Need storage? Allied can help with that too, as we offer long-term and short-term storage options for those belongings you would rather move at a later date -- whether because you’ll be in a smaller temporary residence or because you’d like to decrease the size of your international shipment.
Some people opt for renting a portable storage container for their DIY move. With this option, one of these containers is dropped off at your home. You load it with your possessions, and the container is picked up and driven to and dropped off at your new location. For a local move, renting a portable storage container can run between $400 and $700. For a long-distance move, the price increases substantially, and can average between $900 and more than $4,500, depending on the distance you are moving. Most companies include 30 days of free storage in the rental price.
"Do-it-yourself" moves are not always the most cost effective or easiest option. For example, you need to rent a moving truck, which can run up to $100 a day. You'll also have to pay a substantial one-way fee, usually several hundred dollars, if you don't return the truck to the same location, something that's difficult to do if you're moving across the country. Keep in mind that things like furniture dollies and furniture pads come at an extra expense.
Local moving companies usually charge by the hour and base the total cost of the move on how many people it will take to complete your move. This rate can vary between $50 and $200 per hour. Cross country movers base their rates on time and distance.
Long Distance Moving
To get a more exact estimate for your moving costs, we suggest you use our long distance moving calculator above.
Commercial Moving
One other thing to factor in when costing a DIY move is the cost of not having your possessions insured against any damage that might occur during the move. Even the most careful packing and driving can go awry if someone hits your moving van on the road or if your load shifts unexpectedly. With a commercial moving company, any damage to your possessions en route is covered by the company's insurance policy. That means we'll give you money to replace any item that's damaged during the move. (Keep in mind, though, such damage is very rare.) You choose whether you want insurance for fair market value of your belongings or the full replacement value.