Wikimedia Commons | Photo Credit |David Wright
It is time to move, whether that means to a new apartment or a single family home, this means you’ll probably need a moving company. The first thing you need to know is which type of moving company is best for your move. There are long distance movers, local movers, full service movers, less than truck load companies, pods and rental trucks.
Below are different moving options and the expected moving costs for each. Read more and make an informed choice without surprises!
Full Service Movers
Someone who needs to move an entire house full of furniture and boxes and who will fill a large moving truck will need a full service moving truck. This type of mover will handle all of the heavy lifting and loading as well. In terms of money, this is the most expensive option there is – but if you have the money this is also the least stressful and physically demanding choice.
The average cost to move with this option (long distance) is $10,000. It will vary depending on how far the truck needs to travel – it will go up if you are moving further and down if you are moving less.
If you are moving locally (under 100 miles) with a full service mover than you will pay an hourly rate of around $150 to $170 per hour with 4 movers. Again this will change depending on the mover and the mileage.
You should also look at the cost of adding insurance for your move, it’s worth it! You may have insurance with your homeowner’s policy, and you can purchase more before the move, not after. This could run from the low hundreds to several thousand depending on the size of the move and the distance too. Ask the full-service movers about Insurance options and get estimates.
Rent a Truck and/or Do it Yourself (DIY)
This is a very popular way to move – people feel as if they are saving money by moving themselves and using their own labor; typically friends and family are your “free labor.” While it can be a money-saver, it doesn’t always work out that way in real dollars and sense. There are a lot of things to consider when moving yourself as it relates to cost.
• Truck rental – Truck rental depends on the size of the truck, the company and the distance you plan to travel. For example, a 15’ U-Haul truck (holds up to 2 bedrooms) traveling from west coast to east coast will cost roughly $2825 and a 26’ truck (holds 4+ bedrooms) from west to east coast costs about $4100.
• Insurance – When you rent a truck we highly recommend you purchase insurance which is approximately $150.
• Fuel Expense – Fuel is not included with a truck rental and obviously not paid for you by anyone else. Most truck rentals average between 7 and 10 miles per gallon based on the size of the truck. If you are moving 1500 miles away then you are looking at an average of 200 gallons of fuel at approximately $3 per gallon. You can use a Fuel Cost Calculator to also estimate your fuel costs – See AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator for more.
• Hotel Expenses – When moving across country, you will spend at least one night in a hotel with an average cost of $100 or more, depending on the hotel you choose.
• Local Movers Expense – If you do not have friends and family to help move the furniture and boxes, you will need to hire men to help. These types of movers average cost is $90 per hour for 3 men.
• Meals/Food – You have to eat! For each of the people involved, there has to be a reasonable budget to feed yourself and your fellow movers. This should include food for the day(s) that you are loading up the truck (moving day), meals for the trip itself (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks), and you’re going to need to eat when you arrive too. If you budget $40-50 per person/per day for highway eats (nothing fancy) you can base your costs from that.
• Emergency Cash – Just because you’re doing it yourself (Going DIY) doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen along the way. You would be smart to have some “Emergency Cash” for unexpected costs during the trip itself. Have a tire blowout? Broken Belt? Getting stuck in mud? Don’t laugh – it happens! Local help may or may not take credit cards in the middle of the night; you need to be prepared to fork over some quick cash in the event of ________.
Half and Half
This means you pack and the movers drive. There are two choices with this option – (1) using a moving container or portable storage unit and (2) door to door moving trailer.
Moving containers from a place like U Haul (for a studio/apartment) cost about $2300. Or you can rent 10 boxes for a very large home for $12000. You are required to pack them and the movers will come to pick it up when it is ready. These are very helpful when you want to pack slowly, not all in one day.
Making a Smart Decision – What Makes Sense For You?
Whatever way you choose to move, you need to take a realistic look at your budget and take stock in your own strengths and weaknesses.
Just because there are options based on pricing, what are your actual capabilities? Can you lift and move boxes? Do you have able-bodied help to move furniture? Do you have the time to load everything in one day? These are some of the key factors to take a look at when planning your next move. Figure out your budget and make a good decision.
If you need any help, please call Transit Systems at 1-800-626-1257 or visit www.TransitSystems.com – We’re here to help you move or ship furniture nationwide.
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