-consuming and tends to be stressful. Nothing is worse than unpacking at your new location only to find you’ve broken or damaged your valuables because you didn’t pack them correctly. A professional mover is trained to pack your belongings right so they arrive safely at your new residence.
- Movers provide quality moving materials, equipment, and specialized trucks
Even the most well-meaning family and friends are much more likely to damage your fragile items and your home while helping you move than a professional mover. The pros have the right equipment and experience, greatly reducing the risk of damage. They bring the highest quality boxes, materials, bubble wrap, wrapping paper, and moving blankets. They have the right equipment to move your valuables, and their trucks are designed to transport all your belonging to your new location safely and securely.
- Safety
Moving heavy and bulky items is a difficult task, and the possibility of you or a friend or family member getting hurt is a real concern. With a professional mover, you don’t have to lift a finger or put friends and family in harm’s way.
- Storage
Professional movers offer short and long-term storage if you need it.
Average Moving Costs in Bakersfield | Bakersfield Moving Estimates
How much does a local move cost in Bakersfield? The average cost of a local move in Bakersfield varies depending on the factors we mentioned above. You can generally expect to be charged an hourly labor rate for local moves, which will vary depending on the number of movers you require.
Mentors Moving will help you decide how many movers you’ll need for your move. Although extra movers will cost more per hour, they can get the job done faster.
Cost of move a Studio Apt in Bakersfield
A move for a studio apartment will vary in cost but will require at least two local movers, and the entire loading, transportation, and unloading will take 3-4 hours.
Cost to Move a 1 Bedroom Apt in Bakersfield
Moving locally from a 1-bedroom apartment will vary in cost. Two movers can generally complete the move in 4-5 hours.
Cost to Move a 2 Bedroom Apt or House in Bakersfield
Moving a 2-bedroom apartment or house will depend on the number of movers needed. A typical job includes three local movers, and it takes about 5-6 hours to complete.
Cost to Move a 3 Bedroom Home in Bakersfield
If you are moving out of a 3-bedroom apartment or house, you can expect to pay for it being a larger undertaking, which includes a local moving crew of four members that will take approximately 8-9 hours to finish.
If you need an accurate estimate for your move, call us today! With a few more details on the size of your apartment or home and any special items you need to be moved, we can come up with a free quote for Bakersfield movers costs. If you’re moving out of the area, out of the state, or across the country, we can give you a binding quote for a long-distance move.
Tips to Make Your Bakersfield Relocation More Affordable
Here is a list of ways you can reduce costs and save money during your move to Bakersfield.
- Get rid of things!
Moving is a good time to get rid of anything you don’t use or need in the future. Whatever you leave behind will help cut the cost of your move.
- Pack and unpack yourself and label boxes
Even if you don’t have time to pack everything, whatever you can pack ahead of time will save you money.
- Disassemble and assemble furniture yourself
If you can, do all the disassembly and reassembly yourself. It will save the mover from doing it and save you money.
- Unplug electronics ahead of time and wrap the cords.
Little things like this can take hours off the moving time.
- Get the approvals you might need from your new HOA, landlords, etc ahead of time.
- Know where all your things are going in your new location before you get there
Instead of wasting time looking through boxes at your new location to find out where they go, label them ahead of time. Know which rooms and against which wall you want your heavy items, so all you have to do is direct the movers.
- Give the moving crew drinks and snacks.
Keep your movers happy, and they’ll show their appreciation by working harder and faster for you.
How To Choose a Bakersfield Moving Company
- Check yelp and google reviews
- Get recommendations from family, friends, and coworkers
- Check how long the company has been in business, how many moves they’ve done, and how many claims they’ve had against them
- Make sure they are licensed and insured
- Check that they use the proper equipment and that their trucks are well-maintained and can handle expensive and fragile items.
- Look for companies with awesome customer service
- Don’t settle for the first estimate you receive. Get one from at least three different companies before you decide on one.
- Keep away from companies that ask for a cash deposit before your move.
- Check the Better Business Bureau rating
Mentors Moving is here to help! With 1200 moves a year, we’re proud of our 5 star rating and countless positive reviews!
Additional Bakersfield Moving Tips
How much should you tip movers in Bakersfield?
Most people tip around $25 per mover or 18-20% of the final moving cost that is split between the crew.
Ultimate Bakersfield Moving Checklist
Click here to get our ultimate Moving to & Living in Bakersfield guide.
Bakersfield Utilities
Check out our Bakersfield utilities guide here.
When you’re ready to start planning your move to Bakersfield, count on Mentors Moving & Storage to help you arrive at your new home safely. Give us a call today at 661-215-6023 for a Bakersfield moving quote today. We’d be glad to help you!!
