Seven Steps for Creating the Perfect Move Budget

Estimating the cost of your long-distance move involves factors like distance, family size, and belongings. Follow creation steps for move budgeting to set a realistic financial plan, typically ranging from $8,000 to $15,000 or more.

You can learn more about long-distance move planning here.

1: Taking Inventory: What do you have?

Before you can build a realistic budget, create a list of items that will be making their way to your new home. Clothes, kitchenware, and furniture are obvious necessities; however, take it one step further by examining each room in detail so nothing is left behind. By doing this simple task ahead of time, you can guarantee the perfect fit for all your needs when moving into your new place!

Things people don’t always consider during the move:

• Heavy furniture or accessories, like pool tables and pianos
• Recreational vehicles, like boats, motorcycles and RVs
• Valuables or fragile items that you may need to move separately

2: Get Moving Estimates

Now that you know what needs to be moved, it’s time to shop around for a mover. You will want to obtain 2-3 estimates from different moving companies; make sure they are all in-home estimates where a representative comes into your home and physically inspects the items that need to be moved. The movers should provide you with an estimate of how much the move is going to cost based on the weight of your items and how far you are moving them.

Once you have received quotes for your move budget, compare prices and look more into the smaller details such as insurance coverage, packing services, storage options, customer service and reviews. To get an idea of what type of reputation they have, look at their reviews.

Here are some questions to can ask an estimator about your long-distance move... and, everything else you might need to know in planning your long-distance move.

3: Factor in Special Costs

Once you have a base idea of what you are going to be spending just on your move weight, you can factor in the specialty items and decide the best plan for your family. These should include:

• Pet travel
• Child care
• Storage
• Packing/Unpacking
• Cleaning and repair fees
• Auto and recreational vehicle fees
• Shipping for fragile or specialty items

4: Look into Insurance

This is already mentioned above, but you want to make sure that your moving company insures the items that they are moving. If not, they may offer a third-party insurance company or you can look into getting your own. Keep in mind that any specialty move items may also need insurance.

5: Travel & Living Expenses During the Move

Finally, you will want to plan for the costs of traveling to and from your new home. This should include fuel costs, lodging along the way, and regular living expenses.

Some experienced movers decide to grab a short vacation along the way, especially if the moving company won’t be arriving at the new location at the same time as you. If that’s the case, you’ll need to plan for an extended stay in a hotel, etc.

6: Keep an Emergency Fund

Creating a moving budget does not mean that everything will go as planned. Be sure to set aside an emergency fund for any potential problems and unexpected expenses that may come up during the move. This part of your budget should be kept separate from your regular moving funds so that you are prepared in case of an emergency.

7: New Furniture

Every new home is going to need something, right? Some of the most common purchases are a new mattress, a broom, and some cleaning supplies. Whether you are buying furniture for your new home or replacing items that didn’t survive the move, make sure to plan ahead and factor this into your budget.

By following these steps to create a move budget, you can ensure that everything goes smoothly and efficiently! The key is to plan ahead and stay organized.

There’s More to Your Move than Just Getting There

The complexities of moving are stressful, unique, and constantly changing. You need to…

• Feel protected and confident in the team
• Trust your belongings will be well-taken care of
• Be free to discuss the complexities of your move schedule with moving experts

So you can… find your new favorite restaurant, meet your neighbors, and actually enjoy this move; and focus on the new story you’re about to write… wherever your journey is taking you next.