Tips To Help You Estimate the Cost of Your Move
It doesn’t matter if you are going to a different neighborhood in your town or across the country. Moving can be stressful and takes an emotional and physical toll. Hiring a professional moving company, like Veteran Moving Group can reduce the physical burden and ensure your items arrive safely at your new home. However, you’re probably wondering if you can afford to hire movers?
Estimating the cost of your move will help you can plan your finances and determine what services you choose to do or have someone else do. To help, Veteran Moving Group wants to assist you in calculating the cost of your move using our simple formula.
Let’s Break Down The Details On What Factors Into The Cost Of Your Move:
Relocation Distance: It makes sense that the longer you are moving, the more expensive it will be. Since it takes more fuel and time to move your belongings a farther distance, the associated costs will increase.
The relocation distance also determines how the shipment is billed. If you’re going less than 50 miles, it’s a local move and billed by the number of hours it takes to compete. Relocations of more than 50 miles are considered long-distance moves and the costs are based on the weight of your shipment, as well as the distance traveled.
Shipment Weight: The more items you have to move, the more the move will cost. When you have more household goods, they will take up more space on the moving truck and weigh more. This requires a larger truck and more fuel, which increases costs. It also takes longer to load and unload bigger shipments, which may require more people to complete the job.
Other Factors that Influence Cost: How complex is the job? Special handling requirements, extra services, obstacles at the origin or destination … all of these factors can make the job more difficult. Large, heavy items like safes, pool tables, and hot tubs require extra work. So do delicate items like pianos, works of art or sensitive electronics. Narrow stairwells, steep hills or other access restrictions also complicate the job.
Time of the Move: Late spring and summer are the most popular times to move. Kids are out of school and the weather is generally nice, so moving companies stay busy. Weekends and national holidays are also peak move days. If you’re planning to move during these busier times, you may need to be a bit more flexible, schedule wise, when booking the services of a professional mover.
Extra services: Many professional moving companies offer extras. These may include packing or unpacking services, furniture assembly and split shipments. You’ll be paying more for any of these extra services.
How to Estimate Short-Distance Moving Costs
Local movers usually charge by the hour. Essentially, they add up the time it takes the moving truck to travel from origin to destination and the number of work hours required by the moving crew. A travel fee is typically included as well.
The basic short distance estimate formula looks like this:
(Hourly rate) * (Number of movers) * (Number of hours to complete the move) + (Travel fee) + (Extra services) = Cost of Local Move
Hourly rates vary on geography. Per mover, per hour, the rates range from $25 to $85.
How to Estimate Long-Distance Moving Costs
It’s easy to determine the mileage from point A to point B. Your biggest challenge will be estimating the weight of your shipment. An in-house survey of your belongings is the best way to estimate your shipment weight.
Actual charges will depend on the actual weight of your goods. The moving truck will be weighed on certified scales before loading. You’ll receive an “empty weight” certificate. After your belongings are loaded, the truck will be weighed again to produce a weight ticket.
The actual weight and distance to your new home will determine the bulk of your moving cost. (Any reputable moving company should make its rates readily available on its website. This rate also should appear on the bill of lading.)
The long distance estimate formula looks like this:
(Actual weight) * (Rate per pound per mile) * (Relocation distance) + (Charges for extra services) + (Additional moving insurance you request) = Cost of Long-Distance Move
Get A Free Quote From Your Local Moving Company – Veteran Moving Group
The best way to estimate the cost of your move is by getting a quote from a professional, experienced moving company like Veterans Moving Group. After you request a quote, we’ll come to your home to survey your belongings, discuss the services you want and provide a quote.
When we come to do a walk-through, be sure to identify everything you intend to move to the new location. Point out things that may need extra attention or special handling. Talk about any extra services you want, such as packing or unpacking and be sure you understand exactly what services are included in the quote we provide. That way, you can be assured everything has been accounted for and no detail is left unaddressed.
Get started today. Call Veterans Moving Group at (863) 875-2674 or request a quote online.
