8 Hidden Moving Costs You Should
Know About

When it comes to moving, there are lots of costs and fees you need to account for.

The main costs come from hiring movers to pack up your house and move all of your boxes and furniture to your new home, or if you choose not to hire movers, the main cost may come from renting a truck. But these aren’t the only costs you need to think of when you’re moving. There are lots of small, hidden fees that sneak up on you as well. Here are eight hidden moving costs that you should consider and work into your budget if you’re planning on moving.

Hidden Moving Costs

1. Buying Boxes for Packing

What most people don’t think of when they choose to pack up their home by themselves is that they will need dozens of boxes. Be sure to add boxes to your budget.

2. Overnight Moving Fees

If you arrive late in the evening or night to your new home, some communities and buildings don’t allow work to be done at certain hours. If this happens to be the case for your new community, then you might have to pay an overnight fee if you have hired movers. Moving companies can hold your items overnight, but this likely isn’t going to be a free service, so be sure to keep this in mind.

3. Buying Bubble Wrap and Other Items for Packing

Chances are that many items in your home are delicate and fragile. This means you will need specific packing equipment to ensure they survive the move without being damaged or broken beyond repair. Items like chinaware, vases, and glass items can all break very easily and should be wrapped in a cushioning material such as bubble wrap, Styrofoam, and air pillows. Buying all of this material can quickly add up, especially if you have lots of decorative fragile pieces or large china sets.

4. Staying in a Hotel

Many moves might take more than a day, especially if you’re moving to a different state. If this is the case, then you might not be able to stay in your new home right away. You’ll have to stay in a hotel, which is another hidden cost that can sneak up on you. Be sure to keep this in mind if you know you’ll be moving far away.

5. Renting Storage Space

If you’re downsizing your house, then chances are that your new home won’t be able to fit everything that your old home could. This means you’ll either have to donate, sell, or store all of your other belongings that won’t fit in your new home. Many people don’t consider this, but it’s important to start looking at storage facilities to find the best rate to store your items and furniture.

6. Hiring a Cleaner

Many people might hire a cleaner to clean their home after everything is moved out in preparation for the new owners or renters. Cleaners can start at $25 and end up costing hundreds of dollars. While hiring a cleaner can definitely save you time, you might want to consider cleaning up your old home as you pack to save yourself a couple hundred dollars.

7. Moving Large Furniture Items

If you have any large and heavy furniture items, such as a piano, they often require experienced hands and materials to safely move them. Otherwise, they can get damaged or do damage to the other items and furniture you own during the move. If you’ve hired movers, they will likely charge additional fees for any oversized items that require specific care to move. If you want to save costs on this, you can consider selling any oversized items you no longer use, or you can store them in a storage facility nearby your new home.

8. Moving Clutter and Old Items You Don’t Need

When you’re moving, you may just decide to pack up everything in your home and take it with you. Before you do this, you should go through your house room by room and sort out any clutter and items you no longer need. This can help you reduce the number of items you have to move, which will make your moving costs slightly cheaper.