3-bedroom cross-country move (2,000+ miles).
$10,000-$18,400 typical cost. $18,400 high end for 3BR cross-country.
The shape of the move.
$10,000-$18,400 typical. Move.org 2024 cited $18,400 high-end for 3BR cross-country. Dedicated truck typical at this size; 14-21 day delivery window with buffer.
What you're actually paying for.
8,000-12,000 lb × $0.15-$0.21/lb = $1,200-$2,520 weight charge. Line-haul + fuel + crew + insurance + specialty-handling fills the band. Full-value insurance at $100,000+ household value = $1,500-$5,000.
What competitors won't tell you upfront.
Specialty items dominate hidden cost: piano ($500-$1,500 cross-country), pool table ($700-$2,000), antique crating ($300-$1,500 per piece), gun safe ($600-$2,500). Insurance non-negotiable at this size + distance. Storage-in-transit common if move dates don't sync precisely.
Anti-pattern detection.
Reasonable: multi-day in-home survey, comprehensive itemised binding quote, full-value insurance default, explicit handling for specialty items. Suspicious: anyone quoting a 3BR cross-country move at under $10,000 without significantly limiting service scope.