How Much Does it Cost to Move Homes in Canada?

Planning a move can be both an exciting and daunting experience. It’s a time-consuming process, but it’s also a great way to freshen up your life and start anew, laying a new foundation for the next season in your life. 

Assessing your budget is a fundamental part of the planning process, but how much does it cost to move?

Let’s explore the costs of moving house and how to maximize your resources, save money, and fit within a budget. We’ll also touch on the difference between relocating your belongings and moving an entire house.

Benefits of Moving Home

People move home for different reasons. Some flock to the city for job opportunities, while moving to a rural area offers a close-knit sense of community. A recent survey revealed that the main reason for moving home is lifestyle choice.

As lifestyle preferences differ from one person to the next, the benefits of moving homes may differ. As a guideline, here are a few common benefits of moving homes.

• A fresh start
• New opportunities for career, community, and self-improvement
• Personal growth
• Opportunity to declutter and embrace a minimalist lifestyle

Moving to a New Location

The steps involved in moving from one home to another may vary from one family to the next, but can be summarized as follows:

1. Put your existing house on the market (perhaps with the help of real estate brokerage)
2. Finalize your mortgage and budget
3. Buy a new home (and ensure that the paperwork is legally sound)
4. Pack up your home
5. Move from one building to the other (perhaps with the help of movers)
6. Unpack in your new home
   

What is the Cost of Hiring Local Movers?

Are you wondering how much a mover costs? When you’re planning a move, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to hire professional movers. Hiring movers is an investment that offers many benefits.

From their intimate knowledge of your area to their physical resources and assistance in helping the move go as smoothly as possible. Local movers are able to offer labour, large vehicles and moving trucks, and more.

So, what is the cost of hiring local movers?

Moving services cost factors include the following;

• Base moving fee
• Moving insurance
• Optional charges such as packing services
• Size of the home (often measured in square footage)
• Amount of belongings in your current home that you’ll be moving

There is no specific cost of hiring local movers, but you can budget anywhere from $600 for a small studio to $1,700 for a larger home.

What Is the Cost of Hiring Long Distance Movers?

Distance is another major factor that affects the cost of moving home. Moving from one province to another will have a notable impact on the cost of moving, and long-distance movers are able to offer affordable rates.

While the cost of the service will vary depending on the same factors as above, there are additional elements to consider. For example, whether or not you’ll need storage during the process.

As a guideline, the average cost to move cross-country falls in the range of $2,600 to $6,700 depending on the distance, size of your household, and other factors.

How Much Does a Full-Service Move Cost?

A full-service move is a type of relocation that provides the customer with all of the benefits and services needed to make an efficient and successful move.

This includes packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, and staging furniture at your new home. As you can imagine, this makes the process a lot more streamlined and efficient.

Full-service moves are often more expensive than other types of moving options such as do it yourself (DIY) or hiring movers only for some aspects. However, there are many reasons why people choose this option such as fast turnaround time, less stress on those who will be moving on their own, peace of mind knowing someone else has everything under control, and more.

As a rough guideline, a full-service move can cost anywhere between $550 to $12,000 depending on your needs and the factors of the move.

One-Bedroom Apartment

The average cost of local movers is approximately $60 per hour, and most one-bedroom apartments only need the labour of two movers for a total of four hours. This puts the total moving company prices for a one-bedroom apartment at $480 for labour only.

A long-distance, with more services included, can bump up this cost to a range of $1,500 to $3,200 (for an average weight of 3,000 lbs).

Two-Bedroom Apartment

Using the same hourly rate of $60 per hour, the process of moving a two-bedroom apartment should take three movers approximately 6 hours, bringing the total cost to roughly $1,080 for labour alone.

A more inclusive long-distance moving service for a two-bedroom apartment typically costs between $3,500 to $5,200 to transport a household weight of 5,000 lbs.

Three-Bedroom House

Locally moving a three-bedroom house should take four movers an estimated seven hours, bringing the total cost to $1,680 for labour. Moving long-distance brings the price up to a range of $6,300 to $7,800 for an average household weight of 9,000 lbs.

Keep in mind that each moving company will have its own rates and packages. Make sure to ask about what is included in a full-service move and how much the additional services cost.

Additional Charges for Hiring Movers

Avoid getting caught by hidden costs during the moving process. Consider the following additional charges for hiring movers that could impact the total cost of moving house.

Packing

Local movers typically charge $60 per hour for packing up the home. Choosing to pack up your home on your own can save you money and give you the opportunity to proactively declutter.

Extra fees charges

There are certain situations that could hike up the cost of moving home. For example, owning too many heavy or bulky items can increase the labour cost. If you’re located on the second floor and your building doesn’t have an elevator, then the hired movers may also factor the effort of climbing stairs into their cost.

Moving Insurance

Make sure to ask about the insurance options included in the moving services, or whether you need to take out additional cover. Insurance will offer basic protection for your household goods from the moment that they leave the home.

Storage Cost

Depending on the transition period, you may want to rent a storage unit to hold your belongings short-term while you wait for the mortgage to come through or to keep long-term as you downsize your home.

Cleaning Cost

Cleaning services may be necessary when moving home. It’s important to leave the home you’re vacating in spotless condition while hoping that the previous owners of your new home did the same. Alternatively, you may want to hire professional cleaners to scrub the house before you move in.

Child Care or Pet Care Cost

If you have children or pets, you may want to make alternative arrangements for them on moving day. This might be as simple as having them stay with a good friend or family member, or you may want to use the services of a babysitter or pet sitter.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Moving

The cost of moving can vary greatly depending on the distance, weight, and a number of services required.

In summary, consider the following factors that affect the cost of moving;

• Professional movers
• Size of the home
• Weight of household belongings
• Transportation
• Storage
• Packaging supplies and costs
• Cleaning costs
• Real estate costs
• Insurance

Tips on Hiring a Moving Company

There are many moving companies out there, and it can be difficult to find the one that is right for you. Consider the following tips on how to go about finding a moving company.

• Read reviews – check the rating and credentials of the moving company
• Request several estimates – compare the costs and services of multiple moving companies to see which is best for your
• Inquire – ask as many questions as you can about the rate structure, payment terms, and any hidden costs

Let’s Get Packing!

Moving can be a stressful experience, but it doesn’t have to be. By planning ahead and doing your research, you can make the process smoother and more affordable.

Using the services of a trusted and reliable moving company can streamline the moving process and reduce a lot of stress. It can even reduce the cost to move a house in the long run!

We’re here to support you on your home buying journey. Contact us today.