Expenses and Other Stressful Factors to Anticipate for Your Move

Moving can be an expensive and stressful experience. It seems like there's always costs that people relocating didn't initially anticipate, and the entire process can require much more time and energy than expected.

Capital City Transfer has been relocating residents in the Madison area for over four decades now and knows all about the factors that play a part in the finances and anxiety surrounding a relocation. Our BBB-accredited business makes transitions as easy as possible for our valued customers and can help foresee some of the unexpected issues that may arise when switching residences.

Moving Can be Expensive

While most Americans know that the moving process will require a budget, many underestimate how much it will really cost. Studies have shown that across the US, people tend to spend about $500-$600 more than they planned for in their budget.

Local relocations can run anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000, depending on how far you're moving from your current residence, while those moving long distances such as cross-country should plan on expenses being more around $7,000.

Tips for Saving Money

Even though those numbers may sound higher than you wanted, don't let that scare you! If you start planning your relocation early, there are a few things you can do to cut down on costs, such as:

  • Downsize Ahead of Time: With moving companies basing their rates off of weight and volume, it can make a significant difference to go through your belongings ahead of time and part with anything you no longer use or need.
  • Move in the Offseason: Most folks schedule their relocations for the summer months and weekends, so if you plan yours on a weekday sometime between October and May, you may get much better quotes from moving companies.
  • Get Creative with Packing: Instead of spending money on brand new packing supplies, use the items you already own to pack and pad other belongings, like linens, suitcases and laundry baskets.

Moving is a Stressful Time

Research has found that 91% of Americans that move say the process was stressful. That stress can include everything from the emotions involved in leaving your current community, all the way down to the logistics of a move, like the amount of time it takes. On average, a relocation takes about 11-12 days from the time you begin packing to the moment the last item is in place at your new destination.

Americans have also voiced that a good amount of their stress was related to the safety of their belongings that they either move themselves or entrust to a moving company. Finding the right team of professionals to work with contributed to stress for an additional 30% of relocators.

Tips for Managing Stress

While moving will require a good amount of time and attention, there are some ways you can cut down on the overall stress experienced during your move, like:

  • Plan Early: By planning early, you can keep yourself organized and potentially reduce the amount of time it takes to get your items transported and unpacked in your new residence.
  • Research Moving Companies: Call around to get a few quotes from different companies and ask them directly about the services they offer.

Because different factors cause our customers different levels of stress, we design custom moving plans to meet your specific needs.

We offer customers both full and partial packing options, so if you're more interested in saving money with Capital City Transfer, you only need to pay for the services you absolutely need. On the other hand, if the stress of moving is more on your mind, we can handle all aspects of packing so you can focus on other things on your to-do list.

Call us today for free estimates on any of our relocation services, and see why we're the affordable moving company that Madison-area residents trust to take the hassle out of relocating, and make moving day as stress-free as possible.