How Much Does it Cost to Move a Three (3) Bedroom House?

The task of moving raises many concerns, particularly cost. The amount you will pay to move a three-bedroom home will depend on the method you choose for your move and your specific needs.

Volume of your goods + distance you are moving + professional services required = total price to move.

This guide will provide you with some information on the costs associated with moving a three bedroom home, from DIY to full-service moving options.

It's cheapest to move yourself

A three bedroom home will likely have a significant amount of furniture, appliances and boxes to load and transport. If you are considering a DIY move for a three bedroom house, you should at least enlist the aid of several friends to pack and load your truck.

The following are some expenses you will incur on a self-conducted move:

• Truck rental. Unless you or generous friend own a truck you can use to transport your belongings to their new destination, you will have to rent a U-Haul or other moving truck. A 20' U-Haul (suggested for a three bedroom house move) will cost a flat fee of $39.95 for the day plus gas and $0.99 for every mile traveled.
  
  
• Packing supplies. You probably never realized cardboard could cost so much! Packing supplies, especially for an entire home, can become very expensive. Costs for three bedroom packing bundles can go for over $300 on moving supply websites, and that often includes just boxes, tape and packing paper.

Hiring a moving company will relieve stress and take less time

Unless you are unemployed or take a considerable amount of time off work, you may find it difficult to accomplish packing and moving the contents of a three bedroom house. While it will likely cost you more money than a DIY move, hiring professional movers will make the relocation process much quicker.

Of course, with convenience comes increased costs. While you should always get an in-home estimate from any company you are considering for hire, the following will give you an idea of what to expect.

Local movers charge by the hour, with an average rate of about $100 per hour for two movers and a truck. Depending on the amount of goods you need moved, you may need three to four movers, which will increase your hourly rate to about $150 to $170 an hour. Your cost will vary depending on the distance of your move, but a three bedroom house move usually takes between six to eight hours, putting your move at about $900 to $1300 for labor alone. You may also be charged extra fees for:

1. Stair or long carries
2. Disconnecting or reconnecting appliances
3. Shuttle service
4. Moving specialty items such as a piano
5. Storage before drop off
6. Packing services and associated supplies

Be sure to ask your movers detailed questions when they are giving you the on-site estimate to be aware of what services you may need and what the extra charges will be for them.

Long-distance moves are calculated based on the weight of your goods, the distance the movers will be traveling, plus the cost of extra services and additional insurance on your goods. While prices will vary from one moving company to the next, the following table will help give you an idea of a standard range:

Keep in mind these amounts are only estimates, and the actual cost will differ. Your home's weight may be more or less depending on how much furniture and other possessions you plan to move. Acquiring several on-site estimates from long-distance movers will provide you with a more accurate price.

Hire a company for labor only

One way to save money when moving is to hire a "You Pack, We Drive" moving service. A trailer will be delivered to your home, and you can pack up your belongings on your own time. Then the movers will pick up the unit and deliver it to your new location. Without the cost of labor, your expenses will be lower, and you won't have to worry about the task of driving a cumbersome moving truck. Additionally, if you don't have to drive the moving truck, you can drive your own car to your new home, which will save you money on auto transport. Gas costs are also included in the rates. Below are some standard quotes from the company U-Pack:

Another moving method to lower costs is to rent your own vehicle and pay only for labor to assist you with loading, unloading and perhaps packing. This is less common than other options, but can be an appealing alternative if you are looking to cut costs by desire the aid of professional packers and/or loaders. Costs for these services vary, but will typically save you one to several hundred dollars compared to movers that both load and transport your belongings.

Things to consider

• What are you needs? Is time scarce for you? Do you have a significant amount of heavy furniture and appliances ? Are you physically unable to move heavy items? These are reasons to consider hiring full-service movers.
  
  
• What is your budget? However, your available expenses are also important to consider. Regardless of your needs, you will need to know that your budget can support them. Consider what you can afford and weigh it against the moving services you feel you require.
  
  
• Do you need insurance? Movers typically only offer very limited coverage on lost or damaged guides -- 60 cents per pound per article. This is known as Released Value Protection. You can either pay extra for Full value protection or purchase additional coverage from a third-party carrier. You may want to consider purchasing extra insurance, especially if you have some valuable belongings (though items of extreme valuables like family heirlooms and fine jewelry should be transported in your own car if possible).