Your small move may only consist of packing up a one-bedroom or studio apartment and relocating across town. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean your move is going to be cheap—moving can be more expensive than you think and usually is.
Estimating the cost of a small move can help you prepare financially, but where do you even start? In other words, what all goes into a small move that’s going to end up costing you money?
Some moving costs are pretty easy to calculate. You know there are going to be travel fees. Even a move down the block requires some traveling. After all, it’s not like you can grab a few friends and lug your couch down the street.
You’re going to need some type of vehicle, and it takes gas. Don’t forget about labor costs. Even your friends and family are going to expect some form of payment whether it’s cash or plenty of drinks and pizza.
Okay, so you know there’s going to be labor and travel costs regardless of whether you use professionals or family and friends. If you’re going with professionals, your costs just went up. A professional moving service is going to charge you for labor, fuel, and time. So, what other factors should you include in your moving costs?
If your small move only consists of a few boxes and a couple of suitcases, you can probably skip adding in these expenses. However, if your boxes are packed full of large books this may be a cost you’ll need to add to your moving expenses.
No matter what route you take, heavier items are more expensive to move. Even if you’re relying on friends to move a heavy oak headboard, they’re probably going to want more than a few slices of pizza to get the job done here. Professional movers not only charge by the size of the load, but also by its total weight.
Some professional moving companies offer additional services. These services are often convenient, but they’re also not free for you to use.
So, what types of services can you take advantage of? You can hire movers to pack your belongings. If you’re working full-time, finding an opportunity to pack can be challenging. Sometimes, the extra expense is a good investment. Expect professionals to charge a couple of hundred dollars to pack up your stuff.
Other add-ons that can increase moving costs include hiring movers to disassemble and reassemble your furniture. Once again, it’s a great time-saver, especially if you don’t have a clue how to put your couch or bed frame back together.
Your costs for moving supplies can be easily kept at a minimum, especially if you’re not purchasing things like boxes from a moving service.
You can usually get free boxes from your local grocery store. Just ask, and management will usually hand over a stack of broken down boxes at no cost or hassle. Simply grab yourself a roll of packing tape and you can easily reassemble the boxes. The packing tape will help ensure your belongings aren’t falling out the bottom of the box.
Along with boxes and packing tape, you’ll also need a marker and some packing material. Old newsprint is free and works great when you’re packing fragile items like dishes. If you don’t have a permanent marker in a drawer, they’re relatively cheap and easy to find. Chances are, you can find a selection at the corner convenience store.
Sometimes, your careful planning doesn’t quite work out. You’re out of your old place but it’s going to be a few days before you can get into your new address. You’re going to need to rent a temporary storage unit. Thankfully, some storage places run specials where you get a month or so free with only a minimal deposit.
If you can find a storage place running rental specials, you can save big. You may even be able to rent the unit for under $10, but remember, if you’re not out by the end of the initial lease, you could be facing significantly higher costs.
This expense typically only applies when you’re using a professional moving service. Liability insurance helps protect your belongings and the movers if they injure themselves during the move. Most moving companies offer a variety of insurance policies, so you can pick and choose one that best fits your needs and budget.
Even though this is a limited-time insurance policy, it still has a premium. The amount of the premium depends on the policy and insurance carrier but it’s an expense to factor into your move.
Moving can come with additional expenses that you probably haven’t considered. Did you know some moving services charge extra if their staff need to use the stairs or even the elevator? In other words, if you’re not on the first floor, you may be hit with these charges before your stuff even leaves the door.
You can be charged twice if your new place also requires the use of either stairs or the elevator. Yes, there are times when it really is cheaper to live on the ground level.
Since most moving companies aren’t going to allow you to ride in the truck with your belongings, you need transportation. This can even apply if you’re relying on friends since they may not have enough room to squeeze you in with all of your stuff.
If you have a vehicle, then you only need to worry about your fuel costs. Otherwise, you’re stuck going with either a cab or using a rideshare platform. Even a small move a few blocks away can cost over $20 in a taxi, Uber, or Lyft.
You probably don’t need to worry about tipping your friends, but it’s a little different with professional movers. Chances are they’re going to expect a tip, and this means cold, hard cash.
How much you tip depends on the size of your move and your budget. But, regardless of the amount of the tip, it’s still another expense you have to keep in mind.
While moving can come with some substantial expenses, the ultimate satisfaction of settling into your new space makes the process worthwhile.
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