The average American will move nine times after the age of 18.
Whether you’re above or below the national average (or somewhere in between), the cost of moving adds up fast.
If you’re moving house again soon, you might be trying to decide between doing it yourself or using professional moving companies.
What’s the average moving cost of each option? We’ll explore the answer below, so keep reading!
DIY Moving Cost
Unless you’re borrowing a friend’s truck and loading a few boxes in the bed, you’ll incur some costs with a DIY move.
In most cases, these costs will be less than hiring professional movers, but it depends on the scope of your move.
Boxes and packing materials are an unavoidable cost of moving. Add up the cost of plastic bins, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other items.
You might be able to save on the cost of boxes by sourcing free ones from a local liquor store or grocery store, so it’s worth checking around.
Next, you need to factor in the cost of renting a truck. Even with a short-distance move across town, expect to pay around $100 or more to rent the moving truck.
Don’t forget to factor in a tank of gas, as well as the price of renting dollies, hand trucks, or moving blankets.
Long-distance moves add up fast. You’ll pay anywhere from $500 to $1,500 to rent a 10-foot box truck and drive it across the country.
Large trucks can quickly add up to $2,000 or more, plus the cost of gas, hotels, and meals. If you need your vehicle transported during your move, it can easily cost over $1,500 to ship a car.
Finally, you need to factor in the associated costs of a DIY move, including your time.
Will you need to bribe or pay your friends to help with the heavy lifting? Will you need to arrange for childcare or pet-sitting services on the day of the move?
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Cost of Professional Movers
By the time you add up all these different factors, it’s no wonder that many people turn to moving companies rather than trying to move on their own.
What can you expect as far as moving costs with professional movers like Advanced Moving?
The exact price will depend on how much stuff you have and how far you’re traveling. Here’s a rough idea of what you might pay for professional moving services:
- 1-bedroom local move: $300-$400
- 1-bedroom long-distance move: $1,200-$2,000
- 2-bedroom local move: $600-$750
- 2-bedroom long-distance move: $3,000-$4,000
- 3-bedroom local move: $1,200-$1,400
- 3-bedroom long-distance move: $5,000-$6,500
These numbers might come with a bit of sticker shock, especially for long-distance moves.
But if you tally up all the small costs of a DIY move, you might discover that it’s about the same (or even less) to hire professionals.
Moving House? Tally up the Cost of Moving
There’s nothing you can do to eliminate the cost of moving. There are pros and cons of doing it yourself or hiring professional movers, so it’s up to you to count the final costs!
Now that we’ve discussed moving costs, what’s next? Our site has more great tips and advice, so stick around and keep browsing!
