Factors That Can Increase Your Moving Cost Estimate

Moving to a new home is a major undertaking, which is why many people opt to hire a moving company. A moving company is a worthy investment, but you do not want to bust your budget with unexpected expenses. Hiring a reputable moving company ensures you will receive an accurate estimate for your moving project.

Several elements add to your moving expenses. Learn about a few of them.

Cost of Packing

When you hire a moving company, you can opt to have them pack your belongings in addition to moving them to the new location. Packing your home will take extra time. If you have a large home with a lot of belongings, the cost of packing will be higher.

Also keep in mind that with any bulky, heavy, or complex items, the moving company may charge additional fees to pack them. Also, consider any specialized packing your items may need. For example, fine art needs careful packing to preserve the integrity of the artwork. Moving a piano needs special attention as well.

Packing materials are also going to be an added expense. Boxes, tape, paper, moving blankets, and anything else necessary to safely pack your belongings will go into your estimate.

Think about what you are willing to pay to have professionals pack your belongings in addition to your move. You can always save some money by packing some of your belongings yourself.

Storage

If your new home is not ready to move and you need a place to keep your belongings temporarily, many moving companies have a storage warehouse. This is a great option and can be cost-prohibitive when you compare the expense of a storage facility. However, a moving company storing your belongings will add to your final estimate.

Difficult Access

If either your current residence or your future home cannot provide adequate access for the moving truck, the moving company may have to make smaller trips to move your belongings. This adds extra manpower, extra fuel costs, and extra rental vehicles to your moving estimate.

Difficult access may include one-lane roads, long and winding driveways, or weak bridges to your home.

Your moving estimate may also increase if the movers have a lot of stairs to traverse or if the distance from the moving truck to the home is considerably long. Be sure to ask your moving company about their policies on any of these matters so you know what to expect.

Season

The cost to move will be more expensive in the busier seasons of the year compared to slower times of year. Spring and summer are typically the busiest time of year to move, as the weather is nice and children are on a break from school.

You will often save money on your move if you schedule during the slower times of the year. This is not always possible, particularly if you move for a new job and need to begin at a certain time. If you have some flexibility, however, you can keep your costs lower by planning your move at a less expensive time of year.

Also adding to a moving estimate are holidays. If your move is on a national holiday, the estimate may be higher, especially if the holiday is one in which employees typically get holiday pay rates.

The time of the month you move can also increase your estimate. If you leased your previous home and want to move out toward the beginning or end of the month, you may incur higher expenses because this is a popular time to move. To save money, try to move in the middle of the month instead.

If you have any questions about your move or would like to know more, please contact us at Superior Economy Moving.