1-bedroom regional move (100-400 miles).
$1,500-$3,500 typical cost. Flat-rate or per-pound.
The shape of the move.
Pricing shifts from hourly to flat-rate or per-pound at 100+ miles. $1,500-$3,500 typical, 2-3 mover crew, 1-day move depending on distance. Common scenario: job relocation within state or to adjacent state (Texas → Oklahoma; NYC → Boston).
What you're actually paying for.
Flat-rate quote replaces hourly. Per-pound rates ($0.40-$0.70/lb) for distances under 400 miles. Mover line-haul + fuel surcharge becomes meaningful. Packing materials often included in flat-rate; mover-supplied at the higher end of the band.
What competitors won't tell you upfront.
Per-pound estimates can swing materially after the truck weighs in — surveys are estimates, not binding. Storage-in-transit if origin/destination don't sync ($100-$300/mo). Shuttle fees if destination access is restricted ($200-$500). Full-value insurance becomes a real consideration (1-3% of declared value).
Anti-pattern detection.
Reasonable: binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate (preferred over non-binding for regional moves), in-home survey, written delivery window. Suspicious: non-binding estimate at very low price (110% rule risk), no in-home survey for a 300-mile move, refusal to write a delivery window.