If you spent a lot of time in your house in 2020, you’re likely getting the urge to change your scenery. Whether that means changing your home or your entire hometown, we don’t blame you. A refresh of your space is a great way to refresh your overall outlook and to start anew.
If you’ve found your new place and are already daydreaming about shedding the old and stepping into the new, it’s time to start planning your move. As you start making your practical lists and counting down, you’ll start to see some costs for your move popping up. We’ll help you avoid any surprises and prepare early with this guide on how to estimate your moving costs in 2021.
How to calculate moving costs
A good place to start is by getting a good idea of how much stuff you’ll be taking with you. Consider what you can donate, sell, or give away. This is a great time for spring cleaning (no matter the time of year) to avoid moving things you won’t keep or use when you arrive at your new place.
An online moving costs calculator can quickly give you some insight into the potential cost of your move. This calculator simply asks for the size of your home, how much you’re taking with you, and the accessibility of both places. You’ll be able to see an estimate based on average costs for these factors.
Things that affect the cost of your move
Once you have a starting point, you can get more detailed estimates from movers. When it’s time to receive an official quote of your moving costs, there are a few things that will affect your bottom line. Consider these aspects when you’re looking to estimate your moving costs:
Your stuff
Not the stuff you have, specifically – but how much you’re taking. The amount of stuff you’re moving not only affects how much time it takes to move but also what size truck you need. If you have large, bulky, or oddly-shaped items, they may require special equipment which could influence your price. The first place to cut costs is to reduce the amount of stuff you’re taking. Consider adopting a minimalist lifestyle, perhaps?
Your distance
How far you’re traveling will also be a factor when it comes to estimating your moving costs. While local movers don’t typically quote based on distance, they do have hourly rates. They’ll want to know how far you’re going so they can take this into account. Long-distance movers charge for fuel and trip length, so addresses are crucial when requesting a quote.
Additional services
Not limited to simply hauling, many movers offer additional perks to help make your move a breeze. There are many services available including packing and unpacking, and disassembling and reassembling furniture. These tasks can be timely and cumbersome for the average person, but professional movers are adept at handling them with ease, making it worth every penny.
Extra supplies
If you didn’t manage to fit all of your things in those free moving boxes you grabbed outside of your local store, you may need more. The same goes for padding for your breakable items and other packing supplies. Your mover can bring these for you, but they’ll have an extra charge.
Your moving date
The classic principle of supply and demand applies to movers, particularly when it comes to your moving date. If you move at a peak or popular time, it will likely cost you more. This includes weekends, holidays, and even the summer season. Try to plan ahead and book outside of peak times to save a bit of cash.
Planning ahead
As you can see from many of the factors listed here, you can pretty easily impact your moving costs. If you’re looking to save time, there are options for you at additional costs. If you’re looking to save money, it will mean you’ll put in a bit more effort in packing and preparing. Keeping these things in mind will while planning will help you start your move on the right foot.
The best way to estimate your moving costs in 2021 is to get a quote from a professional mover. Unpakt can connect you to trusted movers in your area to get quotes, ask questions, and start planning for moving day.
