How Much Does It Cost To Move Out Of State?
According to a recent survey, one-third of Americans asked wished they could move out of state. If you are a recent college grad or a mid-career professional, the idea of pulling up roots and moving to a new state is a mixed blessing. Would it be better to hire a professional mover, use a storage container, or rent a truck? What expenses will your new employer cover?
Before you start filling boxes and grabbing shipping tape, consider these parts of the moving process. The smart person will make a budget and start saving for this. The costs of shipping your items, personal transportation, whether it’s airfare or driving yourself, hotel and insurance costs pile up quickly. Add the expense of future security deposits for renting and starting utilities in your new home. Moving requires quite a few upfront expenses that can quickly siphon off your savings account. Making a budget to cover the costs will help smooth the transition, but don’t rely on using the security deposit from your old place to cover those costs. It could take weeks for a landlord to refund your security deposit.
Some employers will cover relocation costs, but it is important to know exactly what that entails. Your employer may reimburse items such as shipping services, packing services, transportation, and travel expenses associated with searching for your new home — if you are moving specifically for the job. Negotiate this during the interviewing process and ask whether your employer will cover other common costs such as lease cancellation fees, realtor assistance, temporary housing, and storage.
The three most popular ways to transport belongings across state lines are professional movers, truck rental companies, and container services that provide and transport self-storage containers that you need to fill. Each service has its own perks and level of participation. Also, know that your prices, participation levels, and results can vary considerably.
With professional full-service movers, they will pack, load, ship, and unpack all of your belongings. So the only job left for you to do is to point out what you are moving and where you want it. Many people opt to do much of the packing themselves to save money and ensure proper handling. Estimating your costs for professional moving services isn’t as simple as jumping online. Many moving companies send a representative to your home to assess your items and provide an estimate. Unlike moving trucks and shipping services, movers often do not factor in mileage as much as cargo’s gross weight. Professional movers can cost upwards of $7,500, depending on your house’s size and the number of belongings. A rule of thumb is it usually costs around $1,000 per room, and that includes a full-service experience from planning to moving day.
When considering the option of using truck rental companies, remember that renting and driving a high profile panel truck to your new destination is just not for everyone. You have to be comfortable driving a rather large vehicle while using your side mirrors instead of a rearview mirror. You need to be conscious of the vehicle’s added length and width when changing lanes and maneuvering through narrow streets. Most truck rental companies do not offer you training on how to drive a large truck. You will also ultimately be responsible for supplying much of the labor associated with the move. Typically, the standard requirements for renting a moving truck is that the driver is older than 25 years of age and have a valid driver’s license.
Truck rental companies usually base their rates on the truck’s size ranging in length from 10-foot to 26-foot trucks, distance of travel, days of use, and rental-related insurance. Additional items such as appliance dollies, furniture pads and blankets, and new boxes are add-ons. Make sure to calculate your truck’s size against all your belongings, so you don’t pay for the wrong amount of space. Many rental trucks come equipped with a towing mechanism, so you can also bring your car along for the ride. Don’t forget to factor in your fuel costs.
Shipping container companies are the latest trend in moving household items from one place to another. The company will deliver an empty storage container directly to your current home for transporting your items. You specify exactly where you want the company to put the container, such as in your driveway or a designated place on the street. You pack the container whenever you see fit, ultimately securing it with your own padlock.
The container company returns to pick up your container and deliver it to your destination on a designated date, where you’ll unpack at your leisure. If you don’t know where you will be living in your new city yet, the shipping company can often hold your container at a storage facility. You can store your items for a monthly rate similar to that of self-storage units. However, you will want to pack your container carefully since you cannot access any of your belongings while in storage. The cost of renting one of these portable containers for a local move ranges between $350 and $550. This includes a month of storage and a whole lot of flexibility.
Do your due diligence before signing a contract with a moving, truck rental, or shipping company. Obtain at least three different estimates from the types of companies you plan to use to ensure the best deal. User-review sites can help you find the most reliable companies. You might also ask friends and family on social media for recommendations.
Remember, you can spend your time and energy to save money or spend your money to save time and effort. If supplying all the labor of a move and the time spent to pack all your belongings isn’t effective, storage containers and truck rentals may not be the best option in the long run.