Moving Companies and How they Determine Cost
A lot of the stress that has been associated with moving can be reduced or made worse by the availability of funds or a lack of it. Here’s what we mean. If a person has all the funds in the world, they can afford to get every aspect of their move taken care of. This certainly will reduce the stress they will face.
If on the other hand, a person is on a very limited budget, they are likely to face a lot more stress as they will be forced to handle a lot of things that they could easily have outsourced. Since the majority of folks do not have all the money in the world, it is important for each of these folks to have a general understanding of how moving companies arrive at their fees.
Having this information may be helpful in helping them plan their move a lot better to both reduce the cost to them as well as the stress they will face.
Major Cost Determinants:
So, what are the factors that determine how much a person will pay when moving? There are a lot of different factors that can influence the cost as we can see here but we will only focus on the main ones.
Distance:
This is one cost that most people can understand. A long-distance move will most certainly cost way more than a local move. Therefore, the further your destination is from your point of origin, the more you can expect to pay, and this is regardless of whatever method you choose for the move.
Stuff to be Moved:
What you are moving will also affect your cost. First, the quantity, size, and weight of the different items to be moved will be taken into consideration. This will determine the size of the vehicle that will be required and of course, this will determine how much you will pay.
Consideration will also be given to the cost of the items to be moved. There are some items that will have to be handled by specialists. Some of these include expensive artworks and antiques. Bringing in expert handlers will certainly cost you more money.
Present Location and Destination:
Where you are taking off from and where you are headed will also affect your cost. While your present location may not be as impactful on your cost as the destination, both play a part. If for example, your present location is not easily accessible, the company will take this into consideration. The same applies to your destination.
Simple things like the absence of a functioning lift in a high-rise building will attract some additional charges as movers will be forced to use the stairs.
There’s also the issue of the operational centers of the company you choose to work with. If a company has operational centers in both your take-off city as well as your destination, chances are that your cost will be lower.
The reason is simple. A company that operates from both bases can easily get another moving job for the van that took your stuff there. On the other hand, a company that does not operate from your destination will have to return to base empty, an expense that will likely be added to you.
Moving Option:
The choice you make for how you intend to move will be the major determinant of what you will pay as this will influence all other costs. You can check out a list of moving options here: https://www.thespruce.com/best-way-to-move-your-stuff-2436686.
A full-service move will cost you more in monetary terms than will a self-move.
Services Offered:
Within the option to use a moving company, you have individual services that can add to your cost. Some of the services that moving companies will offer include:
- Extended insurance.
- Packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking.
- Disassembly and reassembly of furniture.
- Storage space.
- Cleaning services.
These are just a few examples of services that can be offered. How many of these that you choose will determine how much you will pay?
Timing:
Many folks are not aware of this. When you schedule your move can also affect your cost. Moving companies have periods regarded as peak periods and those regarded as off-peak periods. Scheduling a move during a peak period automatically means a higher cost to you.
Weekends, holidays and summer are regarded as peak periods while weekdays, fall and winter are off-peak periods.
By understanding some of these factors, you can then think of how to work around them to get and enjoy lower rates. Let’s now briefly look at how you can lower your moving costs.
How to Lower Your Costs:
Determine Your Budget:
Getting this sorted out right from the start can be helpful. Determine how much you are willing to spend so you can ensure that all your expenses fall within this budget.
Compare Moving Methods:
Look at the different moving options and decide which will fit into your budget. You can find some examples above. You can also calculate moving costs online on sites like 9Kilo Moving. They will help you compare quotes from different companies. This will make it easier for you to choose an appropriate moving method.
Schedule Your Move for Off-peak Periods:
Remember what we said above about peak and off-peak periods. Schedule your move for an off-peak period.
Start Packing Early:
Get all your stuff sorted out very early. This ensures that your movers do not have to spend unnecessary time. Time is money (This is of course if you have chosen to work with movers). If you are handling it yourself, it keeps things easier and less stressful for you.
Look for Free Packing Boxes:
Getting free packing boxes and other materials will mean you won’t have to buy or rent them. This, of course, is another avenue through which some savings can be made.
Pack Only What You Really Need:
Do not be tempted to pack stuff that you do not need. Taking only things you really need will reduce your load and by implication your cost. You can give stuff away or you can even hold a yard sale to help you raise some additional cash.
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