Moving across the country frequently proves to be a tough kind of residential moving, challenged by complex cases of an international move. Moving to a new residence that’s situated thousands or hundreds of miles away isn’t something you can take lightly.
The mere thought that something could go wrong is enough to send you into a panic. When you break down the cost of moving cross-country, you’ll discover it can possibly be cringe-worthy. Furthermore, you must find a way of saving money.
The most expensive option is a professional move although there are various midrange options such as moving containers. Here’s a list of ways to move cross country to Houston.
1. Rental Trucks
One of the most affordable ways of moving is doing everything yourself rather than hiring professional movers. Some of the rental companies that can offer various vans and trucks to drive across the country with all your belongings include U-Haul and Penske.
Shop around and consider the truck size, the rules for charges (per mile or per day), the insurance costs, and the fuel efficiency of various rental options to obtain the general lowest price. You can also adopt some tricks for dropping the cost of your rental truck.
Consider moving between Monday and Thursday to avoid the higher weekend costs. Additionally, you should avoid relocating during busy times like the end or beginning of the month when most leases end.
Bear in mind that one-way rentals are more costly than round-trip choices, however; you can save some cash by returning the rental to a near city rather than the closest drop-off location.
In case you have a car that could haul it, a trailer is considerably cheaper to rent compared to a truck. Although it won’t fit as much-possibly a studio apartment’s contents, it could save you in moving expenses and you won’t need to tow your car or have somebody else drive it to the intended destination.
2. Transportable Moving Container
Renting a portable container is a popular substitute for using full-service movers. To begin with, renting a portable container is considerably cheaper than hiring a professional company. Secondly, portable containers can also function as storage solutions after and before the move.
Costs will vary depending on the duration you decide to rent it and the container’s size. Generally, renting a container for a long-distance move usually costs from $2,000-$3,000 monthly compared to the $4,000-$6,000 you’ll probably incur if you hire a professional mover.
When using a container for your move, you simply need to load your belongings and boxes and the container company will handle the rest.
3. Ship Your Items
Various shipping providers exist online and will bid on your shipment after identifying what you wish to ship, the number of boxes etc. If you have the flexibility and time to wait for bids or bundle the shipment, this choice can save you considerable money by sharing the shipment cost with others.
This option is ideal if you don’t have many belongings because it isn’t suitable for fragile items or lots of furniture. Alternatively, you can ship fewer belongings through UPS, USPS, or FedEx.
4. Professional Movers
A full-service cross-country move is from $4,500-$6,000 with an extra $1,400-$1,900 for packing service. According to federal regulations, movers have to examine your belongings before they can issue an official quote.
To save on professional moves, consider decreasing the belongings and avoid moving over the weekend or the end of the month.
Final Thoughts
A cross-country move can be costly due to the logistics involved. Fortunately, various alternatives exist if you’re looking to save money throughout the move. If you don’t know where to start, check out this list.
For more information on a cross-country move to Houston, contact us at Apartment Agents or leave a comment.