If you are a renter, the possibilities are you’ve moved house a time or two (or more). You likely already know that moving to a new Palmdale rental home takes time and money. Numerous variables go into estimating the cost of a move, and it can be difficult to get it right. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on estimating the cost of your move and provide a few resources that can help make the process smoother!
Getting Organized
The first step in estimating the cost of your move is to figure out how much stuff you have. An effective approach to accomplish this is to list all the items you plan to take with you on your move, then assign a rough estimate for each item based on size and weight. This will help you create an approximate total cost for packing, loading, and transporting all your possessions.
It’s also essential to calculate the distance of your move, as the cost depends on the miles you traveled. If you’re moving within your city, it may be more inexpensive than if you’re moving to another state or country. Still, you will need to determine the most efficient method to move your belongings from one home to another, whether that involves taking multiple trips, renting a moving truck, or hiring professional movers to help you.
Hiring Professionals
Once you have determined how much it will take to pack and transport your belongings, you must decide whether it’s beneficial to hire professional movers or do the work yourself. Professional movers can be an amazing tool, primarily if you have a lot of furniture or heavy stuff. But they typically come with a price tag. Get quotes from multiple companies and compare them to the cost of doing it yourself. If possible, attempt to book these services well in advance to lock in the best rates.
As you compile your estimates, don’t forget to include common expenses, such as:
- Packing services
- Moving insurance
- Specialty item packaging services (moving pianos, safes, artwork, etc.)
Moving Yourself
If you decide to rent a moving truck and do the move yourself, you may be able to save a bit of money. But there are several factors to consider as well. First of all, you’ll need to consider the size of the moving truck you’ll need to rent. Smaller moving trucks may be cheaper, but you may be unable to fit all your belongings in them. Many rental companies charge by the mile as well as by the day, so make sure your cost estimate includes both!
Other costs to account for in your DIY moving budget include:
- Gas, tolls, and parking fees
- Moving insurance
- Additional moving equipment rental (ramps and dolly)
- Packing materials (boxes, tape, covers, etc.)
Other Costs
In the end, there are a couple of other charges associated with moving that you must take into account. Depending on the move, you may need to include additional charges such as temporary lodging, meals, storage costs, and expenses related to moving out and moving in (cleaning costs, security deposit, and utility set-up deposits, for example). Your new Palmdale property manager is an amazing resource to ask about setting up utilities for the home you’re moving into.
By performing these procedures and conducting some research on your own, you should have a good idea of how much your move will cost. Even though it is hard to predict all potential expenses, following this advice should help you avoid any additional problems down the road.
Are you seeking a new Palmdale rental home? Real Property Management Traditions has an inventory that’s always being updated. Check out our listings online.
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