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Best Moving Companies in Iowa City

moving companies iowa city couple receiving the keys to their new house

You need to find moving companies in Iowa City, and Move Honcho is here to help. We are a service that provides rate quotes from up to 3 accredited movers in your area based on your specific needs.

There are many reasons for moving, and many types of moves. It can be exciting, stressful, or a little bit of both. You may be moving a few houses down, or all the way to the coast. You may be moving for a loved one, a new career, a lifestyle change, or simply a change of scenery. Regardless of your specific needs, Move Honcho will match you with the right experts at the right budget.

If you are looking to maximize your move to or from the home of the Iowa Hawkeyes, tell us a bit about your move to get started.

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Give us some information about your move so we can find the right experts for you.

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Iowa City Moving FAQ

1. What are the cheapest ways to move?

You have several options for moving. Based on your budget and time frame, you will want to determine the most effective choice. Here are some options, in order from cheapest to most expensive:

Do it yourself (est. cost – free) – If you have some able-bodied friends and a pickup truck, you can in fact move for nothing more than the cost of gas.
Rent a truck/trailer (est. cost – $20-$100 + gas) – This is a popular option for people on a budget. This includes the added benefit of more cargo space so you can fit everything in one trip.
Hire moving help (est. cost – $200-$2,000) – Moving help, or “labor only” help is when you are simply hiring manpower. They do not provide the truck or the driving. For this reason, they are typically cheaper than full service moving companies.
Rent a moving container (est. cost – $300 – $3,000) – With a moving container, you load and unload, and the container company provides the container and transports it.
Hire a full service moving company: (est. cost – $300 – $6,000) – A full service moving company will do everything from packing to unpacking. Based on your budget and the scope of your move, the increased price tag can certainly be worth it for peace of mind and time savings.

*the low end of the range represents the best estimate for a 1 bedroom in-town move, while the high end estimates a 5 bedroom cross country move.

2. What do movers do?

Packing – You can pack yourself or have your moving company do it for you. They typically charge a set amount per type of box (i.e. $5 per book box, $10 per medium box, etc.)
Loading – They will load the equipment onto their own truck or your truck rental, depending on the scope of service you hired.
Storage: Most movers will offer storage if you need it. Either in their own warehouse or with a third party partner.
Assembly/Disassembly – Even if some of your larger items will fit through the doorway as one piece, moving companies will often times disassemble it to allow safe transportation and space efficiency.
Transportation – If they provided the truck, they will also transport that vehicle to your new home.
Unloading – Taking your beginnings off their truck and bringing it into your new home.
Unpacking – While less common of a service, moving companies will also unpack your boxes upon request.

3. How can I keep costs down?

If you hire movers, a little bit of preparation can be the difference between a $500 bill and a $1,000 bill. Since movers typically charge by the hour and by weight, do these two things:

Make the move go faster – Clear pathways, pack everything yourself, be available to direct traffic, move your car out of the driveway, hire a sitter, and disassemble/reassemble yourself.
Get rid of stuff – Simply put, the less stuff you have to move, the cheaper your bill will be. A good rule is if it hasn’t been used in over a year, you should consider selling, donating, or scrapping it. If you wish to donate, check out this article with Iowa City donation spots. Want to make some cash? You can also sell your items to Stuff Etc.

4. What is the best way to prepare?

If you plan ahead, stay organized, and box up as many items as possible it will help ensure a smooth move. Here’s a quick pre-move checklist:

USPS address change
Utilities and cable switch
Declutter
Book the moving company
Start packing

5. What kind of pricing can I expect?

This will vary based on move size and distance, but here are some estimates.

Estimated rates to move from Iowa City

1 bdr. house

~50 miles: $400 – $650

~250 miles: $750 – $1,800

~1,000 miles: $800 – $2,600

2,500 miles+: $1,100 – $3,200

2-3 bdr. house

~50 miles: $700 – $1,300

~250 miles: $1,550 – $3,450

~1,000 miles: $2,000 – $6,500

2,500 miles+: $3,500 – $6,000

4-5 bdr. house

~50 miles: $1,300 – $2,900

~250 miles: $1,700 – $4,300

~1,000 miles: $4,500 – $7,500

2,500 miles+: $7,000+

6. Are moving quotes binding?

An official moving quote must be in writing and specify whether it is binding or not. In most cases, quotes are non binding since the rate can vary.

7. How do I find the right moving company?

Hiring a good moving company is important. We suggest reviewing their online reviews and getting multiple price estimates. You can also ask for suggestions from local friends. Or, you can save yourself time and stress by booking through Move Honcho.

8. What happens if my items are damaged?

Before signing the paperwork at the end of your move, be sure to inspect your items. If something is damaged, notate it on the paperwork. You then want to call your moving company to get a claim submitted.

9. Do you tip movers?

Tips, while appreciated, are not as heavily expected in moving as they are in other service industries. If you do decide to tip, $20 per mover per day of work is a good amount.

10. Is it worth it to hire movers?

If you are moving 1 or 2 bedrooms in town and are strapped for cash, then maybe you can get away with moving yourself. However, many times the benefits of hiring movers will far outweigh the price, especially for multi-bedroom and long distance moves.

Learn more on our article: Whether to Hire Movers or Do It Yourself

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Iowa City Information

Whether you are moving to or from Iowa City, here’s some brief info to consider.

Overview

Iowa City is located in eastern Iowa and is known for being home to the University of Iowa, its large student population, its contribution to literature, and as being the home of one of the top hospitals in the country.

Population

Iowa City has a population of 76,290 as of 2020, making it the fifth most populous state in Iowa. The population varies greatly throughout the year with the influx of students.

Economy

Iowa City is one of the fastest growing cities in Iowa over the last 5 years due to economic development and a healthy economy. Their unemployment rate is 1.2%, far less than the US average of 3.9%, led by education, manufacturing, and health services.

Attractions

University of Iowa
Kinnick Stadium
The Englert Theater
Old Capitol Museum
Devonian Fossil Gorge

About Us

Move Honcho provides free moving estimates, rate comparison, and moving tips from a network of top rated moving companies from coast to coast. Our mission is to simplify your move by taking the heavy lifting out of your search process.