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5 HIDDEN COSTS TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING story by Carolina Watlington Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, moving
3. MOVERS OR TRUCK RENTALS | $50-4,000
can weigh down your wallet. To help prep for your next move, here are
The actual moving part of moving is no easy task. Even if you think
five hidden costs of moving you should know about before the big day.
you can handle it all yourself, you’ll still need to rent a truck. To rent
1. PACKING SUPPLIES | $100+
a 26-foot-long U-Haul for one day, even if you’re just moving across town, expect to pay a flat rate of $40 plus $1 per mile — in addition
To properly pack your belongings, you’ll need boxes, bubble wrap,
to extra fees. According to 2014 research by the American Moving &
packing paper, tape, markers and more. Even those flimsy cardboard
Storage Association, the average 7,100-pound move can cost $1,170
boxes you’ll toss after the move will dip into your wallet. Spending
in state and $5,630 out of state.
$1-3 per box, they won’t break the bank, but it will add up. For a three-bedroom home, the average cost of boxes alone is around $150. To save money or paper, look into getting some reusable containers you can use on your next move and for storage in the
4. MOVING INSURANCE AND LIABILITY PROTECTION | $100+
One way to combat the extensive costs of property damage is to
meantime. Companies offer programs to rent reusable boxes at rates
be prepared by purchasing moving insurance. Traditional moving
typically cheaper than purchasing one-time-use cardboard boxes.
insurance typically costs 1% of the valuation of your items. Moving
Plastic moving boxes from U-Haul on average cost $1.50 per box for
insurance isn’t for everyone, but if you’re making a big move or
a one-week rental.
2. LOSING YOUR SECURITY DEPOSIT OR DOING REPAIRS | $500+
When you live somewhere for a while, you might not realize how
much wear and tear you put on the place. If you owned your home, you might need to do some touch-ups and repairs before someone else buys it. If you’re renting, it’s a different ballgame entirely. Some
have valuable items, it’s worth looking into. If you’re using a moving company, check out their liability value protection package options in case anything breaks during the move. It‘s cheaper and may be more suited to what you need. But if you’re worried about natural disaster damages, moving insurance is your best bet.
5. LOST WAGES FROM NOT WORKING | VARIABLE
It’s easy to forget how much stuff you own until you have to pack it up.
landlords will look for any reason to withhold your deposit. Just be
To completely pack up a three-bedroom house with no professional
ready to dish out a few hundred dollars if things go south.
assistance, you need between three-to-five full days on average. You might be able to use paid time off for it, but even then, you’ll have to sacrifice vacation days you’ve been saving up. O&B
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