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.
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