Millions of people move every year. If you’re about to join the ranks, you might want to know how much movers cost for a one-bedroom apartment. We gathered some average prices and other details for you. After all, having a properly thought-out budget is a cornerstone of a smooth transition to a new home.
The exact cost of relocation if you hire professional moving services depends on many factors, but some average basic expenses can be calculated. Overall, the price ranges from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
Not every moving company charges the same amount. So before you book a date, contact as many companies as possible and get a quote for their services. You’ll also find out what is included in their offer. For example, whether they provide free storage space or auto shipping services. If they do, it would be useful for you to know how does car shipping work before booking the transport of your car across the country.
No, it’s not. If you’re relocating to the suburbs nearby, it is good to know that local moving is usually charged by the hour for a crew of two and a truck. But, if you’re relocating from Dallas to Atlanta neighborhoods, i.e., a long-distance move, you’ll be charged based on the household inventory list, mileage, number of rooms, or a combination of those. The American Moving & Storage Association has calculated that the average cost for local relocation of a one-bedroom apartment is around 2,300 USD. At the same time, long-distance one is almost double that amount, 4,300 USD.
Your moving budget will be affected by the timing of the move as well. So, what is the best time of year to move? The peak of the moving season runs from May to September, so moving in the summer is quite steeper than moving in winter, due to higher demand. Also, whatever might be your reasons to move, keep in mind that relocating on weekends and moving during the holidays will be more expensive. Choosing winter for house-hunting and relocation could be the cheapest time of the year to move. So if you have not found a job before moving to another state, and you’re more flexible with dates, this is something you should consider.
Have you decided where to move? If so, it is time to figure out what affects your overall relocation price. The basic quote you’ll get from shipping companies covers only labor and transport of your belongings. Everything beyond that is subject to additional costs. For example, you can pay a company for full or partial packing services. It is also possible to buy boxes and packing supplies such as bubble wrap and packing paper from them. Disassembling furniture often isn’t covered by the basic price. However, some not so obvious things are also charged for.
Though they may seem like a natural part of the moving process, stairs, for example, are a source of additional moving expenses, in case movers have to carry your belongings up or down. The same goes for the use of elevators. So, if your home is in a residential block, there’s little chance to avoid being charged for those services.
Then there are long carries. Different shippers have different rules about the distance their movers carry boxes. Once that distance is exceeded, certain fees kick in. Additional expenses also await if the moving truck can’t park in front of your home, so the stuff has to be shuttled to the nearest available parking spot. Besides, depending on the quality of work and preferences, you might want to tip the workers when the job is done.
If you’re lucky enough to own any valuable but heavy and difficult-to-move object, such as a piano, be prepared to splash some more cash into relocation. Packing up and relocating pianos counts among the more specialized services on the market. In some cases, there’s the need for hoisting, e.g., lowering the instrument from a balcony or window, instead of carrying out through the front door. Hoisting usually isn’t covered by the basic price.
So far, we talked only about expenses and more expenses. Luckily, there are also ways to reduce costs when moving. For starters, estimate the value of household goods and then sell or donate unwanted items, especially if you’re moving into a smaller home. That is one of the cheapest ways to move out of state – you’ll lower the volume of stuff, there won’t be bulky furniture or many boxes filled with books, that need to be shipped.
The other possibility is to get packing materials for moving yourself. With a bit of leg work, you can get all the boxes you need for free from the local retailers or warehouses or at a cheaper price from others who have moved before you.
A useful tip in this regard is to save receipts for everything you donate to charity. Once all is done and dusted, they can serve as a basis for a tax deduction. In special cases and places, relocation costs might be tax-deductible.
Of course, events sometimes take a surprising turn, maybe you’re forced into last-minute moving, you have decided to move in together with your partner in a spur of a moment, or you simply don’t have enough money to hire professionals. In that case, you’ll probably have to find best-sized boxes, pack your furniture and clothes on your own, and face some (dis)advantages of moving to another state alone. But it can be done if you manage to avoid common moving mistakes and quickly learn and implement tips for packing quickly such as how to pack glassware for moving, how to box up a computer or other electronics, or even how to move house plants. Before you start boxing everything up create photo inventory if you plan on getting insurance for your move. Fortunately, wrapping up a small flat isn’t too tricky, especially with the help of a couple of friends who know some packing tips and tricks.
The only thing that remains is to rent a truck, load it, drive to the new home, and unpack after a move. The average starting price for a small rental truck is around 20 dollars. Rental companies then charge by the mile, and you’re often required to fill some portion of the tank before returning it. Other expenses you can count on include food and accommodation for the trip, as well as tolls, plane tickets, various packing supplies, and so on.
It doesn’t matter if you are moving to a big city, or a smaller location, relocations are mostly a matter of experience and routine, but if you want to avoid getting relocation depression, ask for help. Therefore, it’s best to leave it to professionals and even more so in the case of international shipping so you can focus on roommate websites and other stuff. Still, local or not, paying others to do the heavy lifting is among the better ways to deal with moving stress. That, combined with a few adequately applied moving day tips, will show you that every cent given for recommended professional shippers is money well spent.
