Whether you’re moving to a new neighborhood across town or relocating to the other side of the country, moving can stir up feelings of excitement and uncertainty. Questions like, “Will my children like their new school?” or “How long will it take me to adjust to my new job?” are sure to float through your mind. However, one of the more popular questions on the forefront of all movers minds is how much relocating will cost.
While there a number of factors to consider, such as an increase or decrease in the cost of living and mortgage expenses, making the actual transition from point A to point B and carting your belongings to your new location is a key part of making your move a seamless one. Here’s a look at everything you need to know to financially prepare for the big day.
Over half of all individuals who relocate enlist the help of a professional moving service – regardless of whether it’s a short or long distance move. According to the popular site, HomeAdvisor, although costs will vary based on distance and geographical location, the average prices are as follows:
Local or intrastate moving carries an average charge of $80 to $100 per hour, plus an additional $25 to $50 dollars for each additional mover required. For cross-country or interstate moves, you can expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000 dollars, plus an added charge of $.50 per pound.
A Local Move Across Town
Those who choose to relocate locally, account for the majority of all moving on an annual basis. Based on research supplied by Zillow, 57% of those who sell their home and relocate, move within the same city, and 86% of those individual relocate within their current state of residence. Of course, the size of your home will play a huge role in the costs associated with your move. Here are the 2019 estimates based on house size to consider, courtesy of HomeAdvisor.
| Size of House | Estimated Time of Move | Average Price Range |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment | 3-5 hrs | $200-$500 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | 5-7 hrs | $400- $700 |
| 3 Bedroom House | 7-10 hrs | $560-$1,000 |
| 4 Bedroom House | 10+ hrs | $800-$2,000+ |
Making a Long Distance Move
Unlike relocating locally, transporting your belongings across the country is priced differently and will be contingent upon the weight of your goods and the distance traveled. Prior to your move, your moving company will furnish you with paperwork that outlines the weight of the truck when it’s completely empty.
After the movers load your belongings into the vehicle, they’ll weigh the truck once more to determine the cost associated with the move. Don’t fret, by partnering with a reputable moving service, you can rest easy knowing they’ll supply you with an estimate before you sign any contractual agreements. Accompanying weight-based fees, you can expect to be charged a rate per mile to cover the distance of your move. Make sure to ask about any supplemental expenses, such as tolls or fuel charges that may also be required.
Types of Moving Expenses You Can Expect
#1. The DIY Move: If you’re on a tight budget and considering packing up your belongings, transporting everything to your new home, and loading and unloading boxes on your own, you will need to factor in the cost of a rental truck. Using a rental service, such as U-Haul, comes with a flat rate on a per-day basis, plus additional expenses to cover mileage, gas, and tolls. Pricing will depend on the size of the truck you need and typically starts around $20/day.
#2. Loading & Transportation Only: You have the option to neatly package all your prized belongings into their respective brown boxes and then call in the help of professional movers for the heavy lifting and transportation. If you’re relocating to a local neighborhood, this type of service ranges from $200 (for smaller, one-bedroom apartments/condos) to $2,000 or more for larger, multi-bedroom homes.
#3. The Full-Service Move: Want to leave it to the pros to wrap, pack, load, transport, and unload your belongings? While this type of service is typically used for long-distance moves, you can enjoy it locally as well, depending on your individual preferences. Pricing can range from $2,000 to $5,000 with additional costs per pound, hour, and mover.
#4. Temporary Storage Solution: If your move out and move in dates don’t coincide with one another, you may want to consider stashing your goods in a storage unit until you’re ready to transition to your new home. Storage facility rates can differ from location to location, by typically start at around $50 per month for smaller units and $400 per month for larger units.
Additional Move Costs to Consider:
- Supplemental insurance coverage for full value protection of your belongings while they’re being transported by a moving service.
- Moving supplies, like boxes, containers, bubble wrap, etc.
- Extra expenses that coincide with transporting a boat, motorcycle, or other types of vehicle.
- Additional fees for streets or neighborhoods that are unable to accommodate moving trucks. In this case, movers typically use a smaller van or truck to transport your belongings safely to your new home.
- If you need to transport fragile or large items, such as a piano or backyard swing set, there may be surcharges added for moving these belongings.
Moving Company Agreements
When you partner with a reputable moving service, the company will prepare a quote for you ahead of your scheduled move date. There’s a standardized rate sheet, known as Tariff 400-N, provided by the Household Goods Carrier Bureau. Within these guidelines, there are two different types of quotes you can expect to receive for your move. The first is an industry standard non-binding estimate, which provides an approximate cost to transport your belongings. Keep in mind, this is only an estimated amount and may be adjusted when your final bill is produced. The second type of agreement is called a not-to-exceed quote and will provide you with a maximum price that your moving service will not exceed.
No matter how you elect to carry out your move, you can expect there to be several corresponding costs associated with relocating. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to plan ahead to ensure you get the best rates and have a smooth, easy transition to your new home.
If you’re looking to find a more exact estimate of your moving cost, please head over to our moving cost calculator!
