Moving homes is one of the biggest events in your life. Many say that it is one of the most stressful ones as well. This is because you are about to change your entire life (except if you are moving next door, of course). But, moving is also considered to be stressful because you will need a lot of money to go through with it. It is vital to set a budget before your move. With the help of our guide about hidden moving costs, you will be prepared even better for your relocation. Avoid hidden moving costs to have a more relaxed relocation in front of you.
Packing and unpacking
Whether you are moving to a five-story house or a studio apartment, you will have some packing and unpacking to do. Depending on how much time you have on your hands, you should pack the items on your own if you want to avoid this fee. Having professional movers pack your items is time-saving, but it will cost you extra money. Consider inviting your close friends to a packing party to avoid this fee. Find out more about some useful packing tips so you could pack more efficiently. If, on the other hand, you don`t have much time or the energy for packing, include this fee in your moving budget.
The movers will also include packing supplies in the packing service. So, you won’t have to head over to the improvement store at all.
Disassembling and assembling furniture
Assembling and disassembling furniture is not easy, we agree. Sofas, kitchen elements, wardrobes, dining tables, and other items must be disassembled first for easier transportation. This is also the way to go to avoid any damage to your items. However, your moving company will charge you the disassembling and assembling fee, so be prepared for it. The way to avoid this fee completely is again to call someone to help you finish this part of the moving.
Hoisting fees
Moving a wardrobe and a piano is not the same in the eyes of the moving company. Pianos, hot tubs, and other massive and bulky items require special equipment if they cannot fit through the door. In this case, the movers will have to remove them from your home via the window using special equipment. While heavy items will be transported safely, you will pay a hoisting fee. Measure the items that you have and the width of the doors to make sure all of the items can fit through all the doors in the house to take them to the moving truck.
Long carry fee
Don`t forget to reserve a parking space for your movers` moving truck on the day of the relocation. If your movers have to park more than 90 feet from your apartment, they will likely charge you the long carry fee. This is because they need to carry all of the items from your apartment to the moving truck for a longer period. Of course, the exact fee and conditions can differ from moving company to moving company, and the best thing to do is to contact them and inquire about this fee.
The stairs fee
Do you have an elevator in your building? Reserve it for your relocation day on time. If your movers need to carry the items down several flights of stairs, or worse, up the several flights of stairs you will be charged a fee. Some moving companies will not charge you for this fee, so you should ask them about this. Also, check your contract before signing it to see whether they will charge you for some additional fee.
Cancellation fees
Unexpected events are quite common when relocating. So it may easily happen that you have to postpone your relocation for a couple of days, or even indefinitely. While moving companies will understand your reasons, you will probably have to pay a cancellation fee if it is last-minute cancellation. Check with your moving company what is the period in which you can cancel your relocation without having to pay the cancellation fees.
Insurance
Having your items insured during relocation is the best thing you can do. There are two types of insurance coverage, released value protection, and full and full value protection. The released value protection is completely free but will offer you only 0.60 cents per pound, which is low for an expensive TV for example. On the other hand, you can get current item value for damaged or lost items with full value protection insurance. However, you will have to pay a premium to enjoy this insurance type.
Tipping movers
If your movers provided excellent service, you will want to tip them. Most people forget to include this money into their relocation budget. Typically, you tip movers at $4 or $5 per hour per person. However, tipping movers is not at all obligatory, it is a sign of your goodwill. If you are satisfied with the service provided and desire to reward the moving staff, you will not avoid this hidden moving cost.
Storing fees
At some point during your relocation, you may have to store your items for a while. If you are downsizing and don`t know what to do with your items, you may choose to store them. Or if your new home is not available yet, you may have to store items and live in a hotel. To avoid this fee, we recommend that you declutter your house. Sell, donate, and/or throw away the items you won`t be using anymore, instead of storing them. In this way, you may even earn a few dollars. You should also schedule the relocation once you are completely sure that your new home will be ready for moving in.
We have seen the hidden moving costs and explained how you can avoid them, or at least some of them. When you know what to expect, it becomes easy to avoid any unnecessary costs. With the help of your reliable local movers, we’re sure that your relocation it’s going to be a success. Good luck!