Budgeting for Moving Expenses

When most people think of moving, they think of buying their new house, selling their old house, packing up all their belongings, and relocating to their new house. It’s easy to think of buying your new house as the biggest expense, but this isn’t necessarily true. Yes, the down payment and closing costs can give you major sticker shock, but many other costs come with moving. If you are unprepared, these hidden costs can sneak up on you.

An essential part of a successful move is having a well-thought-out budget. Having a budget helps families be prepared with their finances during their move and also reduces the stress of the move.

Hiring a Professional Moving Company

Families with upwards of a two-bedroom house or families moving out of state can significantly benefit from hiring a professional moving company. This is because most rent-a-truck services don’t offer trucks that can fit all of your possessions and it’s risky to transport your items long distances without insurance.

Hiring a professional moving company might be your biggest moving expense, but it comes with the territory and is well worth your investment.

Take time to get quotes from a few different moving companies. This will help you plan out how much to spend on a moving company.

Peavler Moving & Storage offers competitive rates for local and distance moves. Our customers are so thrilled with our care, professionalism, and efficiency, that they recommend us to all their friends and are even repeat customers for any later moves.

 Other Moving Costs

While hiring a moving company is your first and greatest expense, there are other upfront costs that you can anticipate:

• Purchasing packing supplies: Even if you can find some boxes for free, you’ll likely need to invest in boxes, packing tape, Sharpies, or fragility items like bubble wrap
• Transportation costs for you and your family members: You might need to purchase plane tickets or rent a vehicle
• Packing and furniture disassembly services: There’s no shame in hiring professionals to pack your possessions or disassemble your furniture. Sometimes this is a necessity, like for disabled individuals or those who work extended hours.
• Storage: You might be doing a double move or are downsizing and need extra space. Self-storage is an affordable solution.

Peavler Moving & Storage is not only an excellent option for your professional mover, but for self-storage, as well! We offer various sizes of traditional and climate-controlled units.

Hidden Moving Costs

After you budget for these upfront costs, take thoughtful consideration of hidden moving costs. These might be:

• Fees for parking
• Tolls
• Fuel
• Additional insurance coverage
• Updating your address
• New IDs
• Vehicle registration
• Utility deposits

Contingency Fund

Once you have calculated your moving budget, consider making a contingency fund. This is separate from your actual moving budget (what you anticipate spending) and should act as a safety net for unexpected costs, such as:

• Extra packing materials
• Repairs to a vehicle, house, or rental truck
• Last-minute changes to a moving contract

Of course, this is money that you don’t anticipate spending, but budgeting for unexpected costs can significantly lower the stress of your move.

Ready to get started with Peavler Moving & Storage? Contact us today for all your moving and storage needs!