Moving is a major change in someone’s life. Wether you are moving to a new neighbourhood or across the country. Like most life changes, it’s going to cost you some money. And if you aren’t paying attention, the cost of moving can drain your pockets very quick. I’m going to share with you some costs of moving that you may have never considered before.
1) Renting Storage Space
While moving, many people tend to upsize. However this isn’t the case for some people. Maybe you are moving from a house to an apartment, and you simply don’t have enough space for everything in your new home. You have two options, sell (or donate) the items you don’t need or rent storage space. Storage units can be quite expensive and it can be a burden to add an extra monthly bill to pay.
2) Hiring Movers
It may seem like a good idea to choose a cheaper company to move your belongings for you, as moving can be expensive. However, you get what you pay for. Investing in a higher quality moving company could be the difference between having all your things delivered on time and in perfect condition, or having items go missing and having some show up broken. Choosing a more expensive moving company will ensure the movers value your belongings and if something gets damaged, they will most likely help you fix it.
3) Movers Insurance
Many moving companies have policies where they are not liable for broken and damaged items. So it may be a good idea to purchase moving insurance, to make sure all of your items get to your new home safely. And if they don’t, your moving insurance will pay to fix it.
4) Packing Up
If you choose to pack up all your belongings by yourself, you are going to need some materials. Boxes, tape and bubble wrap. Depending on the amount of stuff you have accumulated over the years, these materials can become quite costly.
5) Hotel Stay
If your move takes multiple days, you may find yourself in a position where you have no room to stay in. A hotel may be your only option. Ideally, staying with a friend or your family for a night or two would save you some cash. But unfortunately this isn’t a possibility for everyone. Be sure to budget a potential hotel stay when planning your move.
6) Moving Fee
In addition to paying movers to transport your things, you may be hit with large fees at the end of the day. Some moving companies have ‘large item’ fees, which is essentially an extra charge for carrying things like couches, tables, etc. As well, some companies have ‘stair’ fees. They may charge you if your new place is on another floor of an apartment. Be sure to ask your moving company up front about these fees so they surprise you when all is said and done.
7) Tipping your movers
It’s always a good idea to tip your movers. They have spent many hours hauling, lifting and moving your things. They should be compensated accordingly
8) Re-Buying
Sometimes your furniture is fit to make a move. Or maybe you want to have a fresh start in your new place. Purchasing all new furniture can be quite costly. Set a budget and stick to it when buying new things, could help you save some money.
Hopefully this list helps you become aware of some of the hidden costs of moving homes. Planning ahead and sticking to your budget is the best away to save money while you are moving.