Calculating Your Long Distance Moving Costs
You’ve accepted that new job offer or been accepted by your favorite grad school, so now it’s time to pack up and haul yourself across the country.
Not so fast!
Every move comes with hidden costs, but leaving Florida to move to another state can come with major sticker shock. Before you start packing, let’s start calculating your long distancing moving costs..
Long Distance Moving Costs
Obviously, you’ll want to calculate the cost of the move itself and don’t leave out the hidden costs of moving like packing material and food.
To get the most accurate cost of your long distance move, you’ll want to give potential movers as many details as possible. Not just the distance you’re moving but also when and a full inventory of all the items you need moved (number of boxes or suitcases, furniture, fragile items, and more).
Get plenty of quotes from moving companies in your area and make sure they have experience carrying families across state lines (we do!). But don’t allow yourself to be tempted by price alone. Do plenty of research to determine whether the company will provide a safe, high-quality move.
Of course, there are certain things that moving companies can’t move. And one of those things is you! Factor in the cost of plane tickets or a road trip for your family to get an accurate handle on how much your move will actually cost.
What Factors Into Long Distance Moving Costs?
When it comes to calculating moving costs, long distance moving isn’t all that different than moving a mile away. The amount of stuff you need moved, the weight of your belongings, the dates you want to move, and the distance you’re traveling are still the biggest factors when determining your moving cost.
Distance will be the biggest factor in your long distance moving costs because the cost of fuel and time will certainly add up.
Moving long distance requires more packing care as well, so while it will increase your moving costs, using your moving company’s packing services is not a bad investment. This way you can rest assured that every dish and picture frame is wrapped carefully to avoid breaking.
Finally, the amount of insurance you select on your belongings will affect your final moving costs.
Ultimately the best way to get an accurate calculation of your long distance moving costs is to do a full inventory of what you need moved, select a range a dates, plan the most cost-effective route, and discuss your move with your moving company before your make anything official.
But there are some things that will affect the cost of your move that have nothing to do with the move itself.
Cost of Living
Think beyond the move as well and research the cost of living in your new city. How much will your current salary have to increase to in order to remain at your current lifestyle?
Use a cost of living calculator to determine the minimum salary you’ll be willing to accept, but also do plenty of research on your own. If your lifestyle will have to be taken down a notch, that’s something you and your family will need to prepare yourselves for.
Also worth considering is the tax rate you’ll have to pay. Florida is one of only seven states with no state income tax, so moving out of state may bring with it an extra price tag come April.
A Different Climate
Don’t forget about all the extra costs of moving from Florida to a cooler climate (because pretty much everywhere is colder than Florida!).
Depending on where you’re moving to, you may have to purchase snow tires, heavy winter clothes, a snow shovel/blower, even extra lotion and lip balm (not every place is as humid as Orlando).
Keep your pets in mind as well. Fido will likely need a coat or booties to keep him warm while he does his business, as well as plenty of toys to keep him busy when it’s too cold to run around outside.
On the plus side, you can clean out your closet of some of those bathing suits, shorts, and tank tops meaning you’ll be moving with a little less!
A Different House
Regardless of where you’re going, moving always involves one thing: a different house.
Before you move in (while house hunting, ideally), take several minutes to picture yourself living there day-to-day. Living in your dream home may have hidden costs that you never thought to consider when you put the offer in: a bigger yard that needs more landscaping, more square footage to heat and cool, or perhaps a pool to clean and maintain. All of those great features that sold you on the place may end up costing you extra in the long run.
And that’s okay; just make sure you’re aware of the costs so you don’t get sticker shock.
A Change in Lifestyle
Moving houses can sometimes come with a change in lifestyle, whether that’s due to a new job, a new city, or simply a new attitude.
If you’re moving to California to pursue an acting career, make sure you include the costs of things like head shots, agent fees, and SAG membership. If your recent promotion to VP is taking you to a swanky uptown Manhattan neighborhood, you’ll need to factor in the cost of parking your car (or public transportation). Moving to an area with a less-than-desirable school district? Crunch the numbers of a private school tuition.
Tips to Lower Your Long Distance Moving Costs
First off, a long distance move is not going to be cheap, but we’ve got some tips on what you can do to mitigate the final cost.
The first step is take stock of all your possessions and decide what you need to take with you and what you can leave behind. Clothes, decoration, furniture, dishes, assess everything.
Think about the things you might be able to re-sell if they’re in good enough condition. Also think about how much added cost it will be to move that 10-year-old dresser 1,000 miles vs. how much it would cost to purchase a new one once you’re in your new home.
Next, think about what items you might be able to ship instead of having movers move them. You can also use blankets and towels as padding to save on bubble wrap.
Finally, plan ahead so you can select a range of moving dates. The more options you have, the better chance at getting a good price.
Get the Best Long Distance Move With Cento Moving
Cento Moving and Storage may not be able to do anything about the cost of living in your new state, but we can certainly give you a great deal on a quality long distance move to help get you there!
With Cento Moving, you’ll never have to deal with hidden fees or surprise costs at the end, and depending on the distance of your move, we’ll have your belongings at your new front door within seven days. And we make sure your items are protected with insurance as well as free shrink wrap, blankets, TV and mattress boxes at no added cost. Not to mention, we don’t charge extra for stairs, elevators, or disassembly with long distance moves.
Contact us today for a free estimate.
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People don’t think about these hidden costs. New wardrobes that are appropriate for the climate can be really expensive. Thanks for the list!
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