Moving costs are a big part of the conversation when you’re looking to work out the details around a big move. Because of that, it’s likely that you’re exploring a lot of different avenues as to how you want to take care of things. How can you be sure that you get an accurate look at potential costs so that you can have an accurate moving budget?
The cost of your move is going to vary based on the type of move that you’re going to be experiencing. Local moves take a lot less coordination and logistical data than long-distance ones. Thankfully a moving cost estimator calculator can be a handy resource for anyone who may be looking to sort out the details of their move.
But, how do you sort out the costs of a potential future move? How can you put together a budget that is actually going to work? Here are some things that you can look at during the process of scheduling your move in order to get the best idea of how much money you will spend to make things happen.
How to Calculate Local Moving Cost
A local move is going to be a lot easier to sort out than a long-distance move. Typically, most professional movers consider a local move to be a move that is less than 100 miles from your original destination. Since these will, likely, only take a few hours to sort out, they are going to need a lot less manpower (and thus, a lot less cost) than long-distance moves do.
Most moving companies are going to give you an hourly quote, based on how long they believe the job is going to take. That quote is likely $20 per mover, per hour. So, most moves are going to have at least 3 movers involved, so you’re looking at around $60 an hour or so for your local move. Most moves are going to take 3 to 6 hours in order to complete, so you’re looking at anywhere between $180 and $360 for that alone. Then, if you make the decision to get extra services, those may up your cost more.
Calculating Long-Distance Moving Costs
Your cost calculator is going to get quite the workout when you’re trying to get an accurate quote from long distance moving companies. Typically, you are going to pay around 60 cents per pound based on how much stuff you have. Why does the weight of your stuff matter? Well, if the moving truck is going to be hauling your items for hundreds of miles, then that’s going to account for something. They may need to stop at weigh stations, deal with paying for gas, and more.
But, weight is not the only thing that they may account for when it comes to dealing with the cost of your move. On top of that, they may also have a “cost per mile” associated with it. This is likely only a few cents per mile, and it’ll be combined with any of the other costs that you may have. In some cases, you may only pay this cost.
There may also be extra fees if the company is renting a truck or if it’s going to take them multiple days in order to complete your job in the best way possible. If they are a company with experience, they will let you know what type of information during the process of getting an estimate. They can talk to you about all of the potential extra costs and such.
What Extra Costs May There Be?
So, we’ve talked about extra costs a couple of times. What sorts of extra costs may you be exploring as an option here? Many moving companies are going to provide a wide array of additional services. While many of the extra costs that we mention here are going to be optional costs, they are costs that you’re going to want to consider in order to make the moving process simpler.
Getting your items packed and unpacked may seem strange, but for many people, packing and unpacking can take a lot of time and energy. Some people may not be able to physically do the things necessary to pack up their home. Because of that, many moving companies have made the choice to go ahead and offer packing and unpacking services.
If a moving company is going to be taking care of your items, then you want to be certain that you get full value protection. Not only does it help you to get your value back if something happens to your stuff during the trip, but it also protects your moving company as well. It gives everyone peace of mind and it makes it easier to take care of accidents.
Do you have fragile items that need to be handled with care? Maybe you have large items that are going to be difficult to move and keep safe? In any context, you are going to need to get white glove services that can take care of such things. White glove services may or may not accrue additional costs, depending on the company and how many items you’ll need to be moved in that manner.
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Considerations for moving across the state or country lines
Moving across state lines shouldn’t have too many problems unless you are taking plants or animals that shouldn’t be moved. Many moving companies won’t move plants, and no moving companies will move animals, so you will have those items with you. If you’re moving across country lines, then you will need to take care of any international fees that may be accrued by your movers.
In some cases, moving companies may need to get truck rentals if you have more stuff than their current trucks will be able to carry effectively. They’ll need to rent or borrow a vehicle, and they may have you cover some of the costs associated with that.
Sometimes, there are delays between your moving dates. Or, in other instances, you may be downsizing and you just don’t have the space that you did for everything that you own. So, as a result, you may need to look for storage options. Some moving companies that you’ll connect with will have storage options for an additional fee.
Not all moving companies are going to offer these as options, so you’ll want to research and see if the ones that you’re considering have them as an option. You can usually find this out from their website, when you call to get a quote from them, or if you have an appointment for an estimate. If you know what sort of additional service that you may want, you can ask them directly and they should know the response.
What is the Average Cost to Move a 3 Bedroom House?
So, you want to be ready for moving day and know how much you’ll be spending to make it a reality. You have a three-bedroom home and every room is filled with all sorts of items that are going to need to be moved. How much is it going to cost you to take care of everything? Well, the average cost of your move is going to vary based on the distance of the move and how much you’ll be moving.
If it’s a local move, it will be about 3 to 6 hours of labor, and you’ll pay the hourly rate based on how much stuff you’ll be taking. On top of that, you may have extra fees that are related to packing, unpacking, white-glove services, or moving large, fragile items. On average, a local move for a 3 bedroom home is going to average between $500 and $1000. If you take care of it on your own, you may be able to do it for less, but it’s a lot more work.
Moving further than 100 miles can be a lot more effort, as we’ve explained in this article. Because of that, the average cost of moving a 3 bedroom home long-distance is going to be exponentially more than a local move would be. Mileage, weight, and additional services may come into play as a part of your cost. All in all, it’s going to average around $1000 a room, for a total cost of $3000 to $5000, depending on what you take with you.
As you can see, there are a lot of logistics to consider, and everyone’s cost is going to be a little different based on what they own and how you want to do things. Moving companies are going to charge for different services and ways of accomplishing your goals, and they can let you know about those potential costs when they talk to you about your estimate. In order to save money, your best bet is to explore your options and seek out local or long distance movers that can help you to sort out the details and get you to your location for a fair price.
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