How to Estimate Moving Costs

The Key is to Be Organized

Organization and attention to detail is the key to a successful relocation, especially when it comes to the planning and estimating the cost. You can’t just get a single quote and say yes right away. Before you sign any contracts for moving services, whether it be a local move, an interstate move, or a cross country move, you should stop and consider all aspects of the deal. Study each part of the quotation and ask about specific costs that you may possibly incur during the move. Oh, and let’s not forget the most crucial initial step- make sure to get quotations from at least 3 different moving companies. This will give you points of comparison and enable you to make the best decision.

Long distance moving involves a real investment and since money is a resource that you so diligently worked for, we want you to spend it wisely.

That’s why we’ve listed below some of the factors that affect the overall price of a move.

Major Factors that affect the total cost:

The weight of your possessions

The price of your long distance move will basically be determined by how much stuff you intend to have transported. The basic rule of thumb here is- the more things you need to move, the higher the cost will be.

Here is a sample computation:

The distance of the transport

Of course the longer the distance, the higher the cost will be. Longer distances will definitely cost you more money than staying local. Even interstate moves are affected by how far the original place is from the destination.

For example:

Other Factors to Consider:

Time period

Just like any other industry, the moving industry also has its own peaks and falls. Knowing these will help you to estimate how much your relocation will cost. The first thing you need to consider is the month you plan to move. Summer is peak season for moving because aside from the good weather, it’s also when school is out and therefore easier for parents to plan their schedules. Therefore, prices are definitely higher during the months of June to September. The cheapest time to relocate is from October to April.

Another factor to consider is the time of the month. Most moves happen either during the first or last weeks of the month. Then there’s also the specific day of the week. Moves done in the weekend are more expensive than those that happen within the work week. So you see, timing is indeed very important when it comes to estimating the cost of your move.

Extra services

Some companies will charge you extra for certain services that are not part of your original contract. Packing services is a common addition to the cost. Aside from the service itself, you could also get charged for the materials that will be provided by the company (boxes, tape, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, etc.) Another example is the flight charge or long carries. This happens when the moves have to carry your possessions for a long distance, or down a long flight of stairs. It’s important to know these additional services because they can amount to hundreds of dollars as well.

Insurance

Choosing to avail of insurance will also cost you extra. This will depend also on how much stuff needs to be transported and protected. There are four basic types of insurance that you can avail from moving companies:

• Basic Carrier Liability – The most common type of insurance is ($0.60) sixty cents per pound per article for interstate moves. This is mandatory by law.
• Declared Value Protection – This type of insurance is usually gauged at $1.25 per pound multiplied by the weight of the shipment. Once requested, the settlement will be based on the depreciated value of the item
• Lump Sum or Assessed Value – This type of insurance is important for high value items such as antiques and art collections. If you want to avail this, be ready to shell out some serious dough because packages are often sold at $1,000 increments.
• Full Value Insurance – The most comprehensive types of insurance can only be purchased from third party insurance providers (make sure to get industry-verified companies). Full Value Insurance offers the best coverage for any type of loss or damage.

Do you need storage?

Some companies offer storage for free. This means they’ll give you free use of their storage facilities in case your new home isn’t ready yet for occupancy, or you made wrong calculations in terms of space. Availing of storage will give your belongings a temporary place to stay. This free offer is often limited though. It may only be free for a month or a couple of weeks depending on the company. Beyond that, you may need to pay around $1.10 per 1000 pounds per day PLUS warehouse fees of around 30 dollars per 1000 pounds or more. Be sure to ask your movers about this before signing your contract because some companies withhold this information (of the free service) from their clients. They might not tell you unless you ask for it.

Moving is a Serious Business

Cross Country moving will cost you serious money especially if you plan to hire full-service professionals. Don’t be afraid though because if you’re able to hire a good company then the investment will be totally worth it. Hiring a good moving company will mean that you can sit back and relax, or spend your valuable time doing other more important things. It’s all about convenience and time.

If you’re ready to find out just exactly how much will cost you, feel free to fill out a form and get your quotes today.