Moving: The Cost
Moving from one place to another one. When planning your relocation, you should always be prepared that it might involve more expenses than originally planned. This usually happens if the relocation is not planned carefully, but sometimes even if it is. No matter what way of moving you are planning to use, whether moving on your own or hiring professionals, there are always some expenses included. In this article we will break them down to give you a general idea what to expect. Now you are maybe asking, so what’s the problem then? Basically, there are two issues: in case of moving organized by people themselves, it is too common to forget about all the additional tools, packaging material, transportation or the value of the time. But all these are related expenses you should count with. Also in case of moving with the help of a professional company, you might come across problems related to wrong company choice, wrong price calculation, or undervaluation of all kinds of additional expenses that are necessary, but weren’t included in the company’s bill. If you recall the first article of our “moving” series, we have already described the three options how to sort out your moving. They all differ by the level of your own involvement: either the professionals do everything for you, or you can manage all the work yourself – packing, loading, transporting and unloading. Or in case you wish to have more control over the whole process, you can choose a company offering a hybrid service. While some companies provide the transportation only, other ones can also load, transport and unload all the stuff you had packed before.
What do you need to think about? Before beginning this difficult operation, always sit down and work out a budget. It will make your life much easier later. Generally, there are four main categories of moving-related costs: transportation of your things, packing of your things, transportation of you and your family, and finally the expenses related to the necessary arrangements during the first few days in your new house. The moving itself. Firstly you have to calculate the cost of moving your things. You have most likely already made the decision as to if you wish to hire a company, or you can move on your own. If a professional help is the way to go for you (we will bring some more advice on choosing the best company in one of the following articles), first contact them and ask for a written estimate of the price. The estimate may present either a binding or a nonbinding price, meaning whether it is the final price, or some other charges may come up later. This should be clear from the price estimate in any case. Include the price of tips – it’s commonly around $25 per worker.
How much is the work?. Secondly, the cost of the manpower that will do the packing and loading should be estimated – it may be the hired professionals, but also friends or family ready to help (it would be nice from you to at least buy them a dinner!), and also the value of your time, especially if you need to take some off work. You should also count with the cost of any packaging material (boxes, bubble wrap, tapes etc.) and/or tools (i.e. dollies) you will use.
How much is the transportation?. Thirdly, you have to calculate the price of the transport for you and your family – either flights, train or bus ride, or the price of petrol, if you are planning to travel by car. Also lodging, meals and possible entertainment while travelling should be calculated into the total price.
After you have moved: a fresh start Actually, when you look at all the boxes with your things around, it’s almost impossible to realize all the trouble and extra expenses related to the moving. A cable or telephone or other services may include some start-up charges for the initial connection. Another topic is groceries – you will have to do a lot of shopping to replace all the food you have probably emptied from the fridge and freezer before the moving. Also think about the price of any things you have left behind and you need to replace them now, such as various household items. Or you just want to redecorate your new place a bit. It is always helpful to think first and write down the costs of all the necessary items to buy, so that the total sum doesn’t surprise you after the moving.
As a Vancouver real estate agent, I have always tried to help my clients even with this issue, therefore I would like to share with you some useful tips & tricks: 1) Always compare the price of moving an item and replacing it at your new place. If you do this, you might be surprised by what comes out of this comparison. 2) If moving because of a new job, discuss with your new employer the chance of a relocation package. 3) Keep all the bills related to moving because you might be entitled for a tax deduction.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment