Getting Organized
The first step in estimating the cost of your move is to figure out how much stuff you possess. A great way to achieve 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 assist you in estimating an approximate total cost for packing, loading, and transporting all your belongings.
Another factor to consider is the distance of your move, as the fee depends on the miles you need to travel. If you’re moving within your city, it may be more economical than if you’re moving to another state or country. Notwithstanding, you’ll need to decide on the best strategy to move your belongings from one home to another, whether those entail taking multiple trips, renting a moving truck, or hiring professional movers to help you.
Hiring Professionals
After estimating how much it will cost to pack and transport your belongings, you will need to decide if it’s good for you to hire professional movers or do the work yourself. Professional movers can be an excellent resource, mainly if you have a lot of furniture or heavy items. These often carry a price tag, though. Be sure to acquire quotes from multiple companies and compare them to the cost of doing it yourself. Ideally, aim to book these services well in advance to lock in the best rates.
Make sure you have included common expenses when collecting your estimates, such as:
- Packing services
- Moving insurance
- Specialty item packaging services (moving pianos, safes, artwork, etc.)
Moving Yourself
If you want to rent a moving truck and do the move yourself, you may be able to save some cash. But there are many factors to think about as well. First of all, the size of the moving truck you’ll want to rent must be your priority. Smaller moving trucks could be cheaper, but you might not be able to fit all your belongings in them. Several rental companies charge by the mile as well as 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
Lastly, you should evaluate a few additional charges associated with moving. Depending on the move, you may need to consider additional charges 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 Caroline County property manager is a good resource for setting up utilities for the home you’re moving into.
By following these guidelines and conducting some research on your own, you should have a solid understanding of how much your move will cost. Although it’s difficult to predict all potential expenses, following this advice should help you avoid any unwanted troubles down the road.
Are you in need of a new Caroline County rental home? The inventory of Real Property Management Regions is continuously updated. Check out our listings online.