9 Hidden Costs of Moving that You Should be Aware of

For those of you moving for the first time, congratulations. Typically, that signals the beginning of a new chapter of your life and the start of something incredible. While we’re sure you’ve done a ton of research and have a good idea of the costs involved, we wanted to make sure you were prepared for the hidden costs that you might not know about.
Sure, you know you must rent a truck, buy boxes and supplies, or even better, hire a moving company. You have your security deposit and have saved up for the other known expenses. So here’re nine hidden costs you should know about.

1. If you’re renting a moving truck, be aware that the price on the website typically doesn’t include insurance, fuel and surcharges. So be prepared for an inflated number when you pick it up.
2. Storage units can be a great space saver for your new place. It can serve as a staging area while you decide what you need and what you can get rid of. As with the moving truck though, most companies don’t include the cost of a lock, content insurance, and “upkeep” fees in their advertised price.
3. Unless you’re moving off the grid, chances are you’ll need electric. Ask the landlord or the current occupants for an average on monthly bills so you can budget accordingly.
4. Trash is another typically overlooked cost. If you’ll be living in an urban area, they may have municipal waste disposal, or you may have to contact a local refuge company. Call and set up your service ahead of time and find out how much they’ll be charging to dispose of your trash.
5. Connection fees. Going along with the monthly cost of electric, most power and cable/internet providers charge a connection fee for new customers. This can range from a few tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars depending on your needs and location. Call ahead and find out. Although there’s usually no negotiating with electric companies, most cable/internet providers can be talked down, or out of their connection fee if you mention a competing provider.
6. Tips. Hard work deserves recognition. If you’ll be using a moving crew, be prepared to tip the hard-working men and women if you think they’ve gone above and beyond.
7. “Bribes”. If you decide to rely on family and friends to help you with your move, you better be willing to pay them in food and drink. Pizza and sodas or beer usually does the trick.
8. Parking/Transit. If you’ll be moving into New York City, this is major part of living expenses. Parking in NYC costs more than anywhere else in the U.S., costing up to $500 a month in downtown Manhattan. If you won’t be driving, public transit isn’t necessarily cheap either, costing upwards of $100 a month.
9. Co-op/Condo/HOA fees. If you’re renting, contact the landlord or manager. If you’re buying, refer to your purchase contract. Most properties charge some type of monthly fee for upkeep on green areas, building maintenance and snow removal. These are in addition to your rent/mortgage and are enforceable by civil law if they’re not paid.

Moving for the first time is an experience that you should be excited for, but also prepared for.
Hopefully with these nine things in mind you’re able to make the right decisions and be ready
for them when they come up.