Tipping The Movers – Yes or No?

If you’re using a moving company for the first time, then you probably have a lot of questions. For example, while you’ve likely done your research and carefully selected your packing and moving company, you may not have considered the final costs of properly paying high-quality local movers. So, your moving day is fast approaching and you have everything planned out. Local movers have packed your life neatly into boxes and suitcases, they have wrapped up your furniture, and now comes the final, and probably the most awkward part: How much do you tip local movers? The only rule when it comes to tipping your movers is that there is absolutely no pressure to do it. But you hired them for a reason: moving takes a lot of hard work and heavy lifting that you would rather not do yourself. Tipping is a simple way to say thanks for a job well done. So, while tipping is never required, sometimes you might want to show a little extra appreciation to your local movers. Here’s how to determine When and How much do you tip local movers. So, what should we consider when deciding how much to tip movers? Obviously, you should feel that you have received good moving and packing service, but other considerations might influence how much to tip local movers. We will try to list some of the most important ones.

The complexity of your move

How big was your home and the contents, how far did you have to go, how many movers and packers did it take, how many stairs/levels are in your home, how much bulky, heavy, or awkward furniture do you have, how many days did the whole move start to finish take? Have your movers done what is necessary to avoid property damage? If the answers to these questions meant that the move was particularly challenging, plan to tip at the higher end of the range.

Quality of service

Have your packers and movers arrived on time? Were they considerate? Did they handle your items with care, making sure to wrap fragile items? Have your hired professional movers worked hard from start to finish, or have they tried, on numerous occasions, to deliberately extend the time they need to finish the job through frequent cigarette or bathroom breaks, or by using other dishonest and disrespectful time-wasting tricks? This is especially true for local moves where you get charged by the hour. Have your packers and movers treated your possessions with care and attention? Have your hired local movers been nice, friendly, and sociable, or maybe rude, cold, and disrespectful? Have your movers acted in a professional way from the moment they have stepped inside your home? Have they wowed you with their customer service and professionalism You can tell a lot about the quality of the service you’re paying for by merely observing from a distance how your moving crew goes about handling your household items? If you’re very happy with the quality of your move, demonstrate that with a generous tip to professional movers.

Final moving cost

Did you pay for packing services in addition to moving services? Did all of your possessions fit into one truck or was an extra one needed? These expenses are calculated into your final moving cost and should be factored into how much do you tip local movers, which should be a percentage of the total bill from the moving company. Remember that tipping professional movers is not mandatory of course. It may be customary and polite, but if you have a bad experience, there’s nothing wrong with not tipping. Providing a tip to your local movers is a reward for a job well done. If you aren’t satisfied with the services that were provided, you might pay a smaller tip or eliminate the tip completely. Here are a few reasons you may decide to skip tipping the professional movers:

• If your professional movers have shown up late
• Ding your brand new bedroom walls with your headboard
• Put the boxes labeled “upstairs bedroom” in the downstairs living room
• Spend a lot of time “on the break” and not much time moving your stuff

• Some possessions suffered breakage or damage
• The movers showed up outside the scheduled time with no warning or explanation
• The team uses time-wasting tactics when you’re paying by the hour (like multiple breaks and early meals)
• The movers were rude or disrespectful
• The movers left items behind

If you have experienced some of these cases, then, of course, you don’t need to tip local movers. Keep in mind that they are already paid for that job, so it’s not up to you to pay them more than you have to if you are not satisfied with their service.

How much do you tip local movers?

Second most important question. How much do you tip local movers? Well, there is no hard-and-fast rule to tipping professional movers but if you’re going to tip, we would definitely advise you to give each mover a separate tip. After relocation is complete, stuff the cash tip for each mover into a separate envelope, and pass them out individually. Avoid paying a lump sum to the main mover to be divided up. Tipping each mover individually will ensure that your money gets to its intended recipient immediately upon completion of the work. Also, while it is customary to tip each mover the same amount, you can give a higher gratuity to anyone who performs superior service. Deciding how much to tip movers is important, and you should figure it into your total moving costs. As a guideline, most people will tip their professional movers 5-20%. For example: if your move costs $1,200, you could give the crew any amount starting at $60. If you have three local movers, that works out to $20 each. The difference between 5% and 20% is a pretty big range, you will agree. Most people aren’t in the financial position to offer movers with the largest tip on the scale just because they’re feeling generous. Still, your professional movers took good care of your possessions, and you want to give them a proper reward. Consider these factors when deciding how much to tip movers:

• The difficulty of your move– If you have long, narrow flights of stairs to navigate, a lot of heavy furniture, or steep hills outdoors, your movers are forced to work harder and should be paid accordingly.
• Other benefits you provided during the day– If you treated the local movers to an expensive lunch to show your appreciation, they might not be expecting you to hand over a tip as well.
• Services that exceeded your expectations: If your local movers helped you finish packing simply because you were running behind or stayed around late to ensure your family heirlooms were properly placed in your new residence, then a larger tip will show your appreciation. Also, it will encourage them to continue that kind of exemplary service for the next customer.
• Quality of service: If you think that professional movers did a mediocre job, you shouldn’t have to pay a handsome tip.

Like you see, there are a variety of suggestions about whether movers should be tipped based on the number of hours worked, a percentage of the total bill, a maximum amount, or the absolute minimum you can get away with. Your decision about the way you pay will depend on your circumstances. A decision to pay movers 10% of the total might work perfectly if you only work with one team of professional movers for a few hours. But the total cost you pay to the moving company typically depends on how many hours they spend inside the truck. A simple way to evaluate how much to tip movers is a scale based on how long the move takes. This method suggests $10 per person is acceptable for a half-day (4 hours) and $20 for a full-day (8 hours). If your movers are working from daylight to dark or spending an extravagant amount of time carefully packing fragile items, you can expect to pay up to $40 per person.

Other ways to show appreciation

n addition to tipping your professional movers, you can show your movers that you appreciate their service in other ways. It’s almost guaranteed that your local movers are going to work up a sweat, so cold refreshments are a nice gesture. If your move is starting early in the morning, offer your movers coffee and bananas to fuel them up for the day ahead. If your move runs over their lunch or dinner break, you could provide a simple meal like pizza or sandwiches. But, be careful when it comes to offering “pizza and beer” to your professional moving crew. Many companies have strict policies about employees consuming alcohol when they are working. You don’t want to get a worker in trouble for accepting your hospitality. Another way to be kind to your local movers is to point out which bathroom they can use as soon as they arrive, Post says, adding that it can be awkward for professional movers to be in a stranger’s home and have to ask to use the bathroom. Sounds strange, but it is also very important. You could also offer some of the old furniture that you might not want to take to your new home. We suggest asking the foreman or move supervisor if anyone would like the furniture. Often one of the professional movers will take it for themselves, or they can donate it or trash it for you. Finally, the best way to show appreciation is to simply thank each and every person who helped you with your move. Never underestimate the power of your words, your smile, and sincere thanks. We also encourage people to report a job well done, naming specific people who took extra care in helping to make their move go smoothly, to the supervisor or moving company. Complimenting a worker to their employer is one the best ways to reward a mover for a job well done. As professional movers, we must say that this valuable service often goes without the appreciation it truly deserves. The way you treat your local movers is a way to show your appreciation for how they treat you, your family, and your possessions. A professional moving team saves you from a considerable amount of stress and time. Additionally, these workers face difficult jobs and risk of injury every single day. Your home, or even office, has valuable possessions — and even some items you could never replace. Your local movers provide your possessions with the care you may not be able to provide on your own. Knowing how much to tip movers can go a long way in making sure the whole experience is low-stress and enjoyable for everyone. So, when planning or budgeting a move to a new home, don’t forget to consider the additional cost of tipping. And if you are still unsure about exactly who and how much do you tip local movers, you can always ask professional movers helping you on moving day. Local movers, like other service industry workers, rely not only on their base salary but also on tips and gratuity, which motivates many employees to work even harder and do better at their job. We are aware tipping is one of those awkward things that no one really knows to handle. But don’t stress out over it! If you choose to give them something — whether it’s cash, a beverage, kind words, or a smile — they will always be grateful. No matter what tips and benefits you can provide for your moving team, be sure to provide each worker with a sincere thank you for a job well done. We hoped we helped you even a little bit when it comes to deciding How much do you tip local movers. If you need a local moving company in Santa Monica– Santa Monica Movers is the right choice for you. Get your free moving quote and see why are we the best local movers out there!