Know the Costs for a DIY Move to La Palma
Know the Costs for a DIY Move
As you’re getting ready for a big move, you may be thinking that you’ll just tackle all the work on your own. After all, it can’t be that hard to pack, right? And you’ve got friends and family members who will come help you out on moving day. So it makes sense for you to just do it all yourself.
However, as with anything you choose to do on your own, there are real costs associated. And it’s up to you to know these costs up-front before you start the DIY moving process. That way, you know what you’re getting yourself into. And, for good measure, you might want to get a quote from the best La Palma moving company. Then, you can make a true comparison between the cost of hiring out a full-service move and the cost of doing it on your own.
The cost of your time
It may not seem like it, but your time is valuable. Sometimes, it’s even got a dollar amount attached to it. Like when you’re working, for instance. Even if you’re a salaried employee, your hours invested in your job still have a financial benefit. And your other time – time spent with your family or just in leisure – also has value.
That’s why it’s so important to understand the opportunity costs of moving. That basically says that any time you choose to do one thing with your time, you’re saying no to other things you could be doing with that same time.
When it comes to moving, the opportunity costs can be quite high, leaving you feeling stressed and overworked at this important juncture of your life.
How much time, really?
Yes, you might be wondering, but how much time will moving really take? Well, that depends on a lot of factors – how big your home is, how much stuff you have, and how much help you have. But for professionals, it’ll take an average of six to ten man hours to pack a three-bedroom home. If you assume, because you’re not a pro, that it’ll take you twice that, you’ll put at least twelve to twenty hours into just packing. Then, you’ll put in another eight to ten hours on moving day, at least, for a local move.
All together, that’s about thirty or forty hours that you’ll spend on your DIY move – and entire work week! It’s no wonder that professionals recommend you start packing four to six weeks before you move!
What about the money costs?
Of course, most people choose a DIY move because they don’t want to put as much money into the moving process. And it can be true that doing it on your own has fewer financial costs. But there are still costs involved.
For instance, you’ll need to pay for boxes and packing materials. Even if you get many of your boxes secondhand, you’ll still have to pay for some of these things. That’s probably $50 to $100, at least. And you’ll need to pay for the moving van – easily another $250 to $500.
What about those volunteers on moving day? It’s only right that you offer to feed them dinner in exchange for their help! So there’s another $100-$200, depending on how many people you’re feeding and what you’re feeding them.
So altogether, you could be looking at costs of easily $300 to $800 for your DIY move. That’s a pretty hefty chunk of change to add to the hefty chunk of time you’ll be spending on your move.
How much will a full-service professional move cost? It’s hard to say until you have the best La Palma movers out to give you a solid quote. But you may be surprised at how affordable it can be, especially if you choose to split the difference and do some things on your own while paying movers for others. You can always customize a package to suit your needs and your budget, and this can make moving with help both affordable and less time-consuming.