The type of move you’re making or long-distance directly affects how much your relocation will cost. The cheapest isn’t always the best, so get detailed, written estimates from multiple companies. Other moving costs include hourly labor for loading and unloading your PODS, packing supplies, and cleaning or handyman services for your old and new home.
Preparation
Moving to a new home is a major life event that is both exciting and stressful. Having a plan and being prepared can make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. There are many things to consider when planning a local move, and we’ve put together a guide with tips and a checklist to help you get started. Begin by researching companies and comparing quotes. Whether hiring professional movers or going the DIY route, this is an important first step. Make sure you choose a company that is licensed, insured, and has good reviews. This will ensure that your belongings are in good hands and protected during the move.
When calculating your moving quote, the size of your home and distance to the destination will influence the price. Also, extra services like packing and storage will increase the cost. Getting an estimate ahead of time will give you an idea of what to expect and can help prevent any surprises on moving day.
If you’re renting, give notice to your landlord at least two months in advance of your move. This will allow them time to find a new tenant and schedule turnover services. Visit your new neighborhood. If you haven’t had a chance, book a hotel nearby and spend the weekend getting to know it.
Start a folder or binder for all of your move-related documents. This will keep you organized and can be a huge help when claiming expenses on your taxes. It’s also a good idea to notify key parties, such as your employer, schools, doctors, and subscription services, about your upcoming move.
The most important thing to remember when planning a local move is to stay organized and do your research. It’s crucial to have a clear vision of what needs to be done and when, so you can stay on track throughout the entire process.
Packing
The packing phase is an essential part of the local moving process, as it involves a great deal of time and effort to get your belongings ready for transport. During this stage, you need to be organized and ensure that all of your items are safely wrapped and boxed up so that they will not break or become damaged during the transporting process.
If you do not want to do this yourself, you can hire a team of professional local movers that will pack your items for you. This can save you a lot of stress and hassle during the move. However, this option can be very expensive. You will have to pay for the movers’ hourly labor and additional costs like packing materials, long carry, or stairs if applicable.
When it comes to determining the cost of your move, one of the most important factors is whether you are moving locally or long distance. A local move usually occurs within a radius of 30 miles, while a long distance move is anything that extends beyond this limit.
A good way to determine which type of local move you are undergoing is by asking your chosen moving company what type of service they offer. Generally, a local move will be priced on an hourly basis, while an interstate move is typically priced by the weight and distance of your shipment.
Depending on the size of your move, you may need to rent an extra truck or trailer to transport your belongings. If you do not have a truck of your own, you can hire a PODS storage and delivery solution for your local move. These containers are delivered to your home where you can load them, and then the company will pick up and deliver your container at your new location, even if that wasn’t originally in your plan.
When hiring a local mover, you will want to make sure that they are licensed and insured. You should also look at the number of years they have been in business and check for customer reviews and feedback. You should also ask for an estimate before you hire the company to be sure that it is within your budget.
Moving Day
Moving Day is the day that you finally get to start living in your new house. You may have to make some concessions in the beginning as you settle into your new home and find a place for everything, but over time, things will begin to fall into place.
The moving day portion of a local move is much more straightforward than other types of moves, and is often completed in a shorter period of time. This is because the moving company doesn’t need to load your belongings onto a truck and then drive across an entire state to another city or town. This will save you both money and time as a result.
Many local movers will provide you with an estimate before the moving process begins and this will usually include the cost of labor, as well as the necessary packing materials. This is to ensure that you are fully aware of how much the move will cost in advance so that you can prepare accordingly. Some companies will charge additional fees, such as for a long carry (the distance from your entryway to the moving truck) or an elevator fee (if you live in an apartment or have no access to an elevator). It is important to pay close attention to the estimate and make sure that you understand what each item means.
It is also worth asking your moving company whether or not they offer any other services, such as clean up after the move. This can be a helpful service if you are pressed for time as it can be difficult to deal with the trash from all of the boxes and packaging. You should also ask your movers about other optional services, such as junk and trash removal, electronics assembly and disassembly, storage solutions, custom crating and more.
Local movers typically offer personalized service and quick turnarounds as they are smaller companies that cater to their community. You should also ask about the movers’ experience in your area and how they will handle any special circumstances that might arise during your move. For example, if you have a particularly large piece of furniture that will require special disassembly and wrapping, it’s good to know if your movers will be equipped with the proper tools and equipment for such tasks.
Disassembly/Reassembly
If your large furniture pieces need to be disassembled for moving, it is better to hire a professional reassembly and assembly service rather than trying to do this on your own. Local movers typically offer assembly and disassembly services as part of their bundled package.
Before hiring a local mover for this task, you must take inventory of your items that require disassembly. You can do this by making a list of what needs to be taken apart before the big day and also note any other special handling or custom crating needs. This will allow you to have an accurate pricing estimate for the job.
Disassembling your large furniture items before moving day is a crucial step for safe and efficient transport. For example, it is not possible to move bed frames and other heavy furniture fully assembled. In most cases, these large furniture items need to be disassembled before the movers arrive. This will help the movers get the job done faster and more efficiently as well.
The first thing that you should do when disassembling your furniture is to remove any removable components. This can include things like trundle drawers from beds or interlocking parts of vanity tables. This will not only make the piece lighter for transportation but it will also prevent these components from getting lost or damaged during transit. You can then place these smaller components in moving boxes or plastic bags and label them. This will make reassembling your furniture much easier after moving day.
It is important to note that you should never try to reassemble your furniture without having the instruction manual on hand. The movers will need to be able to follow the disassembly directions in reverse order to ensure that everything gets back into its proper place once it arrives at your new home or office.
Another thing that you should keep in mind when disassembling your furniture is to have someone to keep an eye on children and pets. It is best to find a babysitter or have family members watch over your kids and pets while the movers are working to prevent any accidents from occurring.
