Moving Expenses Checklist – Costs You Should Count In

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About 15,3 million American households move yearly, while the average American citizen moves from 11 to 12 times in their life. If you are one of them and want to make a good moving expenses checklist, you might find this article very helpful. This interesting text will help you calculate potential costs that should be included in your moving expenses list, as well as some unexpected charges, and by the end of it, you’ll also learn some convenient saving tips and tricks.

Check listing stacked boxes for relocation
 You need to plan every step of your move in advance

Booking professional help is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You might be thinking that relocating on your own is more economical, but after reading this text, you’ll be able to see the bigger picture. Some of the unexpected costs and charges that might occur in a DIY move can easily overcome the price of hiring professional movers in Orange County. Not only that you’ll save money by hiring Orange County movers, but you’ll also move comfortably and efficiently.

How Much Should I Budget for Moving Expenses?

Relocations are often overwhelming and can cause a lot of relocation stress. One of the biggest causes of this feeling is the fact that you have to spend a lot of money on different aspects of your relocation and you often feel like you’re losing control over your spendings. Sometimes these can be your life savings and spending something you worked for patiently and hardly through the years, so, naturally, we feel desperate when this moment comes.

But, with every relocation, there comes a period with great new possibilities – for work changes and life changes that can influence your career and bring you greater pleasures. Depending on your personal circumstances and goals, your relocation budget might vary. You can also calculate your daily expenses for one month in order to include them in your plan. Add your deposit and rent price to the final client as well. In case you’re relocating locally, you should think about the size of your apartment and the inventory you need to relocate. In most cases, you’ll need from $500 to $2,000 for professional services on a regular basis.

woman siting in a wooden table with coins, pen, calculator and bill
Calculate your daily expenses for a month

What Are Some Typical Moving in Costs? List of Moving Expenses

Is there a checklist for moving? There isn’t one unique checklist that can be used in every situation, but you can, and you should make your own, according to your specific requirements. Moving out expenses checklist should be customized in a way that covers everything you find important and necessary. Most of these lists should include:

  • Basic professional services,
  • Packing supplies,
  • Truck rental,
  • Relocation insurance,
  • Auto-shipping if needed,
  • Storage services if required,
  • Custom crating,
  • Disassembling and assembling of furniture pieces,
  • Extra fees for bulky items ( for example, if you move a piano),
  • Cost of personal traveling,
  • Cleaning services,
  • New home costs.

How Do You Calculate Moving Costs?

Once you decide where you are relocating and find your dream house in some of the best places to live in Orange County, CA, you should find out everything about your future home costs. Think about utilities, potential life expenses, and rent – these are some things you should know at the very beginning of the process. The following important question applies to your household inventory, precisely what are the items you want to relocate and what are the pieces you don’t use, or some storage belongings you want to get rid of. Also, if you’re relocating with pets, you could have some different costs than people who are relocating without them, so think about this as well. If you don’t own a suitable truck, you should also consider truck rental options.

Once you make a list of your inventory and find out if there are some bulky or valuable items included, you should contact professionals in your local area and get a free quote for their services so you can include them in your calculations. Keep in mind that the time of the year when you’re relocating can also significantly impact the final price. If you want to save money, we suggest you move during winter, because this season is less busy and by that cheaper – you might also buy or rent a house for less.

Piggy bank, calculator and coins for relocation
Calculate your potential costs once you know the needed details

Book Your Move on Time – Prices of Services Might Vary Depending on the Season

As soon as you find out the dates of your move, you should start looking for professional assistance. Don’t wait too long to contact them because this could lead to a higher price. If you hire professionals at least a month in advance, the chances that you will get a more affordable deal are higher, especially if you are relocating during the busy summer season. Another thing you can do if you have enough time is to compare relocation quotes and decide which cost and final price work the best for you. Also, be aware of potential relocation scams – if an estimate seems unrealistically low – this can be a serious sign of fraud. 

Don’t Forget About Transportation Fees

You should also consider including transportation fees in your relocation expenses list. No matter if you’re relocating on your own or hiring professionals, you should think about your personal transportation and fuel. No matter if you’re having a short or a long-distance move, there are always some items movers won’t move, so you’ll have to transport them on your own.

This might take more than one ride to achieve, especially if your car is small and you have to relocate some bulky items. If you’re renting a truck or other vehicle for these purposes, you have to calculate that costs as well. Depending on the type of vehicle, you might need about $100-$150 for a short-distance trip.

Professional movers unload boxes from a van
 Book professionals in advance for lower cost

Save One Part of Your Budget for Packing Supplies and Materials

Another thing to think about and put on your to-do list is gathering suitable packing materials. You need to calculate how much of these supplies you are going to need and how much you are ready to invest for good quality. When you know exactly what types of objects you want to relocate and protect from damage using these supplies, it will be much easier to choose which materials you have to buy and how much of them you’re going to need. If you are having a regular move, you will spend about $200 on this equipment. Some of the basic supplies you should gather are:

  • Boxes,
  • Bubble wrap,
  • Plastic wrap,
  • Labels,
  • Tape,
  • Cushioning.

For example, there is no need to waste too much on materials if you’re relocating just a few furniture pieces. Also, if you don’t know how to pack books or how to pack dishes, hiring professionals who can offer you packing services can be your best option. They can also supply you with quality materials, bring the appropriate equipment and even show you some helpful moving hacks.

packed boxes for relocation
Gather necessary supplies

When you’re relocating to a new home, you should be aware that some costs except for the rent price might occur as well. You might need to do some repairs, pay for the cleaning services, garden maintenance, utilities, and get some new furniture. You might also have to pay for a security deposit, pet deposit, and insurance. Check out this video about home-related fees and calculate them before getting to your new house.

Be Prepared for Potential Additional Costs

Unfortunately, it is never possible to calculate every potential fee and expense before the move happens. There are always some unpredictable circumstances that can lead to unexpected changes of terms, potential delays, cancellations, additional services, and other types of costs. That’s why you should never leave yourself without an extra budget for these kinds of surprises.

Don’t worry, there is always a chance you won’t be needing it, but just in case, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you planned everything, you can always overlook some aspects of your move, for example, if your going-away party got wilder than you expected, so you had to spend a lot more than you thought it would be necessary on more food and drinks for your guests. Something might even get damaged during the party, maybe someone spills a drink on your beige sofa, so you have to hire professionals for cleaning services afterward and reduce the harm.

woman holding a wallet with money for relocation
Some unexpected payments may always occur

Saving Tips That Will Help You During These Challenging Times

We get it, you might be shocked with some costs we mention, if you weren’t aware of them before, but don’t let this demotivate you. There are some cool saving tips and hacks you can rely on in order to limit your spendings and stay on budget. For example, you can find some free supplies, use some materials you already have in your home to protect your belongings, and sell or donate your unused inventory and earn some money during the process.

If You Want to Save Money on Packing Materials, You Can Get Some Free Materials

One of the best moving hacks you can use to save money and resources is to reuse some old supplies from local stores, such as boxes and similar types of containers. Go to a local food or drink store and ask them politely if they have some boxes they don’t need or want to get rid of. Some furniture stores might even offer you bigger boxes, which is great if you have to relocate some bulky pieces of furniture. If you are lucky enough to gather free boxes, just make sure you secure them with an extra layer of tape on their bottoms and prevent them from opening. 

Use Some Interesting Packing Hacks

Even if you moved before, you might not be aware of some cool hacks you can use while packing your items for the move. For example, if you have to pack plates, you can use clothes and towels to protect them from damage. If you want to pack fragile items like glasses on your own, you can put socks on them for protection. This is a great way to save money you would use for cushioning materials and bubble wrap while having the same quality protection.

Sell or Donate Unused Items and Storage Belongings You Don’t Need

One of the first things to do when organizing a move is to decide which items you are going to relocate and where you are going to place them in your new home. Sometimes, it’s hard to get rid of some items we find valuable, but they simply won’t fit your new space. If you have a storage unit where you can place them, you should consider putting them there. Another option is selling or donating these items instead of putting them in storage, especially if they are still in a good and usable condition. If you sell some of the furniture pieces, you might even earn something in the process.

A wooden table with a cup, a pencil, and a napkin
Donate or sell unnecessary belongings

Hire Professional Orange County Movers and Prevent Unexpected Costs

Finding reliable local movers in Orange County, CA, is one of the best solutions if you want to avoid unexpected fees and charges. Once you find your dream home in one of the best cities to live in, our professional movers in Orange County, CA, can give you a free quote, so you’ll know the potential price for every service you require. We help you move efficiently and offer you excellent residential relocation and even commercial relocation services. Our Orange County, CA, movers can also remind you of the most commonly forgotten things to pack and help you solve any relocation-related inconveniences. Contact our company if you have any additional questions and don’t wait too long to book a date for your local move.

Get a Free Quote!

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