You have everything figured out for the big day, and a professional relocation crew will come any minute now. But there’s one question you haven’t answered yet: are you supposed to tip movers? Rewarding people for their hard work and making the relocation to your new home hassle-free indeed is something to think about.
You should tip movers if they help you relocate to a new country professionally and stress-free. The size of the bonus should depend on the complexity of the move, weather conditions, and the quality of the service provided. Also, know that it’s OK to skip the rewarding part if the relocation team wasn’t professional.
Are You Supposed to Tip Movers?
Finding the right international moving company surely wasn’t the easiest thing you had to do. From checking and ensuring the relocation crew is legitimate and trustworthy, it can become quite an overwhelming process. But once you do find it, you can be completely relaxed and look for one of the best places to live abroad, completely carefree. When you have all the needed services, like packing service with reliable overseas vehicle shipping, should you actually reward people that made relocating to one of the friendliest countries in the world possible?
Seeing how relocation is one of the most stressful events in people’s lives, you should show appreciation for the assistance. As you might already know, there are plenty of relocation scams out there, with people either trying to take your money or steal your belongings. So, thinking about all that, you definitely should reward the hard-working professionals that put in a lot of energy and effort so you could have one of the best relocation experiences.
Do You Tip Moving Companies or the Crews?
There are many reasons for moving abroad. Some people want better job opportunities, others a better home. However, in any case, there are numerous things to deal with. From finding one of the best cities to live in Europe, preparing the relocation essentials, and gathering all the needed documents, it can become quite easy to omit the tipping part. Don’t worry, it’s completely normal. That’s why you should put it as a task on your to-do list, and it won’t give you headaches.
Once that’s settled, you should know one crucial thing – is tipping a moving company or actual workers the right approach? Although this might seem like not that important thing to consider, when it comes to the paying part, there could be some inconveniences. And in order to talk about them, you should know who’s getting the bonus.
Just put it this way – who is doing all the hard work and actually helping you prevent things from breaking when preparing and packing fragile items? The relocation teams, yes, so do your best to give them any amount you set aside directly. Also, you can make an extra effort and personally provide each mover with the reward for a good and professional job.
In the video below, you can check why we actually leave tips for various services.
Think Long About the Crucial Elements When Deciding How Much Money You’ll Reward the Moving Team
Having all the experienced help that makes your move efficient surely is something you need to appreciate. This is especially true when you’re preparing to live in another country where you’ll probably deal with some challenges, like culture shock or maybe learning a new language (for example, if you’re relocating to Argentina). But how to know what amount is right for your relocation crew? Check the following factors that directly affect your decision:
- The relocation organization – The crew that spends more time organizing all of the tasks and services properly just to make sure everything goes smoothly surely deserves to get a reward and tips.
- Weather conditions – Just being outside in extreme weather conditions is hard, so imagine what it’s like to move other people in the pouring rain, icy and freezing temperatures, or during extreme heat. Give your relocation team credit for it.
- The service quality – Of course, if you’re amazed at how a mover is dedicated, professional, and efficient, you can provide a larger bonus.
Working hours – If there were some unexpected things and you couldn’t pack everything on time and let the packers deal with that, know you’re extending their working hours. So, say thank you and reward them for helping you in need. - The complexity of the move – As you can guess, some moves are more complicated than others. For example, some customers have more bulky items to move and a lot of stairs. So, if you’re one of them, just be grateful for not having to deal with it on your own.
How Much Is the Average Tip for Movers When Moving Over a Very Long Distance?
In the end, how much money you’ll save from your relocation budget for saying thank you to relocators is completely up to you. However, omitting this part of the move surely shouldn’t happen if the job is done at the highest standards. Especially if you’re in a last-minute move or when moving out for the first time.
With this in mind, you should consider a standard tip for movers. Of course, if you’ve never done it before, it’s completely normal not to be aware of these things. In that case, you can check the standard 20% formula. It practically says you should give relocators 20% of the total relocation costs. And if you think about it, it’s a formula for every business out there.
However, an international move can be pretty pricey. In fact, the cost can be from $1,000 to $10,000, and 20% from $10,000 will be a lot of cash. Instead, you can reward each mover with a lower amount per hour. And as already mentioned, everything will depend on your personal experience. However, check when you can reward more and when less:
| Reward more | Reward less |
|---|---|
| When they handle breakables and oversized items professionally | When they are late and don't have the right equipment |
| When they are kind, personable, and professional at the same time | When they work deliberately slow |
| When they are quick and efficient | When they break or mistreat your belongings |
| When they handle overseas car shipping as good as the rest of the services |
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Reward the Relocation Crew
Is it OK not to tip movers? Yes. A mover tipping is considered only if the work is done professionally, on time, and in the best possible way. After all, we all know how moving overseas can be stressful and overwhelming. If a relocation team is not doing everything to make the entire process as smooth as possible, there’s no reason why you should reward them, right? In other words, if you don’t have a good experience when relocating across the world with a certain company, there’s no need to worry about whether tipping is necessary.
However, keep in mind that there are some items movers won’t move. And it’s not because they decided that way, but because there’s a rule every relocation company has to follow. That’s how you can’t entrust pets, plants, hazardous items and materials, and perishable food with your relocators. Instead, you can donate some of them (besides pets, of course) to charity, like Goodwill and other similar organizations.
Besides the Omitted Bonus, Leave an Honest Review as Well
Having a bad experience when relocating to a new home surely is something other people should hear about, especially if an unprofessional mover causes it. After all, it is basically what you have to do and assist others out there who are looking for professional help to move them smoothly to another country. So, don’t wait too long to share your experience online.
When Is the Best Time to Show Your Appreciation?
Do you tip movers when they load or unload? Now that you know all the reasons why relocators should (or should not) get their tips, this could be one of the most important questions you need to answer. However, it is also probably the one most people forget about, so when relocating to a new country, you should wait until the end of the entire relocation day before rewarding the team.
And the reason is quite simple – only after the move can you be sure whether you’re satisfied with the job they’ve done or not. It could be a bit long, but don’t feel uncomfortable. Also, remember that you’ll be dealing with two teams – those who load your belongings and those who unload them. So, prepare tips for both of them.
What Payment Methods Will Professionals Accept for Their Service
Depending on the company you hired, there are different payment methods you can use to show your appreciation. For example, larger companies can already include the reward in your bill. However, smaller companies usually don’t have this option. Considering this, here are the methods you can use:
- Credit Card,
- Check,
- Cash.
There Are Other Ways to Treat a Mover Besides the Cash
Avoiding the relocation stress and enjoying all the benefits of relocation to a new home has a lot to do with the professionals you hired. It’s completely normal if you want to show gratitude for a great job done in other ways than just cash. So, when the relocation day comes, ensure your helpers have refreshments like snacks and beverages. After all, lifting all those heavy boxes and bulky objects is hard enough. And don’t forget to leave a positive review as well. You can even praise dedicated relocators separately and give them extra credit.
Having a Professional Help Should Always Be Rewarded
Tipping movers and packers is the most natural thing to do, especially if they provide extraordinary service. After all, not having to deal with all the hard work an overseas move brings will save you a lot of energy, time, and nerves. So, ensure both sides are content with the utmost experience.
FAQ
Relocation is always a tricky process because you need to think about numerous things at once. That’s why we’ll answer some of the most asked questions when it comes to rewarding your helpers.
Is $20 Enough to Tip Movers?
It’s enough for a short-distance relocation. For international relocations, you should set aside a bit higher amount.
Is $100 a Good Tip for Movers?
This amount could be an acceptable starting amount for a full-day work.
Is 10% a Good Tip for Movers?
The standard formula is 20%, but if you feel like the work isn’t done as you expected, giving the 10% is completely OK.
Do You Tip Movers on Both Ends?
Since you’re relocating overseas, there surely will be two teams of relocators, one at the starting point and one at the end. Considering this, it is possibly better to give them tips separately.
