Moving is exciting and often overwhelming at the same time. There are so many details to take care of, like packing, cleaning, making the actual move, and trying to figure out how much everything will cost.
Variables—like how far you’re moving, the amount of stuff you have to pack and move, and the way you plan on transporting your household items—can impact your overall moving budget. If you’ve asked yourself “how much does it cost to move?”, this guide can help you decide which style of moving best suits your budget and situation.
Hiring Professional Movers
In general, if you hire a moving company, you’ll end up paying about $1,250 dollars for a move under 100 miles. If you’re planning a long-distance move of over 1,000 miles, then budget about $4,890 dollars for cross-country moves. Those numbers set the foundation for your moving costs; however, you also need to consider several other factors that can quickly raise the base price.
Full-Service Moving Company
The least stressful way to move is to hire a full-service moving company. This kind of service comes into your home and packs your belongings, disassembles the furniture, and loads the truck up. When they get to your new home, they unload the truck, assemble the furniture, and unpack your possessions. In general, expect to pay about $1,000 more for a full-service moving company. It’s up to you to decide if you have the time and energy to pack and unpack your items or if you can afford to have the company take care of everything for you.
Extra Fees Movers May Charge
While having a mover take care of packing and loading up your items, keep in mind that most companies charge extra for several things, including:
- Stairs: If you have a walk-up apartment or several flights of stairs that movers have to climb, expect to pay an additional $50 or more per flight of stairs beyond the first flight.
- Elevator: When moving into a high-rise apartment, the movers often have to wait for the elevator and may charge extra fees depending on their hourly rates.
- Long-carry: Movers charge an extra fee that they calculate based on the weight of the items they need to move your things if the distance is more than 50-75 feet from the truck to the entrance.
- Heavy or large items: Some movers may charge an extra fee for very large items. For example, a pool table can cost you an extra $200 to $600, and a piano can cost an extra $200 to $400.
Pros of Using Professional Movers
Some major benefits of hiring a moving company include that it:
- Saves you valuable time
- Helps take the stress out of renting a truck and driving it to your new location
- Movers have insurance coverage for their truck and your items
- Full-service movers supply all packing material so you don’t have to buy it
- You get a refund if something arrives broken or damaged
Cons of Using Professional Movers
Before hiring a moving company, consider these potential drawbacks:
- Hidden fees
- It will cost you more than if you have to rent a truck or move yourself
- You have to stick to the reserved date and time to move
Things to Consider When Hiring Professional Movers
Before you commit to paying movers to help you, you should:
- Make sure the moving company has the proper licensing and insurance
- Make sure they use their moving inventory for the accountability of your possessions
- Make sure they’re following proper COVID-19 protocols
You should also make sure that you understand the company’s pricing structure. Know these terms:
- Binding estimate: You only pay the stated price without extra fees
- Non-binding estimate: You’re not guaranteed a final cost
- Not-to-exceed estimate: You end up paying either the original estimate or the final cost, whichever one is cheapest
What is the cost if I rent a truck and move myself?
If you decide to rent a moving truck and move yourself, expect to pay about $80 for a local move and estimate $1,520 for long-distance. Keep in mind that you need to add on costs for fuel, insurance, per-mile fees, taxes, and a refundable deposit of about $150. If you’re a no-show for your truck rental, the company will take part or all of your deposit. In addition, if you’re late dropping the truck off, you’ll have to pay a late fee.
Pros of Renting a Moving Truck
Benefits of moving yourself include:
- Saves you moving costs
- You can pack things just the way you like them
- You have some flexibility with your packing and moving schedule
Cons of Renting a Moving Truck
Potential cons of moving yourself instead of hiring someone include:
- Hidden fees
- High fuel costs
- Extra driver fees
- Insurance coverage
- You need good credit to rent the truck
- You have to know how to drive a bigger truck or van
Renting a Moving/Storage Container
Instead of hiring full-service movers or moving everything yourself, you can also consider a moving and storage solution company like PODS. Companies like this offer several options to help you get to your new home. They deliver a container to hold your belongings, which you load, and they can then deliver it to your location where you unpack it immediately, leave the container on-site until you’re ready to unload, or bring it to a secure storage facility until you’re ready to have it delivered. Prices vary for the size of the container, the distance of the move, and which option you choose.
Miscellaneous Things to Consider
Here are a few more tips to keep in mind when you’re budgeting for a move:
- Consider donating extra furniture to a charitable cause; many organizations come to your home and pick up your gently-used furniture for free
- If you have too much stuff, you could make some money during your move by selling it
- Consider hiring a cleaning company so your apartment looks great when you move out to help ensure you get your security deposit back
After considering all your options, it’s time to start looking for your next place. Search thousands of apartments and houses for rent on Zumper and find your new home.
Contenu associé
