Moving Costs

One of the most stressful times in your life is moving. Not only does the act of moving require significant preparation, but it’s usually the little things that keep you up at night, and most notably the associated costs which can escalate the anxiety. Let’s take a high-level look at the moving costs that can be expected before, during and after your move.

Travel and time to find a place

This can be defined as a passive moving cost. While there may not be an explicit bill for your time, like most people you need to take time and energy to locate your next home, whether its an apartment in the city or a house in the suburbs. As the adage goes, time is money, and this is no different. Especially with the current housing and rental market, you may be spending more time than anticipated or traveling further than you thought. This is a hidden moving cost to consider.

Realtor fees

Depending on the location and type of home you move into, you may require the assistance of a realtor. Your agreement with your realtor may or may not require you to pay a fee. If you are buying a home,

chances are the seller will take this cost on, however if moving into an apartment in a desirable area, you may need to fork over some cash as a realtor fee. This is a moving cost that could be significant.

Closing costs

For those purchasing a home, this is a moving cost that can be somewhat disheartening. From lawyers fees, to homestead to the realtor’s cut, these bills add up and could be a significant hit to your bank account. This is usually an unavoidable part of your moving costs that cannot be overlooked as a part of your budget.

Packing supplies costs

You’re almost there! You found your next home, all the papers are signed, and now comes the hard part, the physical packing of items. Sometimes you can underestimate how much stuff you really have and how much of it you want to transport. From closets, to under beds, to that junk drawer, you will most likely need packing supplies, and it is not cheap! If you’re lucky, you can stumble upon free supplies (usually boxes) from members of a local Facebook group. And that’s half the battle! Keep in mind, you may need tape or some sort of void fill or protective wrapping to ensure your items stay secure during transport. Maybe you want to hire your movers to provide full-service packing as well? While expensive, it’s a tremendous way to optimize your move and limit your stress.

Cleaning Costs

This is another sneaky cost that you may not consider when calculating your moving costs. Whether it’s hiring a professional cleaner, or spending your time scrubbing, sweeping, wiping, and more, this is a cost to consider as a part of your move.

Daycare/pet care (if required)

Some people like to focus completely on their move. Whether you have a pet running around or younger children that can potentially interfere with your packing plan, these are in part moving costs to consider. If you have a short window of time to pack, and require the most efficient and distraction free situation, this may be an additional moving cost to consider.

Rental truck/Movers

You’re there! It’s move day and your boxes and furniture are ready to go to your new home. How will you do it? Most people don’t have access to a vehicle that can haul everything at once. This is an integral part of your moving costs, and usually the biggest one to note. Make sure you do your research and identify the mover with the best reviews and the expertise to provide you a worry-free service. Keep in mind, cheapest is not always best, and those cheapo movers could cause additional moving costs due to inexperience, inefficiency, or carelessness. If you’re moving yourself, time and gas are considerations as well.

Storage(if required) Can all your stuff fit in your new home? Are you in between homes for a little bit? Storage is something to consider as a part of your moving costs in the case that you will need to utilize some extra space.

Things to consider when renting a home or an apartment

Renting a home, buying a home, finding an apartment and similar real estate activities go hand in hand with moving. As the experts in moving, Olympia Moving & Storage is here to help. As we near the end of 2021, we have experienced an unprecedented moving year from labor shortages to material shortages to a historic spike in moving demand. We offer some advice on whether you’re renting a home or trying to find an apartment.

2021 will forever be known as a seller’s market. Data across the country showed houses sold for prices way above asking with numerous bidders, and contingencies being waved left and right. Anecdotally, we heard a lot of sellers taking advantage of being able to sell high, gaining an influx of cash, however with no place to go. This result is renting a home or finding an apartment to rent. It’s a hot topic still to date, because as this seller’s market continues to drive prices higher, finding an apartment or renting a home becomes pricier. We see our customers and buyers across the country not able to find their next permanent residence in a timely fashion. The only solution becomes opting for a “temporary home.”

These solutions may be renting a home in your desired town, playing the waiting game for a forever home that is affordable to pop up. The other option is finding an apartment either in your same town/city of choice or looking at surrounding areas that keeps you close to your ideal location. Keep in mind, whether deciding to rent a home or find an apartment, the responsibilities may vary. With a home and depending on the state, the renter may be responsible for the care and maintenance of the home, including lawn mowing, snow shoveling and similar weather-related activities. An apartment may be a lower maintenance option; however you sacrifice the privacy you would have with a home rental. Since this is not a topic to take lightly, we suggest researching additional advice about the pros and cons of renting and buying.

In both cases, there is the argument to make that if you can be patient and wait out the market, you would benefit from the additional cash gained from the sale and you find the home of your dreams. Patience is the determining factor here, so make sure you set your own expectations to deal with an extended timeline. And with this extended timeline, understanding the lease and the termination clauses will play a big part in the whole process. There are a large number of factors that will affect your decision so make sure to do your research. There are government and private move websites that will tediously identify all the things to consider. Moving is one of the most complex and stressful things to go through in life, so make sure you’re prepared and do your homework.

Also keep in mind, when renting a home or trying to find an apartment, you’ll still have to move all your belongings. Whether you keep it in storage with a trusted provider or find storage on the temporary property, you most likely will need help. With 30 years of expertise, and the ability to move anything to anywhere, Olympia can provide the guidance and help to get your move completed effectively and efficiently.