Moving can be a stressful experience for many different reasons. Depending on how far you’re moving, the logistics alone can strain your finances. The more substantial items you have, the more quickly these expenses add up. A budget can help you plan and prepare, but only if all aspects of the move are considered. Here are some of the most essential expenses to include in your moving budget.
1. Moving Company
Hiring a moving company will prevent you from having to move large items yourself, but these services come at a cost. The company’s main fee will include labor and fuel charges. Calling around for quotes will give you a better idea of what to expect. Regardless of which company you intend to use, your budget should revolve around the highest quote.
If you need help preparing appliances for the move, this will cost extra. Accessories, flights, long hauls, and expedited service will all involve extra charges. Moving insurance is also an extra expense, but worth considering if you have valuables. In most cases, you’ll have to get this separately.
2. Truck Rental
If you decide to move yourself instead, you’ll most likely need a moving van. The rates will depend on how big a vehicle you’ll require and whether or not you’ll be returning it to the same location. Be sure to ask what kind of fuel mileage you can expect from the vehicle, so you’ll be able to calculate this expense.
Regarding extras, the rental company will first offer you additional insurance. Contact your credit card company first to see if their service already includes it. Use of a loading ramp, dolly, and covers for your furniture are considered extra equipment rentals.
Don’t forget to add in a little extra for incidentals. The price of gas can rise with little warning, quickly throwing off your numbers. You might also have to make some extra stops, so be sure to allow for that.
3. Travel Expenses
Chances are, you’ll be taking personal vehicles with you. Throw in the estimated fuel costs for each of them, as well as maintenance fees, if you need to prepare them for a long drive. If you’re going far, you should also allow for lodging. Travel websites usually have online tools you can use to check hotel rates and availability.
Keep in mind that every member of your household will have to eat at some point. Determine the average cost of a meal for each person. Don’t forget to include drinks and snacks for everyone.
4. Cleaning and Repair
Regardless of whether you’re leaving a house you owned or a rental, you’ll be expected to leave it in good condition. At the very least, this requires proper cleaning. Unless you have several days to spend on this task, hiring a cleaning company would be well worth the expense. They can get your home closer to its original condition than you probably could, in far less time.
If you own the home and are selling it, you’ll probably have to fix some things before leaving. Whether you do the work yourself or hire someone else, it will still cost some money. Avoid attempting to do anything that’s out of your league, or you might end up paying someone else to fix a bigger mess.
5. Packing and Storage
Unless you have a ton of boxes laying around, you’ll need packing supplies. Determine how many boxes you will need and make some room in the budget for things like bubble wrap, labels, and tape. Mattress covers are sometimes provided by moving companies, provided you are using one.
If you intend to put some things in storage, you’ll have to factor storage fees into the budget, call around for some quotes. You might want to include extra insurance if some of the items are valuables. Don’t forget to include the cost of moving them to the storage facility.
While moving can be a pain, it’s something everyone does at some point. The best way to make it easier for your family is to prepare ahead of time. Taking the expenses above into consideration allows you to make a more realistic moving budget so that you won’t get caught by surprise on the day of your move.