Many people face a dilemma when moving, especially when deciding whether to hire help or attempt to do it themselves. We asked Move Concierge CEO, Gabe Abshire, the five most commonly asked questions we at Move Concierge get asked when people are thinking of moving. Here are his answers:
1. What are the main costs people should expect when moving to a new home?
The most significant cost is getting your new home move-in ready. Many people are busy packing up their old place that they neglect the to-do list for their new one. Do you know if the new house has adequate security? Do you need to have the locks changed? Have you researched internet and cable providers? Moving is best described as a massive disruption and distraction, so unexpected costs can easily creep up.
Here is a partial list of the secret costs to moving:
- Appliance replacement
- Fireplace Inspection or Cleaning
- Window treatments
- Gutter cleaning
- HVAC servicing
- Pest control
2. What are some common expenses that people often forget to plan for when moving?
I think people sometimes expect their new home to be perfectly move-in ready, but that’s not often the case. Sometimes a deep clean completed by a professional crew is needed to make the space feel fresh and ready for all your belongings. This includes the HVAC system. When was the last time the system was serviced and the air filter replaced? I find that getting these things squared away prior to the move-in date can go a long way to making the transition smoother.
3. Are do-it-yourself moves always less expensive than hiring a professional moving company, or are there hidden costs that people often overlook?
Do-it-yourself moves may save money, but it won’t save you time. That’s the most considerable hidden cost: sifting through the laundry list of gas companies, interest providers, and trying to find the best home services on your own, often in a new town. It’s overwhelming, to say the least.
4. Are people finding moving more challenging compared to five to ten years ago? Why or why not?
Moving can be much more challenging if you go at it alone, partly because of the additional service options available to consumers. Ten years ago, you didn’t have several competing Smart Home Security firms or utility providers to choose from. Today, numerous websites claim to offer the best deals on moving services, which creates a lot more white noise for people trying to move on their own without an expert service provider to help them.
5. What advice can you share to help reduce moving costs without increasing stress or risk?
The best thing to do is to find a home moving service that provides a one-on-one consultation with an expert. These experts should be able to clearly map out all items in a moving checklist and complete it quickly. Ensure you work with a service that offers a selection of providers to set up in your home. Many services only give you one or two choices of providers.
