Are you finally moving into your new apartment (or house or condo)? It's quite an exciting experience, isn't it? But it can also be overwhelming. 
 
If you are moving from your old house to a new one, there are plenty of things to pack, move, and unpack. And if you are moving out of your parents' house into your very first place you can call your own, there's a gazillion things to buy. 
 
So, the question is, how do you prioritize? And how do you make sure you have everything you need? ​

Moving houses can be a daunting and downright exhausting experience- what from finding the perfect house to buy or rent, locating and transferring to a good school or workplace, and changing addresses for all your utilities, bills, and other mail. 
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​And that’s just the beginning. Now, you have to hire movers, figure out how to start packing up your things, prepare for the actual move, and once you’re finally in your new home, you simply don’t have the energy to deal with everything else. Next thing you know, 6 months have passed and half of your things are still inside their packing boxes. ​

Moving houses can be daunting and downright exhausting. But if you plan ahead and give yourself ample time to go through everything, moving can be a breeze. 
 
Follow this ultimate guide on how to plan, organize, and pack for the big move. 
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Did you get a new job? Or are you looking for a change of scenery? Then it's time to relocate. But, unless you're moving next door, you will need a truck or a trailer. Trust us- you can't fit that oversized couch in your car, no matter how hard you try. 
 
The thing is, hiring a moving company- whether you're just renting a truck or availing a full service- can cost you anywhere from $100 to $10,000 depending on where you're going and how much you want to take with you. 
 
Here is a guide on the costs of hiring movers so you can prepare for that ultimate road trip. ​
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Before we give you the average rates of hiring a moving company, you have to first understand what goes on in pricing moving services. This way, you can save up on the factors that you have control over. 
 
How much stuff you have 
 
The first consideration is how much you will be moving to your new house. Moving companies calculate the rate for this in two ways: 
 

• The number of rooms (or the total floor area of the house) 
  
• The projected weight of your belongings 
  

 
On average, all the things in one room weighs about 2,000 to 5,000 pounds. This excludes special items such as pianos and pool tables. 
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Companies usually categorize moves into three types: 
 

• Local- within 100 miles in the same state 
• Out of state- long distance and outside the state border, upto 1200 miles 
• Cross country- distances of more than 1200 miles 

 
Local moves are the cheapest because you are only paying for the rental of the truck and a couple of movers to assist you, and this move can be done in a day. 
 
But once you cross the state border, additional regulations and permits are needed by the moving company to legally operate, so you will also be paying for that, not just for the added miles. ​
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In relation to where you are moving, particularly on whether it is a highly urbanized and densely populated location, expect much higher costs. Movers in the big cities are sometimes paid twice the hourly rate of those anywhere else. 
 
Another thing to consider is the time of your move. The summer months from June to August are the peak season for moving, and this usually means higher rates, sometimes as much as 25% of off-peak rates. ​
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There are different types of moving companies to suit your specific needs (and your budget). Their costs generally depend on how much of the work you will be doing yourself. ​
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As the name implies, you simply rent a truck. You do the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. At an average of $3,000 for long distance moves, this is the cheapest option, and works best if you have a lot of time on your hands and want to be with your belongings at all times. ​
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Alternatively, you can rent storage containers, which cost around $4,500 for long distance moves. These will be delivered to you so you can load your things at your leisure, then will be picked up and driven to your destination, after which you can unload your things yourself. 
 
If you want to make sure everything is packed and loaded properly, but opt for a plane rather than the scenic route for yourself, this option suits you perfectly. ​
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This is by far the priciest option, but it's also the most convenient. Full service movers take care of everything, including, if you choose, packing and unpacking your things. An average cost for a full service long distance move is $10,000. 
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Sometimes, insurance is not included in the moving company's quotations, so be sure to ask. Otherwise, you can get your own insurance, which averages to about $0.60 per pound of your belongings. 
 
There is also the cost of moving your car/s if you will not be driving them yourself. This can go anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on whether the car will be running (towed) or in an open or closed trailer, and the make and model of the car for insurance purposes. ​
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To recap, the average costs for long distance moves can go anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000. These average rates are lowered by upto half if you are moving to the neighboring state, and upto ¼ for a local move. 
 
For example, let's say a cross country rate for a 2-bedroom house is $10,000. This would approximately cost only $5,000 if you're moving to a nearby state, and only $2,500 or less if you are moving within your current state. ​

Residential moving can take a lot of time and become stressful especially if you are moving with your family. It can take days to weeks and for some, even a month for most homes to pack their entire household. Moving is a process that takes time, patience and effort. It can be difficult, especially if you are dealing with heavy items such as bed frames, tables, and appliances.

Packing your essentials can be tiresome especially if you are doing it on your own. Therefore some people resort on hiring a moving company that will help them from packing to moving their items from point A to point B with less to no hassle! Imagine how much time you can save by letting movers do the job for you. Shed little to no sweat when you hire a moving company.
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If you still prefer on doing it on your own, here are some tips and tricks that can be useful as you start on preparing for your moving day.