People move for a variety of reasons, whether it is to a new home or to a new business site. One of the biggest reasons for moving is to find better opportunities, which is why moving to San Fernando Valley is becoming more and more popular. San Fernando Valley is one of the few locations that provides opportunities for employment, community, education, business, and other exciting ventures. Whatever your reason for moving, there is no doubt that the act of moving itself is not easy.
Of course, the majority of us would prefer to save money whenever possible, especially when we think we can do something ourselves. People sometimes decide that moving their entire house or business alone is the best option to save some cash. However, a few particulars to your move will affect your moving budget. More importantly, moving a home or business yourself comes with a lot of unanticipated expenses and hidden costs.
As a result, you might be surprised to learn that hiring professional movers in San Fernando Valley will actually cost less in the long run than moving a home or business yourself. To assist you in choosing the best option for your upcoming move to or from San Fernando Valley, this article will outline the 10 hidden costs of moving a home or business yourself.
1. Packing Supply Costs
Although some people may not consider packing supply costs to be hidden expenses, they are included on the list because it is easy to underestimate the total amount you’ll have to spend on packing supplies. You may believe that these supplies are affordable, but have you thought about how many boxes, rolls of tape, and bundles of packing paper and bubble wrap you’ll truly require? These things can easily add up and you’ll be surprised to learn that it is already hurting your budget.
If you’re moving your home or business to, from, or within San Fernando Valley by yourself and without packing services, here are the common things you’ll need to purchase in order to pack your belongings:
- Moving boxes of all sizes
- Wardrobe boxes
- Packing tape
- Plastic wrap
- Shrink wrap
- Tape gun
- Multi-color permanent markers
- Packing paper
- Mover’s stretch wrap
- Bubble wrap
- Padding
- Mattress cover
Depending on the amount of items you’re moving to San Fernando Valley, the cost of packing supplies can easily break your budget.
2. Truck Rental Costs
Renting a truck to move in San Fernando Valley may not have any hidden costs, but there are other expenses related to renting a truck that aren’t always included. These primary expenses are gas and mileage. If your move to San Fernando Valley is a long-distance move, or if you need to make multiple trips, gas and mileage can really cost a lot. If you are in a rush to return the truck rental on time, you might also encounter a fee for bringing the truck back not cleaned or not refueled. These expenses can be costly and can easily add up.
In addition, you should also think about whether you’ve overestimated/underestimated the number of items you needed to move. Incorrect truck sizing can result in a longer rental period due to the need to make multiple trips, which can extend the moving process to several days rather than just one. Not to mention, you’ll have to pay more for gas and mileage for any additional trips.
3. Moving Insurance
It is always advised to protect your moving vehicle with at least a minimal insurance policy if you are not using a moving company in San Fernando. You’ll want the security you need for a worst-case scenario situation because many auto insurances do not cover damage to a moving truck. If you end up damaging a valuable item during the move without moving insurance, you won’t be reimbursed.
In addition, basic moving insurance will typically cover exterior damage and bodily injury in case of accidents. Prices vary depending on a variety of factors. Moving without the help of San Fernando movers means paying the extra cost of insurance. Instead, if you hire a reputable moving services provider, they will have their own moving insurance to cover moving homes or businesses in San Fernando Valley.
4. Storage Costs
Without the help of San Fernando Valley movers, it really takes a lot of work to move everything. If you’re close to the moving day but you can’t move in on time, you’ll need to find a place to temporarily store your belongings. The storage cost will depend on the company, however, it typically entails paying $80 to $150 per month to rent a storage unit.
Another common error made when moving on your own is using a truck that is not large enough to accommodate all of your belongings. You may end up needing more room in the truck than you had imagined once every last box and piece of furniture are added up. If you only have time to make one trip, you might need to pay for storage to keep your possessions safe until you can move them.
5. Hotel Costs
Hotel costs are one of the most unexpected costs for many people moving to San Fernando Valley or nearby cities. Just because the moving truck arrives and you have unloaded all of your belongings into your new home, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your new home is ready to be slept in overnight. You may not have had time to arrange things for the house, such as heating or electricity, or even set up the new locks.
As a result, you might need to stay at a hotel a night or two because you don’t know when you’ll be finished setting up your new home with all of your belongings and security protections. Hotel costs can get expensive very quickly and affect your budget.
6. Parking Tickets
One of the most unanticipated costs of moving to San Fernando Valley is a simple parking ticket. Never forget that finding a spot to park your big truck near your new location might be challenging. If you’re moving into a dense neighborhood in LA, such as North Hollywood or Studio City, or even a less populous area, such as Woodland Hills or Agoura Hills, it might be challenging to find a convenient location to leave your car and moving truck so that you can load and unload. This frequently forces you to find unconventional parking spaces, such as parking in a forbidden zone or in front of a fire hydrant, which can result in parking tickets.
7. Theft
If you’re moving to San Fernando, CA without the help of professionals in the moving industry, theft is one of the most common and costly consequences. Even though it doesn’t happen to everyone, preparing for theft is a hidden cost that you should take into account when moving by yourself. Anything that is stolen will cost you money and you might want to invest in security instead. You must purchase a lock for the back door of your truck that cannot be broken with simple hand tools and these safety locks can be pricey.
8. Car Tow Dolly
Usually, moving to San Fernando Valley without the help of seasoned California movers means a lot of improvising. A tow dolly is one of the most common solutions to moving big items or a many items by yourself. Unfortunately, you will need to pay extra to rent a tow dolly.
You’ll most likely have the option of selecting a two-wheel or four-wheel dolly at different price points. Keep in mind, if you’re not familiar with how to use a tow dolly correctly, it has the potential to damage a car or your possessions, which will result in additional costs for repairs.
9. Days Off
When relocating your home or business by yourself, even for small moves within Los Angeles or San Fernando Valley, you will most likely want to be there for the whole process of moving. As a result, you may need to take days off of work or, if you have children, find a babysitter. Moving without the help of professional movers means putting your life on hold to take care of your move. This will cost you your vacation days or wages if you take unpaid leave, plus the cost of childcare.
10. Damage Costs
Damage is yet another unintended cost of moving by yourself. Friends and family might volunteer to help, but they are not trained to properly handle and carry things during a move. The chances of damaging items are high if someone is not familiar with how to properly perform residential moves or commercial moves. Additionally, when something is damaged, you cannot just file a claim or depend on the insurance of the moving company. You just have to bear the costs on your own.
Without the help of experienced San Fernando Valley movers, there is no guarantee that all of your items arrive in your new house or office without any damage.
Importance of Hiring a Professional San Fernando Valley Mover
If you’re moving to the San Fernando Valley, the best course of action is to hire a reputable moving company. Tom’s Marathon Movers is a professional and fully licensed local moving company based in Los Angeles, California. All our movers in San Fernando Valley are highly experienced in residential moving, commercial moving, office moving, specialty moving, and packing services. No matter your reason for moving, our goal is to provide you with the highest levels of service and customer satisfaction.
Moving is not easy, so you shouldn’t do it alone. Allow the professionals at Tom’s Marathon Movers to help you have an efficient moving experience. We offer an estimate for our service with a solid final price and no hidden charges. Other moving companies cannot compare to our speed, efficiency, affordability, and care.
Peace of Mind
Moving can be costly, stressful, and overwhelming, especially if you’re doing it yourself. However, Tom’s Marathon Movers has the right knowledge, training, equipment, and awareness of the safest routes to know how to keep your belongings secure. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you and your belongings are in good hands. More importantly, you can be confident that you won’t have to pay any unreasonable fees that may hurt your budget.
Accountability
Moving without the help of experienced movers leaves you the burden of having to ensure the safety of all of your possessions on your own, which can add to the stress of moving. To make sure that all your belongings reach your doorstep safely, Tom’s Marathon Movers will be held responsible for your move.
Safety
The moving process will be much safer if you hire Tom’s Marathon Movers. Our skilled professionals are well-versed in packing everything securely, loading and unloading boxes, and transporting large items. Throughout the move, we use the proper materials to minimize or eliminate damage to your belongings. Any worries about paying for damage will vanish as a result.
Professionalism
We work tirelessly to ensure your move goes smoothly, protect all of your possessions, and leave you happy with the results. Every moving project on our schedule is taken seriously by our committed team. There’s no better way to satisfy a client than to transport all of their possessions safely and undamaged. We won’t simply abandon your belongings on the front lawn of your new house. We make sure that each box and each piece of furniture are placed where you want them in your new location and even offer unpacking services.
Professional Movers Serving San Fernando Valley
Within San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and beyond, Tom’s Marathon Movers is capable of moving anything and everything. Our team of professionals can assist with transporting all your big furniture, delicate items, and endless boxes of stuff so you don’t have to worry about it on the day of the move. Whether you need to move your business, house, or apartment, we can help make it less stressful.
Contact us today for a safe and affordable moving experience.
