9 Surprise Moving Charges You Might Not Know About
When it comes to bills, no one likes surprises. This is especially true for residential moves, which can be stressful enough. While any reputable moving company will disclose all fees upfront and give you an honest estimate of what everything is going to cost, people are often surprised by some of the fees they see on that estimate (or other non-mover fees associated with the move).
If you’re planning on moving in the future, here are some charges you need to be aware of if you want to avoid surprises.
- Obstacles
If the movers have to navigate stairs, an elevator or long distances when loading or unloading your belongings, there may be extra fees associated with the additional amount of labor required to complete the job. It’s much more time consuming to complete a move on a third-floor apartment than one on the ground, as one example, and the price reflects that.
- Packing Supplies
This might show up on the estimate, assuming you want the mover to provide them. But if you’re packing your belongings yourself, don’t forget about the cost for supplies.
- Electronics/Appliances
The moving company will likely not move electronics or appliances that are connected, so you’ll need to disconnect them yourself or pay an additional fee to have a contractor or handyman do it.
- Specialty Items
Have a bulky, fragile or valuable item? It might require special handling, custom crating, or disassembly and reassembly, which is why there’s a higher cost for moving them.
- Permits
Does your residence require a special permit for parking? Make sure you’ve checked both your original and new destination, then make sure your mover has included this in your estimate.
- Calendar
Did you know that some days on the calendar are more expensive to move than others? Both the day of the week and certain seasons (e.g. summer) are more popular than others, so the price reflects that demand cycle.
- Shuttling
This happens when the mover can’t park their large 18 wheel tractor trailers directly outside your residence and need to bring in a smaller truck to remove your items from your property. This means that your items will need to be loaded an additional time and that requires more labor. Not common, but it does often result in an additional fee, just like bulky items or obstacles.
- Storage
Whether you need to store items while you search for a new home or you need storage as you unpack, it will cost money to rent storage. Make sure you think about your short and long-term storage needs.
- Tips
It’s not required, but many residential movers appreciate gratuity, so budget accordingly if you’d like to reward good service.
If you’re interested in an honest, upfront estimate with all fees disclosed, contact the team at IMS Relocation for your next move today.