Understanding the Total Costs of Moving
If you are preparing to move, you need to consider many factors when evaluating the total cost. You will need to take into account the total financial investment prior to making your decisions. Plus, the decision-making involves your investment in time, physical health, and emotional state. Without understanding the costs, your relocation could cost you more than you expected.
Estimate the Financial Costs of Your Move
A DIY move may save you on labor expenses. Still, you will have other costs like materials. Here are some of the most common financial expenses that you may incur.
1. Packing Materials
You may want to skimp by saving your old newspapers, but having proper supplies will help prevent damage to your irreplaceable items. Sturdy boxes, dollies, packing paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and straps will help secure your items for transportation. Ask your local moving agent which materials they sell or supply before buying your own materials. This will help you make a more accurate estimate.
2. Professional Packing
It can be a real problem to discover on moving day that you don’t have enough materials or helping hands to relocate efficiently. You might want to consider professional packers even if you want to do the heavy lifting and transportation yourself.
In addition, consider using professional packers if you have valuables that you don’t want to risk packing and loading on your own. This could be antiques, large furniture, electronics, artwork, and more. Consider the potential damage and breakage when calculating the cost of a DIY move.
Professional movers will have the right packing materials and enough of them. Proper packing demands professional materials including special boxes, wrapping paper, furniture padding, and tape. If you underestimate your needs, you end up making multiple trips to the store to buy more materials.
Can you drive a large moving van? Even a moderately-sized home may need a truck with 1,600 cubic feet of storage space. This can be a particularly difficult task if you need to navigate narrow urban streets and alleyways.
Lastly, take into account the time you will invest in the move. Your time is money to you especially if you take off work to do a DIY move. If you do choose a DIY move, set aside at least 2 days to pack, load, deliver, and unload.
3. Professional Movers
The help you choose can mean added stress and headaches or a relocation that goes without a hitch. Friends and family are attractive options if you wish to take on the risk. But, professional movers can help the process go as smoothly as possible.
4. Transportation
When planning your move, the mode of transportation is the most variable. The expenses associated with containers, trucks, and trailers depend on the scale of your needs. You need to consider the distance, volume, complexity, and timing of your move prior to signing any contracts or renting equipment.
5. Travel and Hotels
Even if you are moving cross-town rather than cross country, you may need to invest in lodging. If your new home is not ready before your move, you may need a hotel for a few nights. In addition to potential lodging and airfare, incremental purchases like food, fuel, and convenience items can add up unexpectedly, especially when you are doing most of the packing and moving.
6. Distance
Typically, the longer the distance of the move, the more cost-efficient hiring professional movers proves to be. There are a variety of factors that play into this:
Mileage, fuel, and insurance costs add up. Truck rentals may require that you pay these fees on top of the base price. This can end up being rather significant considering that some moving trucks only get between 6 -15 mpg. The one-way rental price may include additional fees. The price you pay may include fees to cover the cost of inventory maintenance and truck relocation when you return your moving truck to a location in a different city. Longer trips are a greater risk. You may be able to pack like a pro, but can you drive like one? The longer you are on the road, the more you’ll face opportunities for damage and accidents. When you rent, these risks are placed squarely on you. Unexpected delays add to rental costs. Just when you think everything is going according to plan – something always tends to happen, right? If you fall victim to Murphy’s Law during a move, delays could cost you extra in rental fees.
7. Incidentals
Any move involves incidentals. Even with the most meticulous planning, you may run low on supplies. Plan on a few extra dollars in your wallet as cash for those incidentals. It’s best to assume that human error will cause some additional expenses.
8. Opportunity Costs
It may be missed work or the time it takes to research, coordinate, pack, and transport your household goods. It may be a wise investment to have professional help so you don’t miss too much work. This includes using your vacation time for your relocation. They have a cost.
Before you commit to a DIY move, contact Alliance Relocation Services to see how we can actually help you save money and time. Give us a call today at 877-242-0409.