Budget Planning: How to Not Get Blindsided by Unexpected Moving Costs

You already know that moving can be expensive – but you may be surprised at just how expensive it can be. Many expenses can pop up that you don’t expect, and before you know it, you could be spending hundreds or thousands more than you had planned.

Good budget planning can help you avoid getting blindsided by moving costs. You just need to think through each stage of your move carefully and get as much information as you can. Here are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t get blindsided by unexpected moving costs:

Factor in House Hunting

If you are moving out of the state or many towns over, you will have some expenses associated with looking for a new house. You will need to drive to the area frequently, or to fly there. You may need to stay in hotels if it’s very far. The more trips you need to take to find the right house, negotiate the sale, and close the deal, the more you will spend.

Include a budget for house hunting. Overestimate the number of trips you will need to take. It’s better to have extra money once your move is over than to have spent more than you thought.

Get a Detailed Estimate

Hiring professional movers can make the whole process much easier. But you will need to get a detailed estimate if you don’t want to have any surprises for your budget. Otherwise, items that you thought were included in your quote could be tacked on at the end, sending up your bill.

When you get your estimate, make sure you ask the movers about specialty items such as grandfather clocks or pianos. They will require special care and special items to move them. Also be sure you are calculating the right cost of materials. For example, you may need specialty boxes for items like large televisions, and those costs can be different than for the standard boxes.

Check Your Insurance

Things can go wrong during a move, even with the best planning and the most experienced help. A professional moving company will have insurance to protect against loss in the case of an accident. Make sure you ask what is included and you review the specific details before you sign the agreement.

Then check with your own renter’s insurance or homeowner’s insurance to find out if you are covered during your move. If you are not, you may be able to add a rider that will cover you. You will need this to cover incidents not caused by the movers or to cover items in excess of what the mover’s insurance covers.

Consider Moving Pets

If you are moving across town, moving your pet will likely be as simple as putting it in a safe crate and transporting it yourself. However, if you are moving a long distance, you will need to factor in the costs associated with moving your pet. You may need to pay airfare for your pet, pay for special boarding, or pay for additional vaccines before your pet can travel. Investigate the requirements and the cost before you move so you know what to expect.

Calculate Cost of Moving Vehicles

Again, if you are moving close to home, this one is no worry. Just get in your car and drive it across town. But if you are moving to another state, getting your car there is going to be expensive. At a minimum, you will need to pay the gas to drive it to the new location. However, you may not be able to do that if you have multiple cars and not enough drivers. Therefore, you will need to check with your movers about the cost of towing the vehicles to the new home, as well.

Figure Out How You’ll Arrive

Moving far away really adds to your costs. One of the final expenses you’ll need to pay is getting yourself to your new home. If you are moving from one coast to another, for example, you may not want to endure a long car ride. Check out airfare or alternative transportation to calculate how much it will cost to get you and your family to your new home.

If you do plan to drive there, don’t forget to include the cost of hotel stays and food along the way for your trip.

Provide a Buffer for New House Needs

No matter what, you are bound to need something for the new house when you move in. Maybe you need new curtains because your old ones don’t fit. Or maybe you need to replace a tile that comes loose once everything is moved in. You never know what will pop up. Leave yourself a bit of a buffer in the budget to account for these unexpected (but inevitable) new house needs.

With the right preparation and planning, your move can go much more smoothly and you can stay on budget. In fact, you can even save money! Think through these and other aspects of your move carefully to create the right budget and ensure that you start life in your new home without any unexpected deficits.

A to Z Valleywide Movers can help make your move an easy one! We provide comprehensive and detailed moving estimates so you know just what to expect from your final bill. We’ll walk you through things you need to consider, such as special care for oversized and specialty items. Our goal is to help you get through the moving process as easily as possible and with no surprises. Call us in Arizona today to get a free estimate for your local or long-distance move!

Published By:

A to Z Valleywide Movers – Michael Rodriguez
2316 E. Rawhide St.
Gilbert, AZ 85296

Office: 602-422-6409
Email: service@azvalleywidemovers.com
Website: https://www.azvalleywidemovers.com