How to Be As Financially Prepared As Possible When Moving in NYC

Moving in New York City is not easy, and it’s not cheap. Whether you’re hiring an NYC mover to help you with your move, or you’re doing in on your own, with just your car and a U-Haul, we’re here with some tips that can help simplify the process – and prepare you for the unexpected costs of moving in NYC. Let’s get started now.

Costs That Might Catch You Off-Guard When Moving To NYC

The first thing you’ll need to do when making a budget is understand all of the costs that may surprise you when moving in NYC. Here is a short list of some of the fees and costs that many folks don’t think about.

• Costs of travel – Whether by train, plane, or car, you’ll need to understand how much you’ll pay to get to your new home.
• Broker’s fees – Hiring a broker makes it easier to get an NYC apartment, but it’s not cheap.
• Renter’s insurance – You’ll definitely want to protect your stuff with insurance, which can be quite expensive in NYC.
• Storage – You’ll need storage if you can’t fit all of your stuff in your new place.
• Air conditioning – You may need to buy your own window A/C unit(s) if you’re moving into an older building without central air.
• High utility costs – Utilities in NYC tend to be quite expensive, compared to other areas.
• Cost of hiring movers – You’ll need to plan on the costs of hiring a mover in NYC, such as Simply Moving.

You may need a lease guarantor, too – someone who signs on your lease, and guarantees payment if you can’t pay, for some reason. So plan for this, as well, or make sure you’ve got cash in the bank to cover rent. That brings us to our next point.

Have A Budget In Mind Before Your Move

Do some research to find out how much moving to NYC costs. Check how realistic your budget is, and adjust it when necessary, to reflect changes in your living situation.

New York City simply has a higher cost of living than most other major cities in the US. Things like gas, groceries, rent, and other basic necessities are more expensive – which makes it harder to plan. We recommend using a cost of living calculator like this one to help you plan your budget.

As far as actual moving costs go, the amount you’ll pay an NYC mover depends on how far you’re traveling. According to the American Moving and Storage Association, the average cost of an interstate move is about $4,300 – while the cost of moving in-state is about $2,300.

You can save by moving on your own, but this may be extremely difficult, especially if you’re moving to a very urban area of NYC, like Manhattan. Because of this, we recommend hiring someone to help you.

Save, Save, Save (And Save Some More)

You’ll want to make sure you’ve got enough cash for your move. Create a separate savings account just for moving – and consider opening a high-interest account with an online bank. These accounts can give you a 1-2% or higher interest rate, which means that you’ll be able to accrue hundreds of dollars in interest.

As a rule of thumb, we recommend stashing away at least 6 months worth of rent in your bank account before moving. This “emergency fund” will ensure that you’ve got plenty of cash after you move and you aren’t broke – and that you can always find new employment or make another plan, should something go wrong after your move.

However, this depends on your own personal risk tolerance. Some folks move with just a month or two of rent in the bank – and it works out fine. So think about your own situation.

Spend Money on Necessities and Avoid Inessentials

To save before your move, make sure that you take steps to save more money in the months before you move. Cancel memberships you don’t need in NYC, buy groceries instead of eating out, minimize unnecessary expenses on alcohol and entertainment, and so on.

You should also make sure you pay good money for moving professionals, who are licensed and insured. You may be tempted to find a cut-rate moving company or do things yourself – but investing in high-quality NYC movers will help you save a lot of time and frustration, especially if you’ve never been to New York before.

In addition, when you do move, make sure to cancel your old utilities and update your address information for insurance, banking, credit cards and so on, to make sure you get all of your mail and don’t get hit by any surprise fees or penalties.

Timing Is Everything When Moving In NYC

If you can plan ahead when hiring NYC movers, you can save quite a bit of cash. Hiring movers last-minute is always much more expensive, so when moving in NYC, make sure to hire movers several months in advance.

In addition, moving in the spring and fall is usually more affordable than moving in the summer. Many folks prefer to move in the summer, because their kids are between school terms, which makes the transition easier. If you don’t have kids, or don’t mind if they start a school term late, you may be able to save by scheduling your move in the late spring or early autumn.

Plan Your Move – And Be Ready For Your New Life In New York City!

Moving in NYC doesn’t have to be stressful. If you hire an experienced NYC mover, have a plan, and have a realistic budget, your move is sure to be a success. So start planning now, and prepare yourself for your new life in The Big Apple!