You’ve tossed, donated, or sold all your unneeded belongings, trolled Craigslist for free moving boxes, and scheduled your move for the middle of winter on a Monday. In short, you’ve taken every foreseeable action to save money on your upcoming move. The last things you need are unexpected costs on moving day to inflate your bottom line.
Extra Costs on Moving Day
At Moving Squad, we’ve seen what unforeseen moving day expenses can do to the most carefully planned budgets, and it’s not pretty. To prepare you for the unexpected and help you avoid nasty surprises, we’ve put together the following list of moving day expenses to look out for.
Unexpected Storage Costs
The closing on your house got pushed back and now you need somewhere to store your items. This unexpected bombshell can add anywhere between $80-$125 to your move to cover the monthly rental fee for storage space.
Heavy Items Surcharge
If you expect that your items are oversized, expect additional moving day expenses. Surcharges will spring up when you’re moving items that are difficult to transport, such as pianos, hot tubs, or pool tables.
Fuel Expenses
Because fuel prices vary, most professional moving companies will not charge you for fuel until the trip is complete. And as mom says, “Never be afraid to ask questions!” If the truck that is carrying your belongings is carrying another family’s belongings simultaneously, you may be able to split the fuel cost.
Underinsured Possessions
When it comes to moving insurance, it’s not quite, “They break it, they buy it.” Basic moving insurance only covers 60 cents per pound for an item. If you’re moving precious lightweight items, such as flat-screen TVs or electronics you may want to purchase additional insurance to cover the cost of replacing a damaged item.
Forgetting to Discontinue Services could cost you on moving day
If a family moves out of a house, and they don’t notify the utility company, will the utilities continue to work? The answer is a resounding yes. Be sure to notify your utility company of the exact date you are planning to vacate the premises so you can get your deposit back and avoid paying for services you are not there to enjoy. Also, contact cable and internet companies 30 days before the day you expect to move, so you won’t end up paying the new resident’s cable bill.
Utility Deposits Can be Another Unexpected Moving Day Cost
Equally as important as discontinuing your services in your old home is getting them turned on in your new home. Expect this unexpected moving day expense by adding $150 – $400 to your moving budget. This should cover the cost of the utility deposit on your new home.
Boarding Pets
No one will be more ready to get into the action on moving day than good old Spot and Fluffy.
To keep pets from getting underfoot, you might want to board them during your move. Expect boarding fees to add $20 – $40 per day to your moving budget.
Losing Your Security Deposit
If you ever want to see your security deposit again, leave the place clean and give your landlord 30 days’ notice. You’ll be in compliance with your lease, and your landlord will have ample time to look for new tenants.
Packing Expenses
In case you haven’t been haunting the aisles of Home Depot waiting for the boxes to go on sale, or you don’t have a well-supplied moving company, you can add the expense of packing supplies to your moving day budget. A moving kit, including all the supplies you will need to move a 2-bedroom home, will run you anywhere between $150 to $200. A kitchen moving kit that will secure glassware will add another $100.
Unexpected Hotel Stay
Whether you consider the unexpected hotel stay to be an unnecessary complication or an added bonus, you will still have to include it in your budget. Figure it into your moving day expenses if your new home is not properly set up for sleeping or eating on the day of your arrival.
Expecting the Unexpected from Moving Squad
At Moving Squad, we know how unpredictable South Florida moving can be. That’s why we offer reliable, dependable service to our South Florida customers.
Local Moving Services
We believe that practice makes perfect. And in our over 50 years of experience, we like to think we’ve perfected South Florida moving. Our movers know the building codes, the transportation guidelines, and the traffic laws: everything we need to make your SoFlo move flow smoothly.
Packing Services
When you opt for our expert packing services, we can move as little or as much as you want us to. Our movers will delicately handle your most treasured items, carefully pack them in our truck, and transport them to their destination.
And about those unexpected packing expenses, we mentioned earlier? Don’t expect them when you work with us. Moving Squad provides all of the packing materials and brings them to your house on moving day.
Storage Services
When you work with us, we expect the unexpected. That includes last minute storage needs. If your move requires storage, Moving Squad has clean, climate-controlled storage units available for short or long-term storage.
Whether it be anticipating unexpected costs on moving day or dealing with the unique challenges of South Florida moving, you can always expect the unexpected from Moving Squad. Contact us today for our free rate quote, and prepare for a pleasant surprise.
