Typical Moving Costs To Consider

1. Transportation Costs
2. Additional Travel Expenses
3. Shipping & Packing Supplies
4. Conclusion

Moving can be an expensive proposition no matter how you decide to go about this process. Hiring a professional moving company or service is certainly the most convenient options, but it is also the most expensive. Ultimately, the amount of money you pay will be determined by the combination of tasks you do versus those you hire someone else to do. Here are some of the more typical moving costs to consider before deciding which approach is best for you.

Transportation Costs

The most fundamental concern in a move is getting you and your stuff from the old location to the new location. This will involve transportation in some fashion. Since it is not likely you will be able to move everything in your personal vehicle, this will involve either hiring professional movers or renting a truck.

Most truck rental companies will charge a flat fee that includes a set number of miles. If you are conducting your own long-distance move, you need to be prepared to pay extra money for those added miles, so definitely inquire as to how they work and then calculate your total costs. In some cases, it might end up not saving that much compared to a professional moving service.

Additional Travel Expenses

You will also probably need to purchase truck rental insurance. Just make sure you know exactly what will be (and what isn't) covered under the policy and how much extra this will cost. Other travel expenses may include:

• Fuel Costs: Please do not underestimate this. Many trucks or vans will only get about 7 to 10 miles per gallon, so you can calculate how much this will cost based on the distance you will be driving. Be sure to also figure in the fuel costs for the return trip (unless you are able to drop the truck off in your new location).
• Hotel Expenses: Possibly, depending on the distance of the move, when you leave, how far you plan to travel each day, etc...
• Extra Help: You may also want to consider hiring help for the loading and unloading of the truck. Or maybe you will have friends and/or family help on one or both sides of the move.

Shipping & Packing Supplies

Although these will not be a huge cost or expense, shipping and packing supplies will certainly not be an insignificant expense, either. You could, of course, visit supermarkets and other local business in an attempt to find some free boxes. The only problem is that many boxes obtained in this fashion may be too weak or otherwise unsuitable for a move.

You could also, if planning far enough ahead, grab a number of copy paper boxes. These do tend to be very strong, although not very large. But by spending a couple weeks grabbing them from several sources, this might be enough to get you started. Boxes may also be purchased outright from moving supply stores or hardware stores (even shipping places like UPS, although they might be a bit more expensive here).

Conclusion

These are just some of the main areas you need to think about when deciding how much your move might cost. These costs, along with the time and effort involved, should give you a good idea of whether to move or to consider professional help.