Bekins Full-Service Mover Review
Overview
If you take away anything from this review, it’s that you should go get a free online moving quote from Bekins. We’re telling you, this kind of service is rare. Usually, you have to talk with pushy salespeople over the phone (gag) to get a moving quote, and who really wants to do that? (Nobody—that’s who.)
Bekins doesn’t necessarily have the best prices in the land, but at least you can get a ballpark estimate to compare with other moving services. But if you can work a few discounts to your favor, you can get away with a cheaper moving price.
What to know about Bekins
Bekins is like the meat and potatoes of the moving industry. It doesn’t offer anything particularly exciting, like free temporary storage, but it does hook you up with the essentials. So if your move is going to be simple, Bekins could make for a natural fit.
Let’s channel our inner Letterman and list the top reasons you’d go with Bekins moving:
- Super easy online quotes
- Straight-up discounts
- Cheap moving supply rentals
- Long and reliable business history
That’s right, Bekins has been moving people since the days of the Wild West! (And Bekins will always avoid bandits and outlaws on the road.)
If any of that stuff jumps out at you as being particularly awesome, it’s worth checking out a free quote online. But let’s give you an even clearer picture of what to expect with Bekins moving.
What you get with Bekins
Now let’s parse out what you get included with your Bekins quote and what stuff you’ll need to spring for if you want it. We would’ve loved to see some included storage coverage here, but alas.
| Service | Included | Costs extra |
| Loading and unloading | Yes | Cost included in price |
| Packing and unpacking | Add-on | Yes |
| Moving supplies | Yes | Cost included in price |
| Shipment tracking | Yes | Cost included in price |
| Car and specialty item transport | Add-on | Yes |
| Storage | Add-on | Yes |
| Basic liability coverage | Yes | Cost included in price |
| Full valuation coverage | Add-on | Yes |
| Get quote | Get quote |
Pricing
I know we’ve mentioned it about a million times, but it’s really surprisingly easy to get an online quote with Bekins. Speaking from experience with other moving companies (like Purple Heart), it’s really nice to get an online quote without talking to anybody.
We went through the online quote process and here’s what we got for a move from Chicago to Dallas:
| Move facts | Estimate |
| Distance of move | 950 miles |
| Date of move | December 2019 |
| Move size | 4-bedroom house |
| Price without packing and unpacking | $5,232–$6,405 |
| Price with packing and unpacking | $7,365–$9,147 |
We warned you it wasn’t going to be the cheapest moving deals you’ve ever seen, but it’s not the most expensive either. What matters is that you’re getting a straight-up answer that you can compare with other full-service moving companies.
You’ll notice that all the prices are in ranges. You won’t know exactly how much everything costs until the move is over, so we’d recommend assuming the worst. Plan on the end cost being closer to the maximum estimation than the minimum so you won’t be bamboozled.
Sadly, if you want an online quote, you’ll have to wait until two months before your move. Since you’ll probably need to plan a move more than a few months in advance, you’ll want to call them instead. Don’t be afraid—you’re better on the phone than you realize.
You can get your online quote now, or you can schedule an in-home estimation.
Auto moving and storage
Want to find out how much it would cost you move your car, or store your stuff for the awkward in-between moving phase? Unfortunately, you can’t find out that stuff online. You’ll need to call Bekins and add on the extra services to your move.
Keep in mind that Bekins doesn’t specialize in moving or storage, but they can hook you up with third-party companies.
Here are some estimates of how much the extra services will set you back:
- Auto transportation: $500–$1,000 (depending upon distance)
- Storage: $100–$200 a month
Partial-packing options
For those of you looking to cut some corners and find some in-between pricing options, Bekins offers partial-packing options. Partial packing means you can pack some of the easier items and then Bekins can worry about throwing out their backs with your grand piano.
With our estimate, the price dropped by nearly $1,000 when we selected the partial-packing option instead of the full-packing option. If you don’t mind packing up the easy stuff like books and kitchenware, you can save some serious coin.
Speaking of pianos, Bekins has all the supplies and know-how to take care of your pianos, pool tables, and artwork. If you have lots of specialty items, Bekins is one of the more trustworthy moving services that won’t ruin your stuff.
Cheap moving supplies
Anybody who has recently moved knows that boxes are a killer. No, we’re not talking about paper cuts (even though those are dangerous): we’re talking price. Moving supplies definitely add up, and thankfully, Bekins offers stuff for pretty cheap.
Many Bekins agents can hook you up with a discount for boxes and moving supplies. You don’t even need to use their moving services to get the deal.
Recap—Decent straight-up pricing (especially with discounts)
If you’re knee-deep in research, Bekins’ online quotes will make your life easier. You can put another quote in your spreadsheet and compare it with all your other options. Moving researchers of the world, rejoice!
Our advice would be to use Bekins moving only if you can take advantage of a discount. Without the discounts, you can probably find better deals out there.
Thinking about going with a different moving service, we have reviews on the best long distance movers, local moving companies, and even moving container reviews. We’ve got you covered!