We try to put everything in writing up front so there are no surprises on move day. These cover the basics most Birmingham folks ask about before they book. For anything specific to your home or building, just give us a ring.
The short version: one flat written price, our own crew and trucks, fully licensed and insured, and no broker games. The longer answers are below.
Do you charge by the hour or give one set price?
Both are available, and we’ll tell you which makes sense. Local moves can run hourly — $115/hr for a two-mover crew and truck, $155/hr for three — or as a flat band depending on home size: studios $300–$480, one-bedrooms $510–$840, two-bedrooms $880–$1,420, three-bedrooms $1,500–$2,300, and four-bedroom houses $2,100–$3,200. Either way the number is written down before we start, and it doesn’t change unless the job does.
How much do I put down to hold my date?
It’s an $89 deposit to lock a date on the calendar, and it isn’t an extra fee — it comes straight off your final total. You don’t need to pay anything just to get a quote; the deposit only comes up once you’re ready to book a specific day.
What comes standard with the crew and truck?
Furniture pads, dollies, straps, and our hand tools are already on the truck, and the crew disassembles and reassembles beds, tables, and standard furniture as part of the move. You get our own uniformed W-2 movers, a written estimate walked through beforehand, and $0.60/lb released-value coverage on everything we carry. Materials for a full pack are quoted separately, starting at $340.
Can the Earls crew box things up, or do I have to pack myself?
We’ll pack as much or as little as you want. A full pack starts at $340 for materials and labor, and partial packing is popular — a lot of folks have us do the kitchen, the artwork, and anything fragile, then handle the closets themselves. Same crew packs and moves, so nothing gets handed off to a stranger.
If I’m moving out of Alabama, will my stuff share a truck with other people’s?
No. Long-distance moves go on our own dedicated Earls truck with our own crew — your shipment isn’t pooled or consolidated with anyone else’s load. Flat-rate long-distance starts at $1,850 with a binding written quote, so the number you sign is the number you pay.
How is my furniture protected if something gets damaged?
Every move carries $0.60 per pound released-value coverage as the standard, and you can upgrade to full-value protection for more. We also carry up to $1,000,000 in cargo coverage per shipment. In sixteen years damage has been rare, but it’s all spelled out in writing before we touch a box.
Are you properly licensed to move people in Alabama?
Yes. We hold US DOT and MC authority for interstate moves and Alabama Public Service Commission household-goods authority for moves within the state, and we’re bonded and insured. We keep all of it current and we’re glad to show it — a legitimate Birmingham mover should never dodge that question.
Are you a broker, or do you actually do the move yourselves?
We do it ourselves, every job. Earls Moving Company is a real licensed mover with our own five trucks and our own uniformed crew that Earl hires and trains. We are not a broker, a matching service, or a lead aggregator — nobody else shows up in our place. The people who quote your move are the people who move you.
Can you hold my things for a while between homes?
Yes — closings slip and lease gaps happen all the time. We offer climate-controlled short-term storage from $45 a month per vault. Your furniture stays cooled and secured, which matters a lot in a Birmingham summer, and we deliver it to your new place when you’re ready.
Does moving in the Alabama summer heat or up these hills cost extra?
No surcharge for heat or hills — it’s built into how we plan. We start crews early to beat the worst of the afternoon, keep water and shade rotations going, and we know how to work the steep grades off Red Mountain and the switchback drives in Vestavia. The flat price you’re quoted already accounts for it.
My driveway is steep and there are a lot of stairs — can you still do it?
That’s most of Birmingham, so yes. Plenty of homes in Highland Park, Forest Park, and Mountain Brook have no driveway, a steep one, or a long flight of stairs. When the big truck can’t get close, we shuttle with smaller equipment and plan the carry. We’ll note all of it when we write your estimate so nothing surprises anybody on move day.
How early should I get on your calendar?
For a weekday move, a week or two of lead time is usually plenty. Weekends, the end of the month, and the May-through-August stretch fill up fast, so reach out three or four weeks ahead if you can. That said, we keep room for short-notice moves, so call (888) 711-4778 even if it’s soon — we’ll find a way to fit you in if we can.
