How Much Does Moving Cost?

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Any type of move, whether its down the street, across town, or across state lines, can be very expensive. This is especially true if you decide to use a moving company to do the work. In fact, The American Moving and Storage Association has calculated that the average cost of a long-distance move is about $4,300 (averaging a distance of 1,225 miles) and the average cost of a local move is about $2,300 (considering the average cost of hiring movers in most major US cities). Therefore, it might be more cost-effective if you do the moving yourself. Here are a few moving tips that we've learned over the years.

Your Moving Budget

In order to stretch your money as far as you can, starting out with a budget is the only way to go. Begin by figuring out everything you will need for the move, considering that you’re doing all the packing and moving yourself. Are you using plastic bins or cardboard boxes? Cardboard boxes are definitely cheaper, but you'll have to buy packing tape as well to secure them. What about moving blankets to keep furniture from getting scuffed up or large electronics like televisions from getting scratched during the move? There's a lot to think about. Here are the major things that you should consider when making your moving budget.

First things first, moving supplies. That's moving boxes, tape, padding, and everything else you'll need to pack your belongings. Remember that if you're selling your home, you'll want to leave it good condition. Once you start moving things around for packing your belongings, you'll probably find hidden dirty areas like under the couch and behind your dresser. Therefore, make sure to add cleaning supplies onto your moving budget for things like carpet shampoo and dusters. Lastly, consider the cost of traveling. How much will you need for gas, food, and lodging? When estimating costs, always round up to leave extra padding in case something unexpected happens. Also, keeping a moving kit with essential items will keep you from having to buy things that you already have but are packed away.