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Long moves can get expensive, so it is vital to budget for them. Unfortunately, that can be hard because there are a lot of little expenses that you need to take into account.

The best thing to do is to make a list of your expected expenses and make sure that you have all of them covered, along with an extra fund just in case you forget something.

Moving Services

This is the single largest expense for most moves, but it is also the easiest to predict. The moving company will tell you how much their services will cost.

It is generally a good idea to start by shopping around and getting quotes from different services to see how much that part of the move will cost. That will form the foundation of your budget and give you some idea of how much you will need to spend for the whole procedure.

It is possible to handle a move on this scale by yourself, but it can be tricky, and it isn’t always cheaper. You would still have to pay to ship your possessions or rent a truck that can handle hauling them.

Professionals are less likely to damage items by accident while moving them, which can reduce the cost of buying replacements. It is good to consider all of your options, but you will need to carefully calculate the expected costs of a DIY move to see if you can actually come out ahead.

Fuel and Rooms

Crossing the country will take a long time, so you also need to budget for enough fuel to make the journey and a few places to stay while you are traveling. The cost of fuel is fairly easy to estimate.

Plan out the trip so that you know the distance that you need to travel, and divide if by your vehicle’s expected mileage to figure out how much gas you will need. Remember that mileage can vary based on driving conditions and the amount of weight in the car, so you can only treat this as an estimate.

Multiply that by the average cost of fuel in each region that you are crossing to figure out the approximate cost of gas.

Lodging is trickier to estimate. If possible, it is often a good idea to book hotels in advance so you can try to get a good deal, but it can be hard to keep to a strict schedule when moving.

Try to avoid staying near major tourist destinations if you can, and avoid times when there are a lot of people on the road to benefit from reduced demand for lodging.

Meals and Snacks

You’re going to get hungry on the road. The amount that you will need to budget for food will depend on what you get, but most people find that the cost adds up quickly.

Fast food is a quick and convenient option, but it is also one of the most expensive and least healthy. You can save a lot of money by focusing on foods that are easy to pack and cheap to make.

It can be hard to fit enough food in a packed car, so you may need to stop at a grocery store to restock during the trip. That will add some time to your trip, but it can be worth it to cut costs.

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If you’re planning to move, then you probably already know by now that packing everything and loading it into a moving truck can sound like an intimidating task, and things can get quite difficult if you’re not well prepared.

You can hire professional furniture movers if you want them to do load everything, but at the end of the day you still have to do the packing, so there are some things you need to know when it comes to the whole ordeal.

Truck size and packing supplies

You can’t really start packing if you don’t have anything to pack with. Make sure you get all the supplies you need, from boxes to packing tape, to plastic wrap, to moving blankets, and everything in between. Other supplies you might need are a mattress bag as well as moving straps to keep things in place.

Also, since items will shift during transit, you may need extra padding to place in between boxes. You will also need to figure out how big a truck you need to rent. If you’re unsure, you can call a truck rental company, and they will help you figure things out.

Get your furniture ready

Best way to do that, if possible, is to disassemble it. This will make the furniture easier to pack and carry. Try taking the furniture apart into manageable pieces. Of course, not every piece of furniture can be disassembled, but taking apart the ones that can be will make a big difference.

You can take apart your bed frame, take out the drawers from your dressers and filing cabinets, and remove table legs. If you remove any screws from the furniture make sure you keep everything in a bag so that you don’t lose them. Note: remove the bulbs from your lamps; you don’t want glass shattered all over the place.

Loading strategy

It helps to have a strategy when it comes to the puzzle of loading everything into the moving truck. If you want to be extra prepared, you can do a walkthrough of you house and make some notes when it comes to the order in which the items will be loaded. This can help make the process smoother and also faster.

The largest and heaviest items should be loaded first. This means any appliances you might have (such as your refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.), as well as tables, chairs, couches, bed frames, etc.

The size of those items dictates the fact that they should be at the bottom of the pile so that you don’t risk crushing lighter items. Additionally, keep them the closest to the wall of the cab, and make sure you balance the truck by placing heavy items on both sides. If you want to save space, it’s ideal to place large furniture items upright.

The lightest items should be loaded last. After you placed all the heaviest and longest items in the moving truck, it’s time to figure out the smaller and lighter objects, or the ones that have different shapes.

The list of lighter items can include mirrors, pictures, TVs, or small furniture items. Smaller items should be placed in their original boxes so that it will be easier for you to keep track of them. Lighter items should be placed on top of appliances and furniture.

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You’ll want to start preparing to move a month or two beforehand. You’ll need a minimum of three to four weeks to move properly. It’s never a good idea to wait until the last minute if you don’t have to.

1. Inventory Your Belongings

It’s important to inventory your belongings one to two months before you move. If you decide to hire a moving company, they’ll need to determine what to charge you based on the belongings you plan to take with you.

You should make a list and take pictures of everything you want to be packed up and moved so that if something goes missing or gets damaged, you’ll be able to file a claim. Also, it’ll give you the assurance that your items are accounted for once you move in your new home.

Be sure when you’re making your list that you write down the serial number, model and the approximate value.

2. Get Rid of Things You Don’t Want or Need

While you inventory your belongings, you’ll probably come across things that you don’t want or need anymore.

If you haven’t used something in the last year, you should probably get rid of it. You can sell, donate or trash what you don’t want or need. It’ll save time and energy.

3. Do Your Research

Once you know you’ll be moving, you need to start making plans. First, you’ll need to determine if you’ll hire a moving company or complete the move yourself. If you choose to hire a company to help you move, you’ll need to start looking for help.

It’s important to read reviews about the company you’re thinking about hiring. You can refer back to your inventory list to get an accurate quote. If you’re moving by yourself, start looking for a truck rental.

4. Choose a Moving Company

If you’ve decided to hire a professional moving company, you’ll need to determine what services you’ll use.

You’ll want to start making reservations as soon as possible. Don’t procrastinate. If you do, you may find out that the company you want to hire is already booked. Some moving companies will give you a discount if you book early.

5. Buy Packing Supplies

If you plan to pack your belongings, you’ll need to purchase a variety of boxes. Be sure to get padding for your fragile belongings.

You should purchase more supplies than you think you’ll need because you don’t want to run out of supplies the day before moving day.

6. Plan How You’ll Travel

After you make a plan for moving, you’ll need to determine how you’ll get to your new home. If you’ll need to stay in a hotel, be sure to make reservations before you travel.

You don’t want to get somewhere and find out that there aren’t any vacancies nearby.

7. Update Address

Don’t forget to file a change of address with the post office. You’ll want to make sure that you get your mail forwarded.

8. Update Utilities

When you have a moving date set, you’ll want to cancel or transfer your cable, internet and utility services. Don’t forget to update your insurance for your home and car.

Final Words

Moving can be a stressful time in your life, but if you follow these tips, your move won’t be overwhelming. Once you check things off of your list, you’ll feel that you’re accomplishing your goals, and you shouldn’t be as stressed.

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Moving is never an easy task, but doing it in New York City presents some unique challenges. If you’re a native, you already know the drill. If moving in and around New York is new to you, know that getting the job done will require lots of planning and a dash of intestinal fortitude.

Line Up a Car

Having a car in NYC is generally an unnecessary expense. On moving day, however, you’re going to want one. You don’t want your expensive flat-screen bouncing around in the back of a moving truck, but lugging it to your new home on the L train isn’t any better.

To make gently moving valuables and pets easier, borrow a car from a friend or rent one for the day. If you only have a few items to move this way you can call a cab or an Uber, but remember they’ll keep the meter running while you’re unloading.

Make Handles

A large number of NYC apartments are walk-ups without elevators. That means you and your helpers will have to carry all of your moving boxes up several flights of stairs by hand. You can make doing so a lot easier if you get moving boxes with handles.

If your boxes lack them, make your own by cutting a triangle into each side of the box and pushing the flaps in and up. You’ll be glad you did.

Leave It on the Curb

Moving is a great time to clean house. Donate items you’re not taking with you or leave them on the curb for the trash man. If you’re already living in NYC, you know that the trash service is excellent and will take almost anything.

There are a few exceptions, however, and it’s important to know them. If disposing of a mattress, you can place it on the curb, but only after sealing it in a mattress bag. You can get one at a local hardware store.

The law also forbids New Yorkers from placing certain items in the trash. You must instead drop these items at a disposal center. These forbidden items include:

Batteries
Electronics
Auto parts and fluids
Mercury-containing bulbs and products
Flammable and corrosive liquids

Man Your Truck

Unfortunately, moving in NYC often involves double parking a moving truck. If you’re lucky enough to find a space, it’s important to make sure you’re allowed to use it. If you’re not careful, you could come back to your truck only to find that it was towed away – along with most of your earthly possessions.

Professional NYC movers know how to work around city parking issues. If you’re moving by yourself, always keep at least one person with the truck so they can move it quickly if they have to.

Of course, moving to NYC also requires the same basics as any move. Label your boxes, stay organized and make sure heavy furniture is where you want it before your helpers leave. With some solid basics and a bit of NYC insight, your move will go off without a hitch.

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Tag: moving

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