If you’re moving out of Portland, OR, one of the biggest questions you probably have is about the cost to move. You’re not alone in this. In fact, budget is one of the primary questions we get from our customers, and for a good reason.
According to Zillow, 57% of home buyers who sell their homes stay within the city they lived in before. Additionally, 86% move within the same state. Moving involves all sorts of expenses, whether or not you’re hiring a local moving company to help you. Because of that, it’s essential to know what to expect on the front end. In this post, we will break down the average cost to move in and around Portland, Oregon, and what you can expect if you choose to hire movers.
Let’s dive In
How Much Does it Cost to Move?
The answer is simple – it varies depending on where, when, and how much you’re moving. As you can imagine, it will be cheaper to move from a ground-level studio apartment than it will from a 10,000 square foot mansion. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all rule for how much you’ll spend on moving, here are a few guidelines to help get your budget in order:
- Local/intrastate moves. These moves are moves under 100 miles. The price generally includes two movers and a truck. For these moves, you can expect to pay between $115-$130 per hour for the help of two movers. You’ll also pay approximately $50 an hour for each additional mover you hire. Keep in mind that many local moving companies charge weight- and miles-based charges for over 50 miles intrastate. As a result, intrastate weight-based moves average $1000- $3000 due to the short distance.
- Interstate/cross-country moves. These are moves over 100 miles or moves across state lines. A good way to estimate the costs of these moves is to assume $1.00 per pound of items you move. In many cases, you can estimate the rate to move based on the state Department of Transportation guidelines.
While you’ll need to talk with your mover to get an exact price estimate, these guidelines can help you determine a rough budget.
Estimating Move Cost Based on Home Size
If you’re moving within Portland, you can generally estimate your moving costs based on the size of the home you’re moving out of. Here are a few guidelines:
- A one-bedroom apartment. These moves generally take between three and five hours and will cost anywhere from $400 to $700.
- A two-bedroom apartment. These moves take a bit longer, with an average time investment of five to seven hours. They can cost between $600 and $900.
- A three-bedroom home. These are all-day moves, clocking in at about 7 to 10 hours of estimated time. They will cost between $800 and $1,200.
- A four-bedroom home. These moves will take about 10 hours and will cost between $1,200 and more than $2,300.
Which Moving Services do you Need?
Another element that will impact the cost of your move is how much help you hire. Most moving companies provide a spectrum of moving services, from a la carte packing to comprehensive packing, moving, and unpacking services. Your budget will depend on which services you decide to invest in.
For example, you’ll pay more if you have a moving team pack and unpack your entire home then you will if you decide to buy boxes and do it yourself. In some cases, you can buy a la carte services from a moving company, which would involve moving furniture, and pre-packed boxes.
This may be a good idea if you’ve never moved with professional movers before, or if you’re willing to DIY certain aspects of your move. If you have young children or a large household to move, you may be better off hiring a team to handle the process from start to finish. Not only will this save you time, but it frees you up to focus on getting settled in your new space.
For example, you may be able to pack your clothing, dishes, and personal items, and hire the movers to take your boxes and furniture to your new space. Most companies offer a variety of options, so be sure to get in touch with your local movers for help deciding what’s right for you.
Ready to learn more about our moving services? Contact us today to get your free estimate.