There are a number of common pieces of etiquette that are normal within service-based industries, and one of these is tipping. If you’re hiring moving professionals to assist you with an upcoming move, what is the proper protocol for how to go about tipping them when the job is done?
At Tru Solutions Moving, we’re proud to offer a wide range of both residential and commercial moving services, including long-distance moves and any other need you may have. While no tipping of any kind is required within our services, we do certainly appreciate when clients choose to recognize our hard work by tipping some of our individual employees. If this is your first time hiring professional movers, here are some tips on how people often approach tipping, plus some of the factors that may determine how much (or whether) you end up tipping.
Tipping is Not Required
As we noted above, the standard across the moving industry is that while tips are definitely appreciated, they are not required. Clients often have the option to tip the crew members who help them with their move. Typically, they give this money directly to individuals working on moving day, rather than handing it over at the end of the job as a whole.
Now, there may be some moving companies who actually take a strict no-tipping policy as part of their approach. Such companies will sometimes pay their employees slightly higher base rates than other moving companies, in order to make sure that they don’t fall back on extra income from tips. However, most reputable companies are very happy when clients choose to tip their crew members, as the employees will certainly appreciate this gesture and it may be a great way to encourage employees to work especially hard for you if you have an upcoming move.
Common Tipping Approaches
There are a few formats clients tend to take when it comes to tipping movers:
- Percentage of total costs: For many clients, tipping is simply a percentage of the total cost of their move. This approach can be very convenient if you do want to tip movers but don’t want to think too much about how much that should actually be.
- A flat amount: Clients who are opting for this method will typically choose a set dollar amount they feel comfortable with, and then give that as their tip. This approach can also be convenient, as it makes tipping a very simple process.
- Tipping according to service quality: If you want your movers to work especially hard for you on moving day in order to ensure a smooth experience, this is an excellent way to do so. By personally thanking those who go above and beyond, you’ll likely find that they will be more motivated to do so.
If you decide to go with this third option, like so many clients of moving companies do, which are the factors that should play a role in determining your final tipping amount? Here are a few to keep in mind.
Punctuality
First and foremost, the quality of your movers’ punctuality can be a huge indicator of how hard they’re willing to work for you. If the crew shows up on time and ready to go, this is certainly something worth paying extra for. You may opt to give more money as a tip if you have an especially difficult move that requires careful planning and coordination, as this means movers will work especially hard to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Distance of the Move
For a move that takes place over many miles, you may want to consider giving a slightly higher tip. This is because movers will be working harder physically for longer periods of time on moving day, as well as potentially having logistics concerns related to distance (for example, checking how long it will really take certain amenities to travel between your old and new homes).
Difficulty of the Move
Not all moves are created equal when it comes to difficulty. If you have a particularly difficult home to get in and out of, for example (particularly when it comes to stairs), or if your move involves moving into a multi-level home or business, this will allow your movers to showcase the expertise and hard work that goes into their job.
For instance, you may want to consider giving a slightly larger tip for moves that take place over multiple floors than those that do not. This is because the former will likely be more physically demanding, and therefore require more effort on behalf of your movers.
Friendliness and Demeanor
There’s also nothing wrong with prioritizing a crew with friendly, helpful, and overall good-natured movers. No one wants to deal with grumpy or hostile moving professionals, after all! Such individuals not only make the entire moving day experience much less pleasant for clients, but also need extra energy to perform their best work while they are feeling stressed out.
As such, you may want to consider giving a higher tip to those who are particularly friendly and polite on moving day. This will not only earn you some extra brownie points with your movers, but it could also help them feel more motivated to work hard for you.
Although tipping movers may seem like an intimidating prospect, following these guidelines can help ensure that you’re able to make the most of this money-saving tip. And if you want to make sure that your moving day is as stress-free and enjoyable as possible, hiring experienced professionals who can help you with everything from packing to loading and unloading will certainly be a great place to start!
For more on this, or to learn about any of our professional moving services in SLC or other parts of Utah, speak to our team at Tru Solutions Moving today.
