Are you considering moving houses? One of the things you can’t get around is the cost of moving and storage. There are several things that determine how much it will cost to move houses. This includes the distances, how much property you have, time, and who you hire. On average, local moves will cost about $1,250 with a reputable moving company with packing services. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the cost of moving. Keep reading for more information about much does moving a house cost.
The Whole Picture
Deciding the best way to move depends on two things—preference and price. For instance, whether you hire movers or do it yourself depends largely on the number of moving responsibilities you are willing to take on yourself. Do you want to purchase boxes, hire moving trucks, personally load the truck, and drive it on your own? Or maybe you prefer to sip on a glass of cool lemonade while a team of movies carefully packs and transports everything for you? Your choice also depends on how much free time you have and the amount of effort you are willing to exert during your move. Regardless of what you want, your budget is often the most significant determining factor when it comes to how you move. If you are willing to spend a bit of money but you still feel like you can do some of the things on your own, then you can go for a hybrid of DYI and full service.
Full Service Costs
When figuring out how much does moving a house cost, you will come across full-service movers. There are about three categories of full-service moves. These are local, which is below 100 miles, long-distance(more than 100 miles, and international. The cost of hiring a full-service mover depends on the size of your home and the number of additional services you require. If you are moving from a small apartment, then you will obviously part with less money. On the other hand, a larger home move will require a larger budget as well. The things you will generally pay for include the packing service, moving service, and moving coverage. Although full-service movers will cost more, they do so much more than just pack your belongings and leave them at your new home. They save you a lot of time and effort that you can dedicate to more productive tasks. As such, most movers find full-service movers to be worth the cost.
Most Pods and Costs
There is another option apart from DIY and full-service movers. It’s in the middle when it comes come how much moving a house cost. You can go for a moving container rental. These are often called moving pods because of the business that made them popular. Moving pods are usually less expensive than full-service movers. While there are fewer variables that come into play when it comes to determining the cost of your moving pod, the final cost will still fluctuate depending on the size of your move. If you have lots of belongings, then you may need more than one container. The cost is also determined by how long you will need the container and the distance you are traveling. Most moving container companies include cost calculators on their websites. When you rent a moving container, you will generally have to load your belongings on your own. However, you can still relax when it comes to driving. You will find that if you are willing to do some work, a moving container is generally a cheaper option. It’s way cheaper than full-service movers and offers a higher level of convenience compared to truck rentals.
Moving Trucks
If you are planning a DIY move, then you will probably have to rent a moving truck. These are generally readily available, inexpensive, and easy to book. Despite these benefits, you can end up with extra costs that can make renting a truck more expensive than you would have anticipated. Also, you need to note that truck rentals are time and labor-intensive. However, if your goal is to save money, then renting a truck is a great way to keep costs low.
Factors That Affect the Cost of a Move
Every home and its belongings are different. As such, there is no single approach that will accurately determine how much it costs to move. There are lots of things that determine how much it will cost for you to move. For instance, are you getting help from a moving company, or are you doing things on your own? You also need to consider the distance and the number of goods being moved.
Local vs. Long Distance
As you may imagine, moving round the block is the cheapest. You don’t have to travel long distances, and you may not even need to pack carefully. However, changing cities can be quite expensive. You need to ensure that everything is packed carefully. How much does moving a house cost if the distance is less than 100 miles? You are likely to pay around $1,250. If you are moving further than 100 miles, then you will need to hire a moving company. They have the necessary equipment, and they know how to ensure that you good arrive safely at your destination. A long-distance move will cost you somewhere around $4,890.
Size of the Move
Studio apartments usually have goods that are less than what you typically find in a four-bedroomed house. When you are searching for a moving company, the ones you approach will almost always ask for the number of rooms. This enables them to estimate the type of items they will have to move. Garages and attics tend to be packed with lots of boxes, while family rooms have large bulky pieces of furniture and delicate television sets. Bedrooms carry heavy furniture. All these factors will be taken into consideration when calculating the cost of your move.
Type and Size of Moving Vehicle
Whether you are moving on your own or hiring a moving company, you will need a vehicle to transport your goods. There are several types of moving trucks, and each can accommodate a particular amount of goods. For instance, 26-foot trucks can usually fit around four bedrooms worth of belongings. If you have a small apartment with few items, then you may get away with a small trailer. For larger homes, a 52-foot semi-truck may do the trick. However, once the truck gets to this size, you will need to approach a licensed moving company.
Moving Time
If you are moving locally, then chances are you will be charged about $25 to $50 per hour. Since you won’t be traveling long distances, it won’t take long to move. On the other hand, a long-distance move requires a lot of time. This means you will end up paying more to compensate the driver for their time. Most moving companies charge more if you decide to move on weekends. Demand for moving trucks is higher during weekends because most people will be free.
Labor
The majority of local movers usually charge a flat-rate feel if you are moving a certain number of rooms. However, that fee will change depending on a number of factors. For instance, if your items are generally heavier than average, you will be charged more. This means the company has to bring extra movers. You will also be charged more if you have a lot of fragile items. Another factor that can affect how much you get charged is whether or not stairs are involved. If you have to take things up and down the stairs without an elevator, then your costs will increase.
How to Save Money When Moving
You will likely part with a considerable amount of money when you move. If you invested in custom home building, or maybe you hired residential home sales to help you buy a house, then you would have already parted with a lot of money building/purchasing, hiring a real estate attorney and a real estate agent. Therefore, it makes sense to save as much money as possible on your move. To minimize the cost of moving, you can even ask a realtor for some tips. Here are some ways to ensure that moving costs don’t get out of control:
Pack Your Belongings on Your Own
This is the most obvious way of saving money when moving. It might be a great idea to let a full-service company do the packing for you, but they charge a lot for that. Some charge as much as $7000 to pack your belongings. If you have a large house, then you can get some of your friends and family members to help you pack instead of hiring packers. This will help you knock a significant amount of money from the moving costs. You can leave the extra delicate items for the movers if you are not sure about packing them on your own.
Dispose, Recycle, Donate
As mentioned before, one of the factors that determine how much it will cost you to move is how many items you are moving. It, therefore, makes sense to reduce the number of things you want to move if the goal is to reduce the cost of moving. In general, the less you have, the lower the moving costs. To determine what to let go of, review all the items you have to see what you really need and what you can live without. All old and broken items will just use up your cargo space for nothing. As such, it would be a good idea to get rid of them. If you have lots of other functional items that you are not willing to carry with you, then you can either donate them or hold a garage sale. This will also help you make a little money. The perfect time to set up a garage sale is a week or two before your moving date.
Get Free Boxes
Instead of buying boxes for packing, another easy way to save some money is to collect a lot of free boxes. There are lots of places to find free boxes. You can ask your local stores or your workplace if they have any free boxes lying around somewhere. However, you need to remember to buy specialized boxes for your fine china and stemware. This is the one cost that’s always worth it. Apart from boxes, you can also check online for discounted moving supplies like bubble wrap, tape, and packing paper. Another great idea is to find uses for the items you already have. For instance, you can use towels to wrap dishes.
Choose Your Moving Time Wisely
The time you move will affect how much money you part with. For instance, if you move in the middle of the week, then you will likely pay less. Movers tend to charge more on weekends because almost everyone wants to move when they are not at work. If you can, try to move in the middle of the week. No one does this, so you are likely to have more movers helping you. You must generally avoid moving on holidays. Since no one wants to work on holidays, movers charge a premium for providing their services over a holiday.
Get Multiple Quotes
It’s never a good idea to go with the first local moving company you approach. You need to reach out to several moving companies or truck rentals to see what the general trend is when it comes to cost. Having multiple costs at your disposal enables you to compare and choose the best one for your budget. However, cost shouldn’t be the only determining factor. Go through the contracts of different moving companies and make sure there are no hidden fees or surprises. You should also consider whether it’s better to go for a fixed rate or an hourly contract.
How much does moving a house cost? The cost of moving depends on several things. The most determining factors are the distance and size of the move. Fortunately, some of the tips above can help you reduce the cost of moving. You need to know when to move, and you should also take time to look for the most reasonable quotes. Just keep in mind that it may not be a great idea to go for the cheapest moving business. When hiring movers, consider other things like experience, types of trucks, and reputation. This can help you ensure that you not only pay less but your items arrive in one piece.
