So you’ve secured a new place to live. You’ve put the money down for the down payment and paid for the realtor. There couldn’t possibly be any more expenses, right? Unfortunately, the act of moving itself is going to cost you a bit at best.
In the following article, we will explain some of the factors that affect the price of moving and what you could be looking at moving cost wise for your move.
DIY Move Vs. Hiring a Company
The first and most important factor to consider is whether or not you want to handle the move on your own or hire a professional moving company to deal with the work.
DIY moves can be cheaper, but they can also be time-consuming and taxing. If you can get the time off from work to do so or do not have a lot of heavy items to move to your new home then a DIY move may be the way to go.
With DIY moves you may only need to shell out around $40-$50 for materials like boxes, tape, packing peanuts, etc. But if you need to rent a truck you can expect to pay around $50 per day for the rental.
However:
If you don’t have the time, don’t have the ability or simply have a lot to move, hiring a moving company may be the better choice. Professional movers also have the expertise on how to properly pack items so you can minimize the damage to your belongings.
Let’s say that you are just moving a studio apartment. If you hire a company they will typically send a couple of men who can handle the move in a few hours and it will cost on average $150-$400. But if you are moving a 3 bedroom house then you are looking at a crew of 3-5 men and with a typical price ranging from $600-$2000.
Distance Matters
The other factor that will determine moving cost is how far you are moving. If you are staying relatively local (one or two hundred miles away) you can expect to pay between $200 and $300 for a one-way moving truck rental.
The price increases drastically if you are moving greater distances (500 to 1,000 miles) to about $2,000 to $4,000 for the truck rental.
Moving companies will also typically charge more if:
- You are moving to a less populous area
- If the total weight of your move is quite high
Moving companies handling long-distance moves charge by weight so if you have a lot of furniture or other heavy belongings, expect to pay more.
Other Factors to Consider for your Move
Other factors that will affect the price of your move include whether or not you will need special packing for antiquities or large items such as pianos. If you are expecting an overseas move your items will typically be packed on a boat in portable storage containers. The moving of these containers could cost anywhere from $900 to $4,500.
Whether you are moving to a new neighborhood or moving cross-country, it is expensive. While there's no way to get around this fact, we hope that this article has helped you go into your move more prepared and ready to tackle what comes next. It’s time to begin this new chapter of your life.
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