Relocating: The Hidden Cost

Relocating. This operation may get much more expensive than you would originally think, especially in case any problems come up (and sometimes even if they don't). No matter what way of moving you are considering, whether moving on your own or hiring professionals, there are always some expenses included. In this text we will break them down to give you a general idea what to be prepared for. Now you are maybe asking, so what's the problem then? Basically, there are two issues: in case of moving done by people themselves, it is too common to forget about all the additional tools, packaging material, transportation or the value of the time. But all these are related expenses you should count with. Also in case of moving with the help of a professional company, you might come across problems related to wrong company choice, wrong price calculation, or undervaluation of all kinds of additional expenses that are necessary, but weren't included in the company's bill. If you recall the first article of our "moving" series, we have already described the three options how to sort out your moving. They all differ by the level of your own involvement: either the professionals do everything for you, or you can manage all the work yourself - packing, loading, transporting and unloading. Or you may hire a company offering a hybrid service in case you’d like a bit more control over the whole process. Some companies might offer only the transportation; while other companies might offer loading, unloading and transportation of ready-packed things.

What’s involved? When you are beginning to organize your moving, the first step should be that you think about the budget. It will save you lots of trouble later. Generally, the relocation expenses can be broken down into four main categories: the transportation of your stuff, the packing of your stuff, the transportation of you and your family and the cost of starting up in your new home. The actual relocation. The first step should be calculating the main cost of moving your stuff. So will you be moving on your own, or hiring a company? This is the crucial issue you have most likely already decided. If a professional help is the way to go for you (we will bring some more tips on choosing the right company in one of the following articles), first contact them and ask for a written estimate of the price. It should say clearly whether the estimated price is binding or not, that means whether it is the final price, or there might be other fees coming up. Also the tips should be included - generally about $25 per worker.

The work and its cost. Secondly, the cost of the manpower that will do the packing and loading should be estimated - it may be the hired professionals, but also friends or family ready to help (it would be nice from you to at least buy them a dinner!), and also the cost of your time, especially if you need to take some off work. You should also count with the cost of any packaging material (boxes, bubble wrap, tapes etc.) and/or tools (i.e. dollies) you will need.

How much is the transport?. Thirdly, you have to estimate the price of the transport for you and your family - either flights, train or bus ride, or the price of petrol, if you are planning to travel by car. Also accommodation, food and possible entertainment while travelling should be calculated into the total price.

After the relocation: starting fresh There is usually a lot of problems and extra expenses connected to the moving, that people don't think about when they are in the middle of all the boxes. For example, you might have to pay a start-up fee for connecting up utilities such as a cable or telephone. Or think about your most likely empty fridge and freezer and the price of all the groceries to fill them up again. Also think about the price of any items you have left behind and you need to replace them now, such as various household items. Or maybe your new house needs a fresh coat of paint. It is always helpful to think first and jot down the costs of all the necessary items to buy, so that the total sum doesn't shock you after the moving.

As a Vancouver real estate agent, I have always tried to help my clients even with this issue, therefore I would like to share with you some useful tips & tricks: 1) Always compare how much it would cost you to move a certain item against how much the item costs when bought new. The result of this comparison might shock you. 2) You might have a chance to get a moving package from your new employer, if you are moving because of a new job. 3) Keep all the receipts connected to moving since you might be eligible for a tax deduction.

Photo: by Linda Yvonne