Getting Organized
The first step in estimating the cost of your move is to figure out how much stuff you possess. An effective strategy to do this is to list all the items you plan to take with you on your move, then assign a rough estimate for each item based on size and weight. This will help you create an approximate total cost for packing, loading, and transporting all your valuables.
Since the cost depends on the miles you need to travel, it is advisable to determine the distance of your move. If you’re moving within your city, it may be more inexpensive than if you’re moving to another state or country. However, you’ll need to figure out the most effective approach to move your belongings from one home to another, whether that includes taking multiple trips, renting a moving truck, or hiring professional movers to aid you.
Hiring Professionals
After establishing the expenses to pack and transport your belongings, you should decide if it’s advisable to hire professional movers or do the work yourself. Professional movers can be beneficial, mainly if you have big furniture or heavy stuff. But they commonly require a price tag. Be sure to get quotes from various companies and compare them to the cost of doing it yourself. For preference, attempt to book these services well in advance to lock in the best rates.
As you acquire your estimates, keep in mind to include common expenses, such as:
- Packing services
- Moving insurance
- Specialty item packaging services (moving pianos, safes, artwork, etc.)
Moving Yourself
If you choose to rent a moving truck and do the move yourself, you may be able to save a little cash. Yet there are also a variety of factors to consider. First of all, you’ll need to think about the size of the moving truck you’ll want to rent. Smaller moving trucks may be low-priced, but you might not be able to fit all your belongings in them. Several rental companies charge by the mile and by the day, so make sure your cost estimate includes both!
Other costs to account for in your DIY moving budget include:
- Gas, tolls, and parking fees
- Moving insurance
- Additional moving equipment rental (ramps and dolly)
- Packing materials (boxes, tape, covers, etc.)
Other Costs
At last, there are some other charges associated with moving that you should remember. Depending on the move, you may need to prepare for additional costs such as temporary lodging, meals, storage costs, and expenses related to moving out and moving in (cleaning costs, security deposit, and utility set-up deposits, for example). Your new Santa Clara property manager is a great resource to ask about setting up utilities for the home you’re moving into.
By complying with these recommendations and undertaking some research on your own, you should have a clear grasp of how much your move will cost. Even though it is not easy to predict all potential expenses, following this advice should help you avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road.
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