Costs Often Forgotten during Long-Distance Moving

You have the date of the big move circled in red on the calender, you have scheduled your professional moving company to come and help, and everything is falling into place. Before you get comfortable in your planned budget for a long-distance move, make sure you take time to consider some of the extra costs that can be involved. Take a look at some of the often forgotten costs that can come along with a long-distance move. 

Cost of Tipping the Professional Movers

It is always considerate to tip the movers who help you with your long-distance move. Just like other service professionals, most of these people work by the hour and gratuities from customers help keep their income in line with the value of the work they perform. There is no real guideline of how much you should tip to show your appreciation, but according to Angie's List, it is kind to offer a tip of $20 to $50 per mover for a large or interstate move. If you are moving a long distance, the people helping you move will be putting in quite a few hours, so tipping them is something to consider when determining costs. 

Furniture Disassembly/Reassembly Costs 

If you do not have your own furniture disassembled for the move, the professional movers will be taking care of this process for you. Disassembly is typically necessary in order to pack as much as possible on the moving truck. This extra work will mean the movers will be spending more time in your house, and since most professional movers charge by the hour, you can be charged more for their services. Some moving companies actually charge extra fees per piece of furniture that must be disassembled or reassembled upon delivery. Therefore, this is something to take into consideration while you are planning for costs. 

Costs of Packing Materials 

Some moving companies do actually supply the moving supplies that you need, especially if you are also paying for packing and unpacking services. However, if you have not paid for the additional services along with the regular move, you will have to buy your own packing supplies. Boxes will be one of your primary costs because it can take so many of them, and flimsy old boxes you pick up for free usually aren't the best solution. The average three-bedroom house will need around 80 to 100 moving boxes, for example.