Moving is stressful, no doubt about it. To ensure your next move goes as smoothly as possible, it’s helpful to create a budget—and stick to it. With your finances under control, you can focus your attention on getting to your new place as quickly as possible and settling in.
Here at First United Bank & Trust, we know a thing or two about budgeting. We’ve put together a helpful go-to moving checklist to help you budget appropriately for your next move. From cleaning supplies to moving insurance, we’ve factored in every expense you can think of.
Moving Company
More often than not, it’s more cost-efficient to let a moving company transport your items. Plus, since professional movers have large trucks, the majority of your items can make it to your new place in one trip. The cost of hiring a moving company greatly depends on how far you’re moving and how much stuff you have. For a local move, you’re probably looking at a few hundred dollars. For a cross-country move, it’ll likely run you around $2,000. While this may seem like a lot, it beats having to rent a truck, drive it, load and unload the items yourself, and pay for gas.
Packing Materials
Boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap can get expensive. Make sure you don’t miscalculate how much you need because you probably can’t return what you don’t use. Go to local stores and ask for boxes that they’re going to throw away. Many of them will give you the boxes for free. Don’t forget to get furniture covers if you’re using a moving truck that doesn’t have a covered cargo area. You’ll also need bungee cords to secure your items. Plan to spend $100 to $200 on packing materials.
Moving Truck
If you’re not hiring professional movers and don’t have a large truck, you’ll need to rent one. Thankfully, companies like U-Haul offer moving trucks at a decent price. U-Haul also makes it simple to stock up on moving supplies. For an in-town move, you can rent a truck for around $20 a day plus mileage and fees. For an out-of-town move, plan to spend a few hundred dollars on a moving truck. When you rent a truck, ask the company if you can borrow a dolly. Many of them will let you use one for free.
Moving Insurance
Before getting moving insurance, call your credit card companies and ask if they offer any moving coverage perks. You may be able to tap into moving insurance for free. If they don’t offer moving coverage, make sure your moving insurance policy covers all of the items you’re moving. Moving insurance usually costs about one percent of the value of your belongings. If you’re moving $40,000 worth of stuff, your insurance is going to cost about $400.
Storage Unit
If you’re not taking all of your belongings with you to the new place, you’ll need to rent a storage unit, which can get expensive. For a small storage unit with enough room to hold one to two rooms’ worth of stuff, you’re looking at spending $50 a month. For larger units, it’ll cost you $100+ a month. Consider donating what you don’t want to take with you to eliminate the need for a storage unit.
Cleaning Supplies
Stock up on cleaning supplies so you can clean both the old place while you’re moving out as well as the new place when you’re moving in. Plan to spend about $50 on cleaning supplies. If you’re moving from a rental, make sure to clean it thoroughly so you can get your deposit back.
Utility Expenses
Ask your old utility company to put your deposit on the last month’s bill. This will save you money that you can put toward any new utility deposits. It’ll likely cost you a few hundred dollars to get all of your new utilities turned on. In addition to electric and water, consider what it’ll cost to get services like trash pick-up and Internet.
There are many other expenses to consider that will vary with the type of move you’re making. From property taxes on the new house to hotel costs if your move takes more than a day, these are all fees you must consider. If you need financial assistance to fund your move, consider taking out a personal loan.