If you’ve ever attempted to move homes without the help of a moving company, the chances are you appreciate the value of professional help. It can be an overwhelming and arduous task to complete with just a few people and a rental van. But how much does it cost to hire a moving company?
The truth is, there are a number of factors that affect the cost of hiring a moving company. Let’s take a look at what these are and by the end, you’ll have an idea of how much to budget.
The Biggest Factor
It makes sense that a bigger property will have more items and therefore will require more effort to move. Even the biggest hoarders can only fit a certain amount of items in a studio apartment or small house.
One of the first things a moving company will ask is how many bedrooms your home has. This is so that they can estimate the manpower and the time required to complete the job.
Some average figures for different sized houses;
- 1 bedroom house will take on average 3-5 hours at a cost of $250-$500
- 2 bedroom house will take on average 5-7 hours at a cost of $400-$700
- 3/4 bedroom house will take 7+ hours at a cost all the way up to $2000
The size of the property is the biggest determining factor in the moving company cost.
Other Aspects Affecting Cost
While the size of the property is the biggest determining factor in the moving company cost, there are a few other variables that can make the move cheaper or more expensive.
Distance and Travel
While there are usually moving companies relatively local to most people, the moving company still needs to travel to your new home to deliver the items. If you’re moving far away, this can be a sizable extra expense.
Another factor to consider is if you need to have some items dropped off at a separate location, for example at a storage unit. Extra stops will cost extra money, so be sure to budget for that.
Access and Location
Homes that are in difficult locations, such as remote homes with off-road access, will usually mean extra charges from the professional moving company.
This is also true for inner-city properties like high-rises and apartment blocks, where access may be difficult due to staircases and narrow corridors.
Specialty Items
If you have large, bulky, or very valuable belongings, moving companies will likely charge more. It’s also a good idea to take out insurance on valuable items in the event that they become damaged in transit.
It’s better to be safe than sorry in this situation, so make sure you’re covered.
It Makes Sense to Hire a Moving Company
When you hire a moving company, remember that they are professional movers—they know what they are doing and they can be trusted to transport your belongings as safely and efficiently as possible.
This makes it worth the cost over the painstaking task of doing it all yourself.
For more information and advice like this, check out some other articles on the website.
