Long Distance Movers

What Is the Price of Hiring a Long-Distance Moving Company?

The moving industry has become a competitive market where transparency in cost is crucial. Finding a moving company that provides precise quotes without hidden fees can save customers from unexpected expenses. According to our research, the cost of a long-distance move from Portland, Oregon, can range from $1,000 to $17,000 on average, depending on distance, amount of items, and weight of items, among other factors.

Due to this wide range, getting a quote based on your specific moving needs is essential whether you are moving across the country or just across state lines. Getting at least three different quotes or estimates from three different companies is highly recommended to find the best moving company for you.

At O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage, we pride ourselves on providing clear and accurate quotes. With O’Neill, there are no hidden fees, no last-minute surprises – just honest, straightforward pricing that reflects our commitment to integrity. With our free, no-obligation moving quotes and over 100 years of experience in the Portland area, we’ve earned the trust of countless satisfied customers. To request a moving quote with O’Neill, fill out our online quote form or call us at (503) 747-3630 today.

What Services Does a Long Distance Move Include, and What Services Cost Extra?

In general, long-distance moves include loading and unloading, furniture disassembly and reassembly, and transportation. However, extra services like packing and estate cleanouts usually come at an additional cost.

O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage includes these regular services in all long-distance moves and offers additional services tailored to your needs. We offer packing services, where we come to your house a few days before your move at an agreed-upon time to pack your items. We also provide a variety of specialty moves, including senior moves, estate cleanouts, piano moves, antiques moves, gun safe moves, and emergency moves. Our certified professional movers ensure an efficient and smooth moving experience.

How Do the Movers Protect My Items? Do Moving Companies Offer Packing and Unpacking Services?

Protecting your belongings during a move requires professional handling, proper equipment, and keen attention to detail. Professional moving companies use padded moving vans and trucks, moving blankets, and dollies to protect belongings during transport. If you choose to use packing services, moving companies usually use paper pads, bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and corner pads for TVs and mirrors.

In addition to using padding moving vehicles, moving blankets, and dollies, our trained long-distance movers take extra care in loading and unloading, ensuring your valuables are handled carefully. O’Neill Transfer also offers packing and unpacking services at an additional cost, where our professional packers will come a few days in advance to pack as many or as few items as you’d like. Our partial and full-service packing services come with top-quality packing supplies included. Check out our Packing Services page to learn more about our offerings.

What is Moving Valuation, and How Am I Covered for Lost or Damaged Items?

In the moving industry, moving companies call insurance ‘moving valuation.’ The two common types of moving valuation are:

• Limited Liability Coverage: According to federal law, moving companies must offer this basic level of valuation at no additional cost. The company must compensate you at least 60 cents per pound for each item lost or damaged during the move.
• Full Value Protection: Since limited liability coverage is not enough for all customers, many moving companies offer full value protection at an additional cost. When you purchase full-value protection, the moving company will repair, replace, or refund the fair market value of each item lost or damaged during the move.

O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage offers both limited liability coverage and full-value protection. This way, you have the flexibility to choose the coverage that suits you best. For more information on our moving valuation policies and procedures, please check out our Moving Valuation page.

How Long Do Long-Distance Moves Usually Take? How Do Moving Companies Determine the Delivery Date?

Long-distance moves can vary widely in duration. On average, long-distance moves typically range from three to 14 days, though some long-distance moves take up to three weeks. Factors influencing the timeframe include:

• Size of Your Home or Office: The larger the space, the longer it takes to move everything out. This is why, if the move is within 500 miles, studio and one-bedroom apartments typically only take one to three days long.
• Distance of the Move: Long-distance moves are often referred to as interstate or cross-country moves because long-distance moves are defined as moves that cross state lines. A cross-country move, say from Portland to New York City, will take much longer than a move from Portland to Seattle based purely on the time it takes to travel between locations.
• Number of Items to be Moved: The more items that need to be moved, the longer it takes to move, load, and unload them, which increases the moving timeline. In some cases, larger offices and homes with more items need multiple trucks to transport everything to their new location.
• Weight and Size of Items to be Moved: Heavier and bulkier items are more challenging to move, which makes them take longer to move. Specifically, furniture items take longer to move due to the disassembly and reassembly required to transport them safely. Many moving companies also price the move based on weight, so the heavier the items, the more the move usually costs. Moving companies often weigh the truck after it is loaded and subtract the original weight of the truck to calculate the weight of your items.

At O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage, we leverage our vast experience to provide accurate delivery dates. When you move with us, you will have an estimated delivery date before officially deciding on us as your moving company. Our efficient planning and execution ensure your move finishes on time, without unnecessary delays.

Are Moving Crews Trained and Experienced, and How Do Moving They Handle Fragile and Valuable Items?

Reliable moving companies have background-checked, experienced teams professionally trained to handle all types of moves. Some moving companies do hire seasonal workers during the busy season in the summer months. Reliable moving companies only hire experienced workers that pass a background check, whether they are seasonal or not.

O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage offers specific training to handle fragile items like antiques and gun safes. Our meticulous training ensures that valuable items are handled with the utmost care. Our moving crew exclusively consists of experienced permanent employees, some of whom have been with O’Neill for multiple decades.

Part of our hiring process includes passing a background check. This ensures that your belongings are in safe hands with O’Neill’s moving crew. To learn more about our team and company, check out our About Us page.

What Should I Do If My Items Are Damaged or Lost During the Move?

Generally, filling out a valuation claim form and contacting the moving company is the process for resolving disputes. We also recommend surveying your items once delivered to your new home before signing the Bill of Lading with the team leader. This way, you can discover lost or damaged items and immediately inform your moving crew.

O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage ensures a smooth dispute resolution process with clear guidelines and responsive support, giving you peace of mind. Wheaton World Wide Moving, our van line, usually handles all of the long-distance valuation claims. To learn more about Wheaton’s valuation programs, check out their Full Valuation Protection page. We are happy to partner with Wheaton to come to a fair resolution with you as soon as possible if anything happens to your belongings. For more information, you can contact us by calling (503) 747-3630 or filling out this online form.

Are There Any Restrictions or Rules Long-Distance Moving Companies Have to Follow?

Federal law mandates companies to have a USDOT license to execute long-distance moves. Many companies operate under van lines, like Wheaton World Wide Moving and partner with hundreds of interstate agents under the van line to make your long-distance move efficient and stress-free. Moving companies that are interstate agents of a van line can operate under the van line’s USDOT number.

Long-distance moving companies should all have their USDOT numbers listed on their website. You can check to see if the moving company you are looking for has a USDOT license by using the Federal Movers Database Lookup created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA also has a moving checklist to help you find a reliable long-distance mover.

O’Neill Transfer and Storage is fully licensed and insured. As an Interstate Agent of Wheaton World Wide Van Lines, we operate under Wheaton’s USDOT (70719). We also have our personal USDOT license number (103317), a motor carrier license (MC 87113), and a state license (ODOT 251555). O’Neill carries general liability insurance and worker’s comp for everyone’s safety. At O’Neill Transfer Moving & Storage, we adhere to all legal requirements to operate under the highest industry compliance and quality standards.