How Much Does it Cost to Move a Four (4) Bedroom House?

Moving a four bedroom house can be quite a task. With a considerably sized home, it may become costly to hire professional movers but will be very time-consuming to attempt to tackle the project yourself.

The average cost of moving a four bedroom house locally or long distance is $3,000 to $16,000.

Since the main concern for most people relocating is the expenses associated with moving, you may be wondering if it's worth it to pay professional movers for this size of a job. Learn how you will be charged for several kinds of moves and compare some ballpark figures to get started.

If you hire a moving company

While it is certainly a money-saver on large moves, it is likely that you don't have the time, patience or muscle to pull off a move this size by yourself. The exact amount you'll pay a moving company will vary depending on the distance of your move, the special services you require and the weight of your goods.

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 for your four bedroom move.

• If your move is local (less than 100 miles), movers typically charge by the hour -- with an average rate of about $100 per hour for two movers and a truck. However, a four bedroom house will likely require three to four movers which increases the hourly rate to around $150 to $170.
  
  A four bedroom house move usually takes between 8-12 hours, putting your move at about $1,200 to $1,800 for labor alone. You may also be charged extra fees for special services like stair or long carries.
  
  
• If your move is long-distance (greater than 100 miles), the cost is calculated based on the weight of your goods, the distance the movers will be traveling plus the cost of extra services and additional insurance if you desire. While prices will vary from one moving company to the next, the following table will help give you an idea of a standard range:

These amounts are simply estimates, and the actual cost will differ. Your home's weight may be more or less than this estimate depending on how much furniture and other possessions you have. Acquiring several on-site estimates from long-distance movers and remembering to ask detailed questions about extra charges will provide you with a more accurate price for your move. Prices will differ depending on how many stairs are in your home, the availability of proximate parking, and your packing needs.

If you pack, they drive

If you cannot decide if your time and convenience is more important than your budget, you may choose to hire a portable storage container service. This will decrease your moving costs and take some of the workload off of your shoulders. 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 considerably lower, as you can tell by comparing the numbers to those in the previous table for full-service moving.

Below are some standard quotes from the company U-Pack:

If you do it yourself

A DIY move is better suited for smaller ventures, like apartment moves or small homes. Moving the contents of a four bedroom house, especially long-distance, can be challenging. However, if you are on a tight budget and are considering a self-conducted move, here are some of the expenses you can expect:

• Truck rental: Unless you have free access to a large truck or van, you will have to rent a U-Haul or another moving truck. The price will depend on the size trailer you need, but a 26' U-Haul (suggested for a four bedroom house move) will cost a flat fee of $39.95 for the day plus $1.99 for every mile traveled. While it entails much more work to load the entire truck, drive it to your new location, and unload everything, it is certainly more economical than hiring movers. Even a cross-country move will only cost you around $3,000 which is about $10,000 less than the going rate for moving companies handling a move that size. Additionally, you may also be required to purchase fuel, as some rental companies ask you to return the truck with a half tank of gas.

• Packing supplies: Packing supplies can get expensive. Costs for four bedroom packing kits range from $200 to over $300 on moving supply websites depending on your needs. These often include only boxes, tape and packing paper--bubble wrap, furniture pads, etc. will cost extra. You can save money on moving boxes by stopping in your local grocery or liquor store and asking if there are boxes they are throwing away. You can also use old towels or quilts in place of furniture pads or moving blankets.

If you need storage

When moving a larger house, you may need to keep some of your belongings in storage temporarily. If you are using a moving company, they often offer storage services, or you could rent a unit from another company. Storage units come in standard or climate-controlled. If you are storing any items sensitive to extreme temperatures, such as clothing, fur, or electronics, you may want to go with the climate-controlled unit.

Prices will vary depending on the facility you use, but the following chart will give you an idea of prices for both standard and climate-controlled units, in three different sizes associated with four bedroom homes. The amount of goods you have to store will influence the size you need. You can speak with a representative a form any company you are considering to get a better idea of which size will suit the volume of your possessions.