When most people face the prospect of moving, they can’t help but start rapidly crunching numbers in their heads and wondering what the overall bill will come to. After all, moving can be a pricey venture, and although there are ways to minimize its expenses, most people are best served by coming to terms with what their moves are likely to cost. As the sales manager of Affiliated Movers of Oklahoma City, Inc., Nathan Howell understands that the monetary unknown can be rather daunting for some. He offers the following tips on how to calculate the costs of moving:
Moving Company Fees
There’s no question about it: Moving services aren’t cheap. But the good thing about moving companies is that they provide written estimates before they are hired so that customers know what to expect. When it comes to local moves, most companies charge by the hour. To budget properly for your move, do yourself a favor and assume the worst as far as your estimate of the number of hours is concerned. This way, if your move ends up taking less time, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that you don’t have to spend as much money.
Tips
One thing that many people tend to forget about when budgeting for a move is the cost of tipping the movers. While some people don’t believe in tipping when they are already being charged a significant amount of money, others think that individuals engaging in hard labor deserve a little extra in exchange for their hard work. If you’re the type of person who feels that tipping is the right way to go, make sure to account for tips when calculating your moving budget. Your estimate will usually indicate how many men are assigned to the job, so be prepared to offer each one a tip that adequately expresses your gratitude. When it comes to tip amounts, there are no hard and fast rules for movers. However, as a general guide, a $10 tip per mover is often acceptable for a half-day job, while a $20 tip is more appropriate for a full day of work. If you’ve got the flexibility to do so, consider adjusting these numbers upward if your move involves numerous oversized, extremely heavy furniture pieces or possessions.
Insurance
Any proper moving company will offer limited insurance coverage as part of their service costs. However, such built-in insurance won’t get you far if something valuable gets broken during the moving process. If you own a number of expensive items, it’s a good idea to purchase additional insurance to protect yourself from the financial burden of accidental damages.
Storage
Not everybody who moves gets to upgrade to a larger space. If your new abode is smaller or offers less storage than your old place, you might have to rent a storage unit until you’re able to figure out what to do with all of your excess stuff. The cost of your storage unit will vary based on the amount of space required to house your belongings, so to minimize storage costs, try donating or selling the items you don’t think you’ll be using once you’re in your new home.
Packing materials
One of the most surprisingly expensive aspects of moving can come in the form of packing materials. While you might be able to find some old boxes in your garage or basement, you’re probably going to have to go out and purchase sturdy, quality boxes in order to properly pack up your stuff. You’re also going to need items such as packing tape, permanent markers, and labels as part of the packing process. So when you start drawing up that moving budget, be sure to account for all of your packing supplies.
Packing services
Some moving companies — including Affiliated Movers — offer professional packing services as one of their options. Packing services are not always a must, especially since they are a considerably more expensive option than packing on your own. However, by hiring professionals to pack up valuable items that would be expensive (or, in some cases, impossible) to replace, you can save yourself a fair amount of money and heartache in the long run.
Now that you know how to budget for a move, you can prepare yourself mentally and financially so that there are no surprises when the big day finally comes.
