Calculating Costs: What Moving Expenses to Plan For

There’s no question – moving to a new home can be stressful.

There are seemingly countless things to accomplish, from hiring movers to selling your home, packing up all of your belongings, making travel arrangements, and preparing your family for the big day. On top of all that, there’s the stress that moving costs can create. Moving costs will vary depending on a lot of factors, including where you live, what time of year you’re moving, how far you’re going, and how much stuff you have. Still, hopefully you’ll find helpful the following list of expenses you’ll need to plan and get estimates for:

• Supplies. Everyone who is moving needs to set aside money for moving supplies, including boxes, tape, packing paper, newsprint, and more. Regarding the boxes, you’ll need a variety: from generic small, medium, and large to mattress, dish pack, wardrobe, and other specialty boxes, as well as custom crates for artwork or pictures. If you have friends and family willing to loan you supplies, you may be able to avoid this cost.
  
  
• Movers. Most people should plan on hiring a moving company to assist with moving day. Moving companies charge a variety of prices depending on what services you select. With everything from packing, loading, and transporting to car transit, shuttle services, assembly/disassembly, and more, moving costs related to hiring a moving company can vary.
  
  
• Service transfer fees. Some utility companies and Internet/TV/phone companies charge extra fees for transferring your service to another location. Check with your company in advance so you can calculate this cost into your total if it does exist.
  
  
• Travel expenses. It doesn’t matter whether you’re traveling to your new home via plane or car – you’ll likely incur moving costs en route to your new home. Anticipate hotel, gas, and food costs when driving, and the cost of plane tickets and snacks/food when flying – plus the cost of a taxi or shuttle to get from the airport to your new home.
  
  
• Fixing-up fees. When you arrive at your new home, you’ll inevitably want to make it your own. This could mean anything from knocking out a wall so you can expand your bedroom, to painting each room a new color. Some homes may need a little extra TLC before they’re move-in ready. Know what absolutely needs to be done before moving in and include these expenses in your budget.

Moving costs can get expensive, but knowing what to expect in advance can help decrease the sting of surprise. Understanding moving costs can also help you get creative and find ways to save. For more information on moving costs and how to get the best bang for your buck, contact North American Van Lines today. We’ve been helping customers save on safe, happy moves for more than 80 years.