The perception of people moving long distances is often very different from the reality of the possible options they have to consider. Many individuals and couples believe that hiring a professional moving service is cost prohibitive and there are much long distance er alternatives out there.
While it is true that some moving companies charge high prices, particularly in the summer peak moving seasons, there are long distance movers available offering professional services with fully trained, licensed and highly experienced movers and drivers. Shopping around and getting quotes from top moving services will help you determine the real cost of moving.
Do-It-Yourself Considerations
A quick and very simple exercise to do when comparing the cost of long distance movers and do-it-yourself moves is to do a quick budget for each option. The movers are easy, just call and request a free no-obligation quote.
Many of the top movers have simplified this process through a handy app. You will just download the app to a tablet or smartphone and make a virtual inventory of your home. Just fill in the details of the move and submit it electronically to get the free quote in just a few minutes.
Doing it yourself will include several different factors. When making the comparison you will need to consider:
- Truck rental – for most standard sized three to four bedroom homes you will need a large sized truck to hold all of the contents of your home. If you underestimate you may need to have storage and make two trips, literally doubling the cost of rental.
- Fuel – you will need to pay for the fuel the truck uses for the time you have it on rental. Keep in mind these trucks get a lot fewer miles to the gallon with most under 10 to 14 mpg for highway driving. Larger trucks will use diesel, which is more expensive than gas.
- Insurance – you will need to insure your possessions for the move. Your homeowners insurance policy will not typically cover your items during the move. This means if anything is broken or damaged you will have to pay to have it repaired or replaced on your own.
- Paying Help – while you can ask friends and family to help, you may also have to pay for help to get the packing done on time or load those really heavy items on the truck. Large items like pianos, pool tables, artwork or other heavy items can be difficult and costly to have moved.
Once you compare the differences, you will find that long distance movers offer not only a lower overall price but a lot of benefits as well. Just do the math to make the choice that is best for your budget.
