Services of professional moving companies are one of the most sought after in most countries. Relocating from your old apartment or office to a new one involves careful planning and thorough estimates.
After stacking your boxes neatly and marking items to be moved, the next step is to hunt for reliable moving services to help you lift heavy or delicate items as a team and transport those items with ease at an affordable price.
While making your estimate, you may be indecisive as regards including a tip in your budget or not. Tipping movers depend on customer satisfaction and the complexities involved in moving items.
Is It Necessary to Tip Movers?
Tipping movers is not considered mandatory, so the simple answer is no. Some moving companies prohibit their workers from receiving tips, so you should endeavor to get clarifications on their tipping policies. In cases where you are relocating to a place far away from your old location, the company might add something called “gratuity” to the billing list, which is a form of tipping.
Even though tipping movers does not come with an obligation, it is essential to consider how difficult it is to get individuals to move delicate and heavy items for you. It would be best to consider the risks and the hours they will spend transporting your properties safely. These movers will see tips given as an act of kindness no matter the amount of the tip.
Why Should You Tip Movers?
The job of movers is tasking and requires excellent stamina due to lifting or hauling heavy items. They also must be creative and intellectually make decisions when handling delicate and expensive items. These service providers are known to show dedication to their job even under unfavorable weather conditions.
Movers save time and energy and give you the privilege of relocating to your new apartment or office without stress. A good way of showing these hard workers appreciation is to offer them a nice tip, either in cash or kind. Doing this will encourage them to do their duties with more vigor and commitment.
What Conditions Must Movers Fulfill to Earn a Tip?
To ensure that your tipping strategy is worth it, movers hired must carry out their duties to your satisfaction and without making you feel regretful. The recommended conditions are:
1. Attitude
One cannot underestimate the power of attitude. Take time to observe the manner of approach of your movers, and decide whether you find it pleasing or irritating. Pleasant movers use the proper form of speech, are respectable, and deserve an extra tip.
You might disregard impatient or rude movers, which is understandable because you might feel wrong about the service rendered.
2. Speed and diligence
This quality is impressive, and movers who possess this attribute should be entitled to an extra tip if the client can afford it. It would be best if you also noted those who go the extra mile by showing mastery in assembling and arranging essential items such as furniture and kitchen appliances.
It would help if you also considered movers who show intelligence when handling delicate, heavy, or expensive items. These categories of movers ensure that you lose any valuable item during the moving process.
3. Punctuality
Lateness can lead to poor quality moving service, probable loss of items, and distortion of essential items. Movers who are punctual, and plan the moving process on time while ensuring that you are carried along, should be given a good tip.
Lateness can lead to poor quality moving service, probable loss of items, and distortion of essential items. Movers who are punctual, and plan the moving process on time while ensuring that you are carried along, should be given a good tip.
What Are The Different Ways to Tip Movers?
Tipping movers can be done in a convenient way other than cash gifts and will not require you to break the bank. If you’re happy with the results of the moving process, you can offer them refreshments during their break.
These refreshments include a cup of hot coffee, especially during winter, a cup of cold water in summer, well-prepared snacks, dessert or food, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Should You Tip Movers as a Group or Individually?
Try to avoid tipping movers as a group or giving a tip to the head of the team for allocation. Instead, give each crew member a separate tip, and discreetly insert your cash tip in an envelope.
Allocating tips discreetly and Individually will eliminate the possibility of a subtle conflict among the crew members and promote peaceful coexistence and excellent teamwork. Also, ensure to express your gratitude while handing them their tips verbally.
How Much Should You Tip Movers Based on Work Hours?
A well-known tipping rule by Forbes suggests that you tip each crew member 5$–10$ per hour of work. You can also adopt the strategy of tipping the moving crew 15%–20% of the total cost of the moving service, ensuring that you divide the final result among each group member.
For a two to four-hour work, it is recommended that you tip each mover a token of 10$ to 40$. Movers who work for a full day, roughly eight to twelve hours, due to the long distance or quantity of items that need moving, should be given a tip of 100$ to 150$ per person to make up for the time spent on the job.
If your moving bill is, say, 1000$, you can take 20% of the bill and split it among members of the moving crew either equally or based on the extent to which each mover impresses you.
How Much to Tip Movers For a Short-distance Move?
A short distance move should last about two to four hours. You should allocate tips fairly at 20% of the moving bill per head, or 5$ to 6$ per hour. If you find the job done very impressive, you can go beyond the usual tipping rule.
How Much to Tip Movers For a Long-distance Move?
Long distance moves are usually interstate and cross country and last between eight to twelve hours. When deciding on tips, do not attempt to reward these movers with a percentage-based tip.
For each crew member, you can use the standard tipping principle of $5 per hour. You can also go beyond the usual tipping rule if you can afford it.
Is It Okay Not to Tip Movers?
It is okay if you cannot afford to tip movers because it is not compulsory or legally binding on you. Plus, the moving process requires a lot of money. You might also discard the idea of tipping if the service rendered was poor, which is justifiable.
However, the act of tipping is well appreciated by movers who render excellent service. Tipping does not necessarily have to be in cash. You can show verbal appreciation, offer refreshments, and make movers comfortable enough to use your restroom.
