The prospect of moving can be exciting. Whether it’s across town or the country, moving carries with it some common expenses you should be aware of. If you’re thinking of moving soon, take a look at the list below to get a better idea of how much moving will cost.
THE AVERAGE COST OF MOVING
It’s important to keep in mind that the cost of moving depends largely on what region of the country you live in. With that in mind, below is the average cost of both moving locally and moving across the country.
If you’re moving 100 miles or less, you can expect to pay $80-100 an hour for professional movers (2 movers, 1 truck). If more movers are needed, you’ll pay $25-50 per extra mover.
If you’re moving more than 100 miles away, expect to pay anywhere from $2,000-5,000 plus an extra $.50 per pound.
MOVING LOCALLY
More than half the people that make moves each year move within the same state. Local move costs with professional movers are usually factored by the hour, which means the larger your house, the longer it will take to move it. The average across-town move costs about $800, according to Home Advisor.
MOVING CROSS COUNTRY
While local movers charge by the hour, cross-country movers usually charge by two factors: distance and weight.
Distance: The farther away you’re moving, the more it will cost. There will likely be a per-mile charge in addition to the weight surcharge.
Weight: Movers figure the weight of your belongings by weighing the empty truck before filling it, and then again after your things have been loaded. Most professional movers will give you an estimate of the charges before you sign on the dotted line by using average weights of similar-sized homes. For example, a 3-bedroom, 1,000 sq. ft. home’s belongings weigh about 5,000 pounds.
*Note – Be sure to ask about any additional charges such as tolls or fuel before you sign the contract.
ADDITIONAL MOVING COSTS TO CONSIDER
Every moving situation is unique, and additional expenses could arise. Make sure your relocation budget allows for the following unexpected costs.
- Transportation surcharge – workers may get paid more for working in metropolitan areas
- Full-value protection insurance – most movers offer released value protection at no charge, but it’s minimal. You’ll want to spring for the full-value protection insurance.
- Vehicle moving charges
- Surcharges for moving large or delicate items
- Charges if movers must walk more than 75 feet from house to truck or if they need to use an elevator or stairs.
- Charges to shuttle your belongings to the truck if your road is too narrow for the moving truck to fit.
- Storage fees if the moving company must put your things in storage until your new home is ready.
Moving to a new home is exciting, but it can be costly. Be sure you understand all the factors that make up the cost of moving so you can budget accordingly.
