A Complete Guide to Moving Expenses

As you embark on the process of relocating from point A to point B, your excitement about your big move may naturally become overshadowed by concerns about how much your move will cost. This is particularly the case if you intend to move out of state.

Your concerns about your upcoming moving costs are not unfounded, as a lack of preparation may cause you to be caught off guard by your mover’s quote and subsequent invoice on Moving Day. Fortunately, you don’t have to dive into your residential move head first without knowing what the journey, literally, will cost. Here’s a comprehensive guide featuring everything you need to know about moving expenses and how to plan for them.

Moving Expenses for Local Moves vs. Long-Distance Moves

There are different approaches that a moving company may take in calculating your moving cost estimate and final bill. One approach is to provide a flat rate based on the size of your home and the distance you are moving. Another approach is to weigh your total shipment and calculate your bill based on the weight of your shipment and the miles it will be traveling. And yet another approach is to bill an hourly rate based on the size of your crew and the number of trucks needed to relocate your home.

While all approaches may be used by reputable companies for both local and long-distance moves, a reputable moving company will be completely upfront and clear with you in advance when they provide you with your moving cost estimate.

Moving Rates

A local move is typically charged by an hourly rate based on the number of trucks or the number of movers involved in your move. Note that companies may charge different rates for various services, such as an unpacking/packing rate versus an unloading/loading rate. (Camelot has a single rate per hour, no matter the service provided.)

Unlike local moves, long-distance moves are typically priced according to distance and quantity. Your final moving bill will be based on the volume of furniture you’re moving, the services you request, and the distance you are relocating. If your moving company provides a binding price in advance, as long as you don’t make any changes to the services you’re receiving, like adding furniture that was not originally included in your price or requiring additional services like packing, that binding price will not change. If you do require more assistance, your mover will complete a “Change of Services” agreement with you to clearly establish the added cost in advance.

Beyond the cost of a professional moving company, local and long-distance moving costs differ in the personal expenses of relocating. For instance, for most local moves, you can plan to sleep in your own bed in your new home at the end of Moving Day. However, you’ll need to budget for transportation and lodging expenses when moving a long distance.

Packing and Fuel

Before Moving Day, you will need to pack your smaller belongings into boxes in preparation for transport. The most affordable way to do this is to pack up your home yourself, in which case all you’ll need to purchase are the packing supplies. The cost of packing supplies can range from a few hundred dollars for a small home to a thousand dollars for a large home. Many people opt to hire minimal packing services for the most technical packing needs, such as lamps and artwork. Such a partial pack service would cost a few hundred dollars and includes the packing materials needed for those items. A full packing service could cost anywhere from under a thousand dollars to a few thousand dollars depending on the size of the home, including the packing materials used.

As far as fuel-related moving cost estimates go, fuel charges fluctuate greatly for both local and long-distance moves. The amount you’re charged will essentially reflect the current cost of fuel at the time of your move.

Additional Cost Factors

Keep in mind that access to the homes you’re moving to and moving from will also play a major part in your moving expenses. For instance, the proximity of the elevator/stairs to your condo or apartment in an apartment building will have a big effect on the time it takes to load or unload the moving van. Likewise, the presence of a long driveway that prevents close access to the moving van will demand more time to load or unload, resulting in a higher bill. Ideally, your moving company will inquire about access to both homes in advance to give you an accurate estimate of costs.

Finally, note that basic coverage of your possessions is included in the cost of a move. Of course, you have the option of purchasing additional coverage, commonly known as valuation coverage. You can do this for either a local move or a long-distance move, although this is more frequently considered with the latter.

Controlling Your Costs

Whether your moving rate will be a flat rate or an hourly one, keep in mind that the best way to reduce your moving expenses is to decrease the number of items you’ll be moving. Also, try to pack more items yourself versus paying for packing services. Consider also using color-coded box labels to help speed up the unloading process.

Capitalize on the Moving Expertise of Camelot Moving & Storage Today!

At Camelot Moving & Storage, we are proud providers of top-tier moving services for both local and long-distance moves. We also provide packing services and sell supplies for customers who choose to pack themselves. Call us for a quote and take the mystery out of your moving expenses today!