The Moving Planner Blog

There is nothing worse than going to pay your bill and discovering that it is a lot higher than what you were quoted, or what you figured based on their hourly charge. It is equally as frustrating to discover later that you paid for something that you did not need or use, or find a fee that shouldn’t have even been added. Moving can be expensive, and if you are like most, you really had to follow a tight budget to afford your movers. Becoming familiar with the hidden costs will ensure that you won’t end up paying too much.

• Fuel Surcharge – The price of fuel should be told to you upfront. In some cases, it is simply worked into a flat rate. Although many do charge a certain amount based on distance, they should never be charging you to refuel when they are done with your move. This would mean that they are charging you and the person after you for the same tank of gas.

• Extra Stops – Have you asked your movers to swing by your aunt’s house to pick up her extra sofa on the way to your new place? That extra stop could cost you $75 or more. If you absolutely need to make a stop, find out the price ahead of time. Otherwise, skip any last minute stops altogether.

• Long Carry – How far do the movers have to carry your belongings from the truck to the door? If you are moving to a loft during midday when the truck has to use a back alley, you may find some hefty charges. In fact, some moving companies will charge as much as $120 for every 75 feet. Sometimes, a little careful planning on your part can eliminate this. You may even be able to get a parking permit from the city for a set amount of time. This would take care of this charge, plus the movers could get done faster, thereby saving your money.

• Insurance – How much insurance do you really need? Do you know what is actually covered in the charge you are paying? Do you know how much insurance you are required to have? Before you accept the amount they are charging you for insurance, take the time to ask a few questions. If you don’t have any antiques, jewels, furs or expensive electronics, you may be paying too much.

• Packing Materials – When you see your movers carefully packing your big screen in bubble wrap, don’t assume that they are doing this out of the goodness of their heart. You are likely being charged for packing supplies and labor.

• Bulky Items – Did you disclose everything when you called for your quote? If you accidentally left out the part about the pool table, play structure or aquarium, you can expect to see a pretty big fee added. In this case, it would be your own fault for not disclosing it.

• Environmental Charge – Also called a disposal fee, if the moving company is unpacking your belongings, or if they used additional boxes for you, they may charge you this fee, saying that it costs them a lot to dispose of such items. It is very likely that the fee is inflated from what they pay.

Moving can be expensive, but movers are well worth the money spent. That being said, if you ask questions about their fees ahead of time and plan your move carefully, you could avoid surprises, and save yourself a lot of money.