Changing your place of residence hits hard because it’s mostly the result of some life circumstances, whether by your will or not. In any case, if you plan to move soon, you must approach detailed planning and good organization to go through it with as little stress and problems as possible.
If you’re only going a few blocks away, it is possible to do the move yourself or with the help of friends. But for longer distances, you will likely need the help of a professional mover who carry out removals on a daily basis. Hiring them is often a much better option than taking on all the work yourself, especially when moving to another city or interstate.
In any case, moving house carries certain costs. These depend on many factors, such as the location, how many things you have, and which removalists’ services you need. Even if you don’t plan to call in professionals, you should know how much the move will cost. That’s critical information to plan the budget on time and spare yourself additional stress.
How to Estimate the Cost of Your Move
For starters, whether you’re moving to a nearby location or interstate makes a big difference in moving costs. In the first case, the calculation will be simple, as you don’t always have to hire movers. If you still need their help, the number and size of your belongings will have the most influence on the final cost.
If you move long-distance, there are many factors to consider that can affect the final price of your relocation. However, in most cases, the final cost will mostly depend on the location and accessibility. But the amount of stuff you move isn’t negligible either, as moving the content of a small apartment or a three-room house requires different transportation means and number of movers.
How Much Stuff You Have
When you contact removalists to get a quote, you should be as detailed as possible about your belongings. It makes a big difference whether you are only moving clothes, bed linen, and small appliances, and movers should handle bulky furniture and appliances. If you make a mistake here, it can easily happen that the initial cost estimate and the price you will actually pay differ significantly. That’s not a very pleasant surprise.
By moving some of your stuff yourself or with the help of a friend, you can achieve certain savings. However, there are situations when you shouldn’t skimp. What if you accidentally damage costly appliances or a valuable piece of art?
That damage can cost you much more than if you had hired professionals who know how to transport delicate and valuable items with the utmost attention. Plus, they have proper insurance to cover all damage they make.
If you handle packing yourself, here are some handy tips to know:
https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/moving/moving-packing-tips
Pick-up and Drop-Off Location and Accessibility
Movers charge hourly rates for jobs they perform locally. But when it comes to long-distance relocations, there are additional costs for fuel, tolls, overnight stays, etc. In any case, these should be clearly stated in your cost estimate.
As for the location accessibility, many things affect the final cost of the move. For example, the price won’t be the same if removalists can get to your apartment and carry your belongings using elevator and when they must use stairs.
Also, the distance from the access point to the entrance to your house makes a significant difference. In general, the more hassle for movers to pick up, load, and unload your stuff, the costlier your moving will be.
Removalist Prices
The initial quote you might get from movers refers only to the transportation of your belongings from one location to another and depends on the distance, location accessibility, and stuff they move. Removalists charge their services per hour, and you pay that rate for every person you hire.
The removal rate will also be affected by the period of your moving because the rates for peak season and busier days are generally higher. Also, the final price is influenced by numerous other services that movers can offer. So it’s important to have everything written in a cost estimate and be familiar with all costs before the move.
Depending on the services you need and the selected removalist, hiring movers will cost you from $35 to $150 per hour per person. These rates are also affected by the location. Moving companies in larger cities like New York City (charge more than removalists in Mount Vernon (about $80).
So, for example, if transporting things from a small apartment to a nearby location would take 2 hours and requires two movers, it will cost about $600. And moving your 3-bedroom house using four movers in Mount Vernon will cost you about $300 per hour, or about $2,000 for eight hours of work.
Additional Services
Movers charge many services additionally, such as packing things, disassembling and assembling bulkier furniture, or moving tricky and valuable items. Thus, movers usually charge a few hundred dollars for packing and all packing materials they use. But you can save on moving costs by buying your own packaging supplies and packing most of your stuff.
Moving a piano, for example, will cost you an additional $100 to $200, as much as it takes to move some larger appliances. Some movers will charge you for heavy lifting, which is an extra $200. These services are usually worth a cost, as professionals will do all the hard work for you.
Insurance costs a few hundred dollars, and it’s highly desirable to insure yourself this way. Prices will vary whether you’re moving interstate or locally. Reputable movers offer insurance at discounted prices, but make sure you know what this policy covers before you sign anything.
Moving can be a significant blow to your budget. However, if you know the costs ahead, there will be no unpleasant surprises. You can even save money by doing some removal tasks yourself, but it’s still best to leave this job to professionals.
