Are you moving to a new home or apartment? You might be excited or stressed to the max about everything that needs to be done. From signing contracts to packing your belongings, to finding the right moving company, there’s a pretty long to-do list when you’re switching homes.
When budgeting, you may want to allocate room for a professional moving service that can shoulder some of the more frustrating tasks. Although it might sound simpler to pack up and move everything yourself, doing so is incredibly time-consuming. In an already hectic time, it might be worth the cost to take packing off your list of moving chores. But how much should you budget for when you’re moving?
1 How to make a moving budget
When looking into moving costs, you need to consider what you plan to have movers take care of. For example, you might need the belongings in your home packed up. If that’s the case, it’s a pretty direct cost. Or, you might want a full-service move that involves movers packing everything up, loading it up, then unloading it all.
You also might want to factor in the cost of moving your vehicle. For example, if you’re moving long-distance, you might want to invest in car transport services that will deliver your car to your new home.
2 How much do movers cost?
There are two types of moving services: basic and full-service.
Basic moving services load up your belongings. You’ll do the packing, then let the movers do the rest. A full-service moving service will pack up your belongings, load them up, and unload them at your new home.
What’s the average cost of a local move?
The cost of movers will depend first on what level of service you want and second on how far you’re moving. A local move will cost significantly less than a long-distance move.
When paying for a local move, you’re paying an hourly rate per mover, and your rate will increase based on the size of your home. The average cost of a local move ranges from about $550-$2,000. Packages of this nature will, typically, include charges of an average of $60 per hour per mover, plus a charge for the service itself.
What’s the average cost of a long-distance move?
A long-distance move is anything over 50 miles from your current residence. Due to the length of time, your movers will spend in a truck and the cost of fuel, a long-distance move will cost quite a bit more than a local move.
National averages suggest $60-$80 per hour for labor only, plus $90-$120 per hour for the truck and services. Combined, you’re looking at about $1,200 for a studio apartment, $6,000-$7,000 for a 3-bedroom home, and upwards of $11,000 for a 5-bedroom house.
3 How much does it cost to transport a car?
There are a few methods of transporting a car, some of which cost significantly more than others. Each will make it easy to get your car to your new home without driving it yourself.
You can choose to have your car towed to your new home, which is the least expensive and generally works best if you’re moving nearby. Or, if you have a truck that’s capable of towing, you can hitch your car to that and tow it yourself.
The other option is to hire a car transport service to load your car onto a truck and drive it to your new home. This method is ideal if you’re moving further away because most standard tow companies won’t tow long-distance.
Generally, these car shipping companies charge anywhere between $0.40 and $2.00 per mile to ship your car. The prices usually drop as the mileage increases, but the cost also depends on your vehicle time, urgency, and the current price of gasoline.
4 How much does it cost to rent a portable storage container?
Another option for moving your belongings is to rent a portable storage container. The storage company will deliver the container to your home, and you can fill it up with all of your belongings. Once it’s ready to go, you’ll have it shipped to your new home.
As with movers, you’ll pay different rates for local and long-distance transportation of your container. Rates will also increase based on the size of your home and how many times you’ll need to move the container. For example, a local move with a portable storage container will cost roughly $400-$700. An interstate or long-distance move will run you approximately $900-$4,500.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, your moving budget will depend entirely on your needs. If you want the most straightforward move possible, hiring a moving company or a car transport service will make the entire process much more smooth. Just be sure to consider everything you need and budget accordingly to avoid unexpected bills as you settle into your new home.
