The total number of hours per week is 168. This is a good amount even if you factor in that sleep takes up about 56 hours per week, on average, and work takes up to 40 per week. Therefore, there are about 72 hours of free time. Not too bad, until you have to move. A move takes about 60 hours' worth of planning time, excluding the move itself. Granted this does not have to be done in a week if you are lucky. But, it is a big chunk of your free time. It is doing another full-time job with stress while looking after your part-time work. Why is it so much? And how can we make it faster, and even cheaper?
A kind of rule in planning is to ‘hope for the best, and expect the worst.’ This goes for everything, your moving process included. Furthermore, the time it takes to plan and do your move is highly dependent on the size of it as well as the distance.
Plus, there can also be unforeseen circumstances outside of hidden fees. Such as the weather, a breakdown (either car or person), or issues with the estate you are moving to. Or even the one you are moving from. And time in traffic.
Another factor that can extend the planning of the moving process is the research. This includes finding a moving company and reading reviews to see if they are the real deal and to know who you are getting in the truck with. There are also arrangements for in-house or virtual surveys to get the moving estimates from one moving company. And, then you have to repeat the process for a different moving company, and again for another. If you are still unsure about the first three… guess what? This process starts again. Plus, the phone calls or emails can seem endless.
If you think going DIY is faster, you could be mistaken. While it is often cheaper it can be more time-consuming and stressful since you are doing everything yourself. Even if your friends and family lend you a helping hand, it is a loan, and you still have to organize what they will be doing.
Planning also involves timing. Such as:
Outside of timing, there are other factors to factor in:
These are some of the main reasons why the planning of a move takes more time than the move itself. Well, it should if you want the move to go as well as it can. And, to find the best moving company for you within your budget.
One of the ways that you can save money and time is by cutting down on looking for a moving estimate. But, this is a highly important part of the process so you would still want to do it well. Finding the best moving estimate while keeping the cost down, and saving your time is the main goal.
One way to get relocation estimates is by researching what a moving company would usually charge you for a move. This will take time, but it is cheaper. Another way is the tried and true method of asking family and friends about their experiences with their moving companies. It is here that you can get a relocation estimate cheaply, and depending on how quickly they reply, fast.
Also, you can gather free moving estimates either online or from what companies advertise. This can give you a cheaper/free chance to compare the quotes and see which mover is the best for your moving process.
When you do reach out to a moving company you should get their relocation estimates in writing since verbal is unreliable and fairly easy to forget or get mixed around when you have a lot of quotes in your brain. Also, ask them about their hidden moving costs from transporting items that are specific like a pool table or a piano, to hidden costs of travel delays, etc. And, ask how long their estimate lasts. A quote can have a time-out period since it can depend on how busy the company can become, or even down to the day of the year etc.
Furthermore, there are two types of moving quotes: binding and nonbinding. A binding is a written agreement between you and the moving company. This is based on the total cost that is calculated around the weight of all your items (for long-distance moves) or by cubic feet (for short-distance moves). On moving day if you have more items than what you agreed upon then the moving company can charge you more for it since they do not have to honor the moving estimate.
A nonbinding quote can give you a general idea of what you have to pay for the move. However, you would have to account for a 10% increase in the price just in case.
If math is your strong point when you can use that power to attempt to work out the moving quotes. Remember that a long-distance move is based on weight while a short one is based on space. For a short-distance move, companies charge by the hour by the worker. This time frame includes loading, traveling from your current home to the new one, and unloading.
Not to mention if you want to use other services like packing. A formula is an hourly rate (which can be about $25 to $85 depending on the distance required to move) by the number of movers by ours to complete the move. You would also have to add the travel fee and any other services you want.
Long-distance moves, as mentioned, are by weight so you would have to measure the items you want to move and work out how much it will cost you to move them. Also, factor in travel costs, as well as work hours of the employees. However, these are only estimates of relocation estimates, you would have to speak to a professional before you lock down anything in case the formula has changed slightly.
The factors that can make or break your moving budget are distance, size of your current home, the weight of your items, time of labor, the fragility of some items, and the season and day of the move. The latter has been discussed with the recommendation being to aim for a working day in the fall.
The fragility of your pieces can increase the moving budget since certain delicate items will need certain care, and even ways of packing. This falls under other services you can think of adding to your moving estimate. If you have paintings, sculptures, a pool table, a piano, or any other musical instruments, etc. you would want to opt for a professional to make sure that these items get from one place to another without breaking.
Labor time, as you guessed, is the number of hours that the movers use to work. Including loading and unloading. The weight of your item not only applies to a long-distance move, but it can also influence short-distance ones. A heavy item will take longer to load and unload which can influence labor costs. And, the size of your home is regarding the items that you want to move. The more you move, the more it will cost. So a way to save money (and even make a bit) is by hosting a yard sale to reduce the number of items you have before you start packing.
Regarding distance, in the US the average cost of a short-distance move is about $1 250 based on a three-bedroom house with up to 7 500 pounds worth of items. A long-distance move (over 11 000 miles) is about $4 890. This is in the ballpark, and they are also free relocation estimates to get you started. Remember to speak to a professional before you get packing.
Yes, you do want to save time and money but not to screw yourself over in the process. Better to be sure and safe, than take the easy way and end up paying more.
To cut down on your research time we will tell you about an organization that will not only help you find moving quotes but that all the moving quotes you can pick from are fixed. Shyft is the world’s first tech-driven moving platform that not only can help find you moving quotes (saving you time), but the quotes are guaranteed regardless if you add new items to your inventory list or not (saving you time) we will also organize your whole moving process for you (saving you time, money, and stress).
Just visit our site, Shyft Moving to learn more. Also, you can get in touch with us there. How we work is that one of our Move Coaches will give you a video call through the app Shyft Next. It is a free one that you can get on your mobile. This call is done at the time that you set meaning from the get-go, you are already saving time since you know exactly when the call is going to happen.
The point of this call is two-fold: to meet and see your Move Coach, and for them to create your inventory list without them having to come to your current home. This is free and the inventory list is 95% accurate. This very list will be sent to you within half an hour from the end of the call (which takes on average half an hour depending on the size of your current home). With the list in your virtual hands, you can change it to suit your needs 100%. Then you send it to your Move Coach.
Here the gathering of moving quotes begins. The Move Coach will present your list and moving details only to Shyft’s secure moving board where experienced moving companies bid on gigs. These are short-distance to long-distance movers that all have been vetted by Shyft.
After this process, we gather three or more fixed moving quotes. Each quote is from a different company. We send them all to you along with information about the company, and you compare them on the app to see which one is the best for you. You let us know your choice, and we lock them down right there and then. Plus, we are on call seven days a week whenever you want to check on your moving process or get your questions answered.
By using Shyft you will be cutting down your 60 hours of preparation time for your move from a decent to a small number. Hence saving you time, and therefore, saving you money. Contact us today to learn more.
