Thinking about hauling your stuff out of state or even across the country? Most people will tell you to just sell your things and start new, but maybe you like your things. Maybe you just bought a nice TV and don’t want to take a loss. Or maybe you want to make it a mini adventure. Whatever it is, you’re right to think ahead about what the costs might be.
Unfortunately, the cheapest option is going to do it yourself. Even so, we will go over some of your options and what you can expect if you do decide to DIY, including one tip most people forget about when they are ready to move.
Weigh Your Options: Hiring A Mover
Before we get straight into moving it all yourself, you may just want to hire somebody.
The pricing guide at Pricing Van Lines says, that depending on distance and house size, prices can range from $1100-$8600+.
See if it makes sense for you, saving some money is always nice but sometimes it pays to avoid the stress of doing it yourself.
Renting a Truck
When renting a truck for a cross-country move, you can choose from several companies, including Budget, Penske, and U-Haul.
Budget and Penske offer unlimited miles, which is nice when you want to avoid high costs per mile on long trips.
You can find their truck sizes online and they normally have a guide to help decide what size truck you will need.
Calculating Gas
I know we mentioned hoarding all of your things before, but you can also make things easier on yourself.
When you’re getting ready to move, it’s a good idea to go through your belongings and decide what you really need to keep.
Make piles to sell, donate, or throw away stuff you don’t use anymore.
Think about how much space you’ll have in your new place and keep only what fits and makes you happy.
Booking Hotels Early
Booking hotels early is highly recommended when doing a long cross-country trip.
You can get better prices and make sure the hotel has what you need, like a place for your pet or your big car.
One tip to save some cash is to avoid hotels in the major parts of town, the cost will be much cheaper and they often won’t charge extra for things like pets.
“Employing” Some Help
Is somebody really your friend if they haven’t helped you move?
Ask your group of friends if anyone would be willing to help you pack or even go with you to unpack.
Something to consider is making sure they get back home, if it’s out of state, you probably want to pay for their flight home.
Plan for the Unload
It’s easy to get overzealous and think you can do it all in the shortest amount of time.
But, you may want to plan an extra day to unpack.
Take it from my own experience, it can be hard to stay motivated unloading an entire house worth of trailer when you just sat through 6 hours of traffic, and the help will be less than enthused as well.
Final Cost
Take some time to add up all the expected costs like rentals, gas food, and lodging. and compare them to a moving company.
You may find the cost to be similar or significantly lower.
It’s up to you to decide if moving yourself is worth everything we mentioned, or if you would rather let someone else do the heavy lifting.
Easy Moving Done For You
Ready to make your move stress-free? Visit Pricing Van Lines.com today to find the best deals and services for your moving needs. Whether you’re moving across town or the country, we help you plan efficiently and save money. Get your free quote now and start your journey with confidence!
