Moving locally doesn’t come with a specific price tag. Though local moves are often cheaper than long distance moves, there are a lot of factors that can change the cost to move locally. Recent studies have shown that the average cost of a local move is between $1000 and $1250. Of course, many factors can increase moving costs drastically. For example, you can expect to pay at least $1000 to hire a local mover if required.

Factors in Local Moving Costs

To get a better picture of how much your upcoming move will cost, let’s explore the factors that most commonly affect the cost to move locally. These factors include:

  • Travel fees
  • Moving add-ons
  • Moving date
  • Storage needs
  • Packing needs
  • Move size

Move Size

The size of your move is going to be one of the biggest factors when calculating the cost to move locally. If you’re moving a one-bedroom apartment, the price of your move will be significantly less than if you’re moving a whole three-bedroom house. To ensure you’re getting the best possible price on your move, cut down on the belongings that won’t be coming with you before you move rather than afterwards.

Packing Services

If the idea of packing up your house is stressing you out, a moving company can pack your belongings for you for a fee. This service will often cost a few hundred dollars, but the ultimate cost will depend on how many belongings you have. If you’re going to hire a moving company to pack your home, you can cut down on this cost by selling some items in a garage sale or donating unwanted furniture. If moving for a low cost is your only goal, your best bet will be to pack up your home yourself and then leave the more physical moving to your moving company.

Move Distance

When it comes to finding out the cost of moving locally, your short move distance can save you a lot of money. The low mileage cost and drastically reduced labor time of a short move are why local moves are often five times cheaper than long-distance moves. Move distance is a difficult area to cut cost as the distance from one home to another is fixed. The only real way to cut costs on move distance is to perform the move with your own truck.

Moving Add-ons

There are dozens of moving add-ons that could shift the price of your move upwards. A few of the most common add-ons include:

  • Furniture disassembly and reassembly
  • Fragile item handling
  • Moving supplies (tie-downs, ratchet straps, cords, mattress bags, felt pads, stretch wrap, etc.)
  • Crating
  • Disposal of moving material

Just because these add-ons will increase the cost of your move doesn’t mean they aren’t worth it, though. Consider how much time you can save by hiring movers to perform these tasks instead of shouldering the burden on your own.

Moving Supplies

The cost of moving supplies can add up more quickly than you think. If you don’t already have basic materials and boxes lying around, you’ll have to head to a store to get all the proper materials. You can save time by having a moving company take care of the packing process, but they will add a charge onto your final bill for both the labor and cost of supplies.

Moving Date

Most people don’t consider that when they move can affect the cost of moving locally as much as the size of the move. Moves that are scheduled for peak moving seasons or weekends will often cost much more than a move during a weekday in the offseason. You can easily reduce the cost of your move by planning ahead and taking a day or two off work to get the cheapest moving date possible.

Liability Coverage

The cost of liability coverage can stack up pretty quickly if you’re planning to hire a mover. Typically, there are multiple levels of coverage that are made available by moving companies. At Alliance Moving & Storage, we offer three levels of liability coverage. Our basic coverage comes in two levels, one for local moves and another for long-distance moves, and both are free and included in your estimate. We also offer declared value coverage for an additional fee. In general, movers will base the liability coverage price on the weight of the move, and each level covers a portion of the value of your shipment.

Storage Needs

If your move is especially complex, most moving companies can store your belongings for an additional fee. Storage costs are often based on how much you are storing (more items require more space) and how long you will be storing your belongings. Alliance Moving & Storage offers various storage options for both residential and commercial moves. We’re happy to store your items for as long as you need while you sort out the complexities of your unique local move.

Ways to Save on Local Moves

Just as there are many add-ons and services that can increase the cost of your local move, there are just as many ways to save money. Here are a few things that you can do to cut costs the next time you’re moving locally:

Start Planning Well Ahead of Time

Getting started on planning your move well before it takes place is key to saving money. If you know everything you need, you can schedule your move for an off-season date or at least a weekday. Planning ahead also ensures you’ll have enough time to purchase moving supplies and pack your belongings yourself. If you have a good plan for your local move, you can avoid costly last-minute charges and avoid having to pay for storage. Being ahead of schedule even gives you an opportunity to sort through your belongings and leave unwanted items behind instead of frantically tossing them in whatever box you can find.

Cut Down on Your Belongings

As mentioned above, most local movers charge based on the size of the move. Cutting down on your belongings reduces the ultimate cost of the move, but it has other hidden benefits, as well.

One great way to cut down on your possessions is to host a yard sale or garage sale. Whatever you choose to call it, these informal events are easy to set up and can turn your unwanted items into cash. If you’re struggling to think of items to leave behind, check out our page detailing what items to leave behind when moving.

Rent Your Own Truck or Moving Container

Renting your own moving truck or moving container is an easy way to save money during your move. Driving the truck yourself will also cut down on the cost of labor. However, renting your own truck will significantly increase the time investment of moving on your end. You’ll have to decide whether you prefer to save money or have a slightly easier time by hiring help with the physical work of moving.

How Much Will Your Move Cost?

Now that you’ve learned some of the factors that can determine how much it costs to move locally, you’re ready to get started planning your own move. To see how much your move would cost with Alliance Moving & Storage, head over to our free quote page to get a zero-obligation quote in minutes. We’re confident that our competitive rates, transparent pricing and reliable estimates will make us the best choice for your upcoming local move.