Whether you are relocating to Charlotte, moving down the street or across the country, moving from one home to another involves a lot of work. Everything that you have collected and accumulated over the years must be carefully packed and moved. This includes all your special mementos, clothes, books, furniture, kitchen tools, and so much more. It all starts to really add up once you are packing up those boxes!

Approximately 35.5 million Americans move each year, so that ends up being a whole lot of stuff that gets moved. While packing can be less than enjoyable, most people aren’t too concerned with the final number of boxes or items. Instead, everyone wants to know how much moving really costs. To help you determine what you will be spending throughout the process of your move, following are some important expenses you should keep in mind.

Will you need to rent a truck?
If you plan on moving yourself, you will most likely have to rent a truck. The final cost for this will depend on the size that you need and how long you need it. If you will not be moving too far, you may be able to move all your belongings in one day, to help keep costs down. Obviously, the rental fee will be more expensive if you have to drive the truck to a different state. However, this is a cheaper option than hiring a moving company. Plus, you will have full control over how your belongings are treated and where they are located.

Will you hire a moving company?
If you have a large home, you need to pack belongings for a whole family, or you simply do not have a lot of extra time, hiring a moving company could be your best option. The exact services that you pay for will vary for everyone, but most moving companies can do as much or as little as you want. For example, you could pack up everything in the house yourself and just have the moving company load it all up and transport it to the new house. Alternatively, you could even have them pack up everything for you – from shoes to silverware, they will do it all.

Will you need temporary storage?
In many instances, you are not able to move directly from one place to another. For example, you may have to first sell your house before you can close on a new one. As a result, there is usually a little down time in between places – maybe a few days, maybe a few months. If this is the case for you, then you will probably need to keep your belongings in temporary storage for a little bit. The cost for this can vary greatly, depending on the amount of space you need and the quality of the facility.

Moving is exciting, but it can also be costly. Prepare yourself by planning for all the extra expenses that can be involved.