Moving a 2000 Square Foot House: 101 Guide to Costs and Tips

The costs to move a 2,000-square-foot house will vary a lot depending on many different factors. The distance of the move in miles, the moving company you choose and their level of service, the dates and times you choose, and of course any additional services required will affect the costs.

Snapshot: Moving Costs for a 2,000 Sq Ft House

• Local (within 100 miles): $1,500–$5,000
• Long-distance (1,000 miles): $4,000–$10,000
• Cross-country (2,000+ miles): $7,000–$15,000+
• DIY move: $1,000–$3,500 (truck rental, fuel, helpers)
• Key factors: Distance, weight (10,000–15,000 lbs), movers needed, packing, access issues, seasonality

Here’s an iMoving overview of typical moves:

1. Distance & Fuel: Longer distances obviously come paired with higher transportation costs, expect $300–$800 in fuel surcharges for long hauls. Companies charge by the mile, but distance isn’t usually a factor you can control. Choose your company by the lowest rate per mile if this is your biggest worry.
2. Volume and Weight: The size of the house determines the weight and size of belongings, which impacts the cost. If you have lots of bulky items such as odd-shaped furniture pieces and breakables the costs may rise drastically as the company will need a bigger size truck.
3. Packing Services: Whether you pack yourself or hire professionals affects the cost. VIP packing can seem expensive, but when you factor in the costs of pet and babysitting care to actually get the packing done stress-free, sometimes it makes more sense to let the professionals come in and wrap things up literally. 
4. Extra Services: Storage, specialty items (pianos, vases), and assembly/disassembly of your furniture pieces add to the total. Sometimes you can save big by pre-disassembling your wardrobes and beds and telling the movers not to reassemble them. For this, you need to be quite handy and ready to sweat.  
5. Time of Year: Moving during peak seasons (summer) or holidays will drastically increase costs due to higher demand. The best and cheapest time to move is mid-week in the winter not during the start or end of the month when family demand peaks. 
6. Access Issues: Narrow stairwells, small elevators, or limited parking may add shuttle or long-carry fees.

• It's time to dump those unnecessary items in your life: Declutter and sell, donate or simply trash those extra items to reduce volume and weight. Shave off that excess in your life to save time and money. After living years in a 2000 square meter house, we are sure you have plenty of excesses you can part ways with.
• Compare Quotes: Get multiple quotes from multiple moving companies to find the best value for your money and needs. iMoving makes this part simple, saving you the need to call multiple companies or input your info a million times. Simply put in all your details once and you will end up with multiple quotes from over 1000 trusted local movers.
• Plan Ahead: Booking as soon as you know your dates can sometimes secure lower rates, especially for long-distance moves. Movers want to know they have a full month of work and will reward you for booking ahead of time during off-peak times. You can ask for discounts.

• Insurance: Ensure the right insurance coverage for your belongings during transit. Make sure you check the premiums you will be expected to pay should any real damage occur. You can use the movers insurance or opt for your own external. Expect $100–$400 extra.
• Special Needs: Notify movers about any special needs or access issues at both the current and new locations. If you have pesky stairs or weird access that requires the items to be carried instead of directly loaded onto the truck you should expect added costs. 

By considering the factors above and planning accordingly, you can estimate and manage the costs you will incur with moving a 2,000-square-foot house effectively. Don’t be fooled into paying more than you should for your home, even though it is quite big. With knowledge you have power. Let iMoving’s tool be a guide for the probable costs of moving to your new home! Best of luck from the iMoving team!