The Best Moving Expenses Checklist to Help You Plan Your Budget

Written by: Chloe Platt

Considering a moving expenses checklist before you start relocating locally is a necessity. Relocation can be quite expensive, and the costs can get out of hand if you don’t plan for them. Take the time to think hard about every step of the process, or else you’ll underestimate your budgetary needs. Let’s take a look at all the expenses you have to account for.

Plan your budget carefully so that there are no surprises.

The Cost of Local Moving Services

Many people believe that enlisting moving services is much more expensive than relocating on your own. This belief is, in fact, a misconception, and hiring a professional local moving company near you can save you a lot of money. Contact several companies and ask them for a quote. Compare the quotes and find what works for you.

Packing Services

Your local movers can provide you with a packing service for an additional fee. Even if you’re relocating on your own but dread packing, you can hire professionals to do it for you.

Storage Fees

If your new home won’t be ready for some time, you’ll need to account for storage facility expenses. Consider how long your belongings will have to sit in storage and contact several companies to inquire about the price.

Additional Costs When Hiring a Moving Company

Always ask the company what is included in the base price. Here are some other services and expenses that may affect the overall cost:

  • Insurance
  • Handling bulky furniture
  • Preparing appliances
  • Flight charge (for carrying furniture up or down the stairs)
  • Long-carry charges

If you’re worried about the price going through the roof, you can always try to handle some of these tasks by yourself before the movers arrive.

Carrying furniture up and down the stairs will cost you more.

A Moving Expenses Checklist When Relocating on Your Own

As we’ve said before, relocating on your own may require more money than hiring professional movers in your area. You should plan your relocation budget carefully if you don’t want any costly surprises along the way. Here are the main things you should account for:

  • Truck rental
  • Fuel
  • Insurance
  • Workforce (even if you’re only paying in beer and pizza)
  • Packing supplies
  • Lost time

How Can You Reduce the Costs?

The best way to make sure that you don’t spend a small fortune on your New York relocation is to plan ahead and work out every detail before the move. For example, if you misjudge the amount of stuff you need to move, you could end up renting a truck that’s not big enough. This would mean that you’d have to make more than one trip, spending much more fuel than necessary.

Don’t forget you’ll have to feed your workforce.

Packing Supplies

You’ll need boxes and other supplies whether you’re relocating on your own or hiring professionals. You might be able to get ahold of some free moving boxes, but it’s always best to buy new, unused ones as they’ll be sturdier. Here are the most important packing supplies to get:

  • Plenty of boxes
  • Paper or newsprint
  • Markers for labeling
  • Bags
  • Bubble wrap
  • Furniture covers

If you decide to go with professionals, they will likely provide everything you need.

Packing supplies can get quite expensive too.

Travel Budget Planning Tips

Whether you hire professional local movers or not, you’ll need to get yourself and your family to the new home. This means you’ll have to think about travel money. If you need to travel a long distance to get to your new place, many expenses await you, including:

  • Gas
  • Tolls
  • Meals along the way

What Else Can Affect Your Transportation Budget?

If you’re moving with pets or kids, you should count on additional expenditures as they’re both unpredictable, and you never know what can happen during a trip (such as a health emergency).

Traveling with your pets can incur extra costs.

The Expenses of Leaving Your Old Home

Past is never easy to leave behind — and neither is a home. Even if all your bags are packed and you’re mentally out of there already, there are still many things tying you to your old home, i.e., various fees and expenses. Whether you’re selling your own house or leaving a rental, there’ll be stuff to pay, such as:

  • Commission fee to your agent
  • Lawyer and inspections fees
  • Cleaning costs
  • Cancellation costs (for rentals)
  • Repairs
Remember that you’re still not done with your old house or apartment.

Welcome to Your New Home — Where More Costs Await!

Moving into a new house or apartment is a lot pricier than you can imagine until you put everything on paper. There are so many things to pay whether you’ve bought a house next door or rented an apartment on the other side of the city. Here are some things that might add to your final cost of relocation:

  • Utility hookups
  • Insurance
  • Security deposit
  • Property taxes
  • Repairs and maintenance

Don’t Forget the Small Things — They Add Up Quickly!

No matter how thorough you are while planning your relocation budget, it’s essential to remember one thing — you can never predict each and every cost! Whether you’re making a local or a long-distance move, your immediate after-move expenses are bound to surprise you.

Would you remember a fee for garbage disposal in your new neighborhood? How about a homeowners association fee? What about license renewal and registration for your vehicle if you’re relocating to a different state? What if your bathroom sink breaks the moment you touch it and you need to replace it? That’s why it’s important to expect the unexpected, i.e., leave extra room in your budget.

Hire Professional Local Movers

If you’ve decided to play it safe and hire local movers, feel free to contact Twin Brothers Movers. We offer everything from all-encompassing residential moving services to separate packing services and we’re eager to help you move to another part of New York.

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