It’s your moving day, and undoubtedly, shifting to a new place is all about brewing excitement and hopes. But moving homes also come with a lot of work. As you prepare your moving checklist, you might be tempted to get your own moving boxes and rent a van for moving. But if you want to comfortably relocate to a new place, you should always hire a professional moving company for the job as a rule of thumb. From packing all your stuff neatly to labeling your moving boxes, professional movers like Atlanta Home Movers can get you hands-on support for your move. 

From lifting all the heavy entertainment units to moving your fragile appliances unscathed, your movers have done everything perfectly. They have done a great job, but you are struggling to calculate how much to tip them so that their efforts are acknowledged without you having to burn a hole in your pocket. Understanding certain things are necessary to show your appreciation with the appropriate tip amount for your movers.

 How Much Do I Tip My Movers? 

Tipping is a standard expectation in restaurants and hair salons. Since people often eat outside their homes or have their hair cut professionally, they typically have a general guideline for tipping in these instances, such as handing out 15 to 20 percent of the whole price. But moving homes isn’t a regular phenomenon for most individuals when compared to ordering food or getting a new hairdo. You may not know whether or how much to tip your movers since it is a very rare event.

As gratuities are not required throughout the moving process, it is up to you to choose the appropriate amount. You have the option of tipping your movers a flat charge or a percentage of the overall moving expense. As a typical rule of thumb, you can tip $4 to $5 per hour. You can also go for 5% to 10% of the entire cost of the relocation. For instance, if you expect to spend $1,000 on your relocation, you may tip between $50 and $100 and distribute it equally among the crew assisting you.

 Is Tipping Your Movers Really Necessary? 

Instead of asking the question, “How much do you tip movers?” you can even ask, “Do we have to tip the movers at all?” Before moving day, confirm with your professional moving company if it takes tips. If their policy prohibits gratuities, try expressing appreciation by providing food or non-alcoholic drinks to the moving team. This is especially appreciated if the move happens on an extremely hot or cold day or the movers had to skip their meals. Tipping becomes optional if gratuity is already included in the moving bill. This is a method used by several long-distance moving firms. Lastly, tipping is unnecessary if the relocation service was severely delayed, your belongings or documents were damaged or broken, or you got otherwise subpar service.

Factors That Need To Be Considered While Tipping Movers: 

  • How well-prepared you are before their arrival- Your movers will be extremely appreciative if all your boxes are simply categorized and labeled for them. If you have unlabeled boxes and the movers take the time to coordinate with you and place them in the correct places, you should consider tipping them a little more. 
  • Weather conditions- Who likes to move homes when it’s really hot, it’s pouring, or the terrain is icy? You may wish to consider tipping your movers if they perform well under these difficult weather conditions. 
  • Packing your belongings- Some moving firms provide packing services in addition to their standard relocation services. Remember to tip the movers, but don’t forget the packers who are ensuring your delicate items are transferred bubble-wrapped. 
  • Duration of work- Moving a three-bedroom home may take between seven and ten hours on average. Sometimes your relocation might take longer than originally predicted. If the delays in the transfer are due to delayed movement, you are not required to tip. However, if they are working hard and putting in extra hours, a gratuity may be very welcomed. 
  • Moving upstairs or downstairs- Moving a sectional sofa to a gaming area on the second floor involves considerable strength and dexterity. If your movers are making many trips up and down stairs, they are saving you hours of time that you would have spent moving stuff yourself. Especially if your new place does not have an elevator.

Efficient, professional movers, like any other service providers, might expect a certain tip at the end of the day for their service. While the standard for service industry tipping is 15% or more, the formula for tipping professional movers is not clear cut, and oftentimes homeowners might struggle and wonder how much to tip a mover. Tipping your mover company might also add extra cost to your moving budget, and hence planning for it beforehand can help you to budget correctly.

By Manali