How To Determine Your Moving Cost

One of the most important parts of planning for a move is figuring out what it will cost. You’re probably aware of some high prices like insurance, mortgage, property taxes … but the small costs that build up are usually what strike most movers in the end.

When you know general moving costs and your budget, you can then decide what you can afford on packing supplies, moving fees, and other smaller tasks.

It’s hard to give an exact estimate for moving costs because there are so many factors, but here are some prices to provide you with a general idea of moving expenses.

Are You Hiring Movers?

Unless you have companions or family to enlist, you’ll probably have to hire some assistance for the move. You should always properly research a moving company’s reputation and obtain recommendations before hiring them. Try getting a fixed price for the whole engagement instead of an hourly rate to avoid surprises; that way, you’ll know precisely what to expect.

One of the biggest differentiators in moving costs is whether you hire movers or try to do everything by yourself. 

As expected, hiring movers can get costly but is often necessary, especially if you have a lot of heavy furniture. 

The price of hiring movers depends on how far you’re moving, what city and state you live in, and how much stuff you have.

Some moving companies also provide supplies, packing, and wrapping services, all of which are costly. It’s an excellent option if you are short on time, but otherwise, it’s a lot cheaper to pack and prepare everything by yourself.

According to North Dallas Moving and Storage, the average cost of hiring a moving company can vary between $300 and $2,900 for moves under 50 miles, while the hourly charges are between $25 and $50.

What Exactly Are You Moving?

Generally, you can expect a one-bedroom apartment moving under 50 miles to be around $300–$650. On the other end of the spectrum, hiring movers to carry four to five bedrooms’ worth of items over 2,500 miles can land you a bill over $8,500. 

Two key factors in moving costs are the amount of stuff you have and how heavy the boxes are. For example, if you’re carrying a piano or other hefty furniture, you will most certainly need help. But at the same time, it will affect the final cost of your move as well. That is why it’s best to talk about it with the company before hiring them, so you don’t end up surprised when the bill comes.

Besides heavy lifting, carefully managing fragile items like a pool table or a piece of costly artwork will also increase your moving costs.

Do You Need To Buy Packing Supplies?

If you want to save some money (and be easy on the environment, too), there are ways to recycle the supplies you need for your move. 

To wrap delicate and fragile items, you can use towels and bed sheets you already use and pack them in something like laundry hampers or storage cubes. That way, you won’t need to get bubble wrap. Plus, you’ll also save on plastic use — double win!

Cardboard boxes of all sizes are easily found in bigger markets and stores; you may not need to spend money on them. Stores and warehouses are often happy to get rid of them.

If you’re in a big hurry and don’t have any time to spare for DIY supplies, here are some general prices for packing supplies:

• Boxes: $1 for small cartons, up to $14 for large boxes
• Packing Tape: as low as $3/roll
• Bubble Wrap: around $13 for smaller rolls and $25+ for large rolls

How Far Are You Moving?

Is it a local or a long-distance move? Are you going down the street or across the country? Long-carry charges can add a lot to the moving cost.

According to movers in Plano, Tx you will probably get charged more if your home is in an area that is hard to approach by van. In this case, movers will either use a smaller van to approach your home or transfer your items manually to the truck.

The average cost of a local move is around $1,250, while the same action would cost $4,890 if you calculate the 1,000-mile distance.

When Are You Moving?

The time of year you move in can make a big difference in cost.

During the summer months and on weekends, movers usually have more clients, which means rates will go up.

If you can choose, postponing your move to the autumn or winter season and avoiding weekends will save you some money.

Determining Moving Costs

To know for sure how much money you’ll have to spend during your move, it’s best to contact a moving company for a legitimate moving cost quote. That will be the best way to find out how much your move will cost; you won’t end up unprepared once the bill comes.