Is the cost of moving worth it?
The short answer is one you won’t like: it depends. Whether it’s “worth it” for you rests on whether your current home has potential…or NOT. It will surprise you, though, to learn how often a MAJOR remodel is less of an investment than moving.
The long answer is better:
Whether it’s “worth it” comes down to your key priorities. Do you LOVE the neighborhood you’re in but kind of hate the home itself? Maybe moving isn’t the fix…
READ: the renovation that could turn a house into your dream home might cost LESS than moving.
Do you really know how much it costs to move? If money is on your mind, these are costs to take into account. Then, you can make the decision that changes your life in the biggest way possible, for the best.
What it’s like when you know SOMETHING has to change…
You’re sitting in your living room and feel restless. You can’t help it. The kitchen feels more cramped than ever with the new mixer sitting on the counter. The main bathroom is SO outdated that it starts you off in a bad mood every single day.
You indulge in scrolling through some home “for sale” listings on your phone while you try to relax. Then, you see it…the house of your dreams!! The sprawling yard frames the gorgeous estate with floor-to-ceiling windows, the open-plan kitchen you long for, and a backyard oasis with pool and room for that outdoor kitchen you dream of.
Moving could give you a fresh start. Cooking would be PLEASANT for once. You’d have storage space for everything. You could entertain and show off instead of feeling embarrassed or ashamed when people stop by.
However, when you tally up all the expenses of moving, you might find that turning your current house into your dream home might cost less than moving to that estate. By a LOT.
Let’s explore the real cost of moving beyond the price of the new home…
The Real Cost of Moving: It’s More Than You Think
If you search online for “the cost of moving,” the numbers seem simple and straightforward. They include:
- The price of the new house
- The realtor’s commission
- The cost of physically moving your belongings
The average moving cost seems manageable on those terms. Look at the National Association of Realtors (an institution whose members want you to buy houses), for instance, and the average moving cost for LONG-distance is around $4,890. Not bad! Stay in town, and the American Moving and Storage Association says moving will cost you $1,250.
Those numbers, however, fall irresponsibly short of the real cost of moving.
The hidden costs of moving are those that TENDto be a part of moving, but aren’t always a part of every single move. They’re also enormously variable. And so…because one homeowner might have a few of these costs but not all, the estimates don’t even include them…
In real-talk terms, though, every move will have several or more of these “hidden cost” categories to consider:
- Painting and other new décor for new spaces
- Minor remodels or facelifts for the “almost-perfect-but-not-quite” spaces in the new home
- Miscellaneous handyman and home maintenance jobs on top of that
- A private inspector to walk through the new home before you buy
- A design professional to walk through the new home before you buy
- New and supplemental furniture that fits properly in the new spaces (READ: your current furniture will not work perfectly “as-is” in a new home)
- Whole-home professional cleaning
- Time off work
- Childcare
- Petcare
These costs add up fast. Dive into what each one entails, and what the average cost tend to be…
The Usual Suspects: The Costs You Expect When You Move
- Closing costs
These are the fees you pay when you finalize the home purchase. They include loan origination fees, appraisal fees, and title insurance to taxes, plus homeowners’ association fees. Costs range between 2-5% of a home’s purchase price. For a $1 million home, that’s $20,000-$50,000 just to sign the dotted line.
Speaking of paperwork, don’t forget the cost of switching over all the utilities for the new home and the one you’re leaving… - Moving company: truck and packing supplies
Hiring a professional moving company is non-negotiable for most homeowners with larger homes, like those in our corner of the country in Keller, Texas. For a local move, you can easily spend $5,000-$10,000 for full-service movers that handle the packing and handling of special items.
READ: Packing supplies alone can run about $1,000… - Temporary storage (and housing)
If the timing if your move doesn’t align perfectly, you’ll need to store your belongings for a while…and probably live somewhere temporarily, too. Storage units can cost as little as $100-$300 per month, but for extended hotel or vacation rental stays, you KNOW the “average moving cost” numbers above don’t include that…
The Unexpected Expenses: The Costs You Don’t See Coming
- Remodels, facelifts, and handyman work
Even if the new house looks PERFECT in the photos, you know you’ll want to make changes. At the very least, you’ll want to paint most (or all) of the spaces!!
You might also find the “almost-perfect” house that does need a facelift to the kitchen…or some cabinet updates in the bathroom…or similar small remodels. Maybe you need to update the appliances to suit your cooking habits. These changes can range from a few thousand dollars for home maintenance updates to tens of thousands for more extensive renovations.
On average, homeowners spend $15,000-$20,000 on post-move renovation updates, but the outliers can be MUCH higher depending on how much work is needed… - New or updated furniture
If you’ve imagined moving all your furniture to the new home and having it fit perfectly, you’re in for another surprise expense!! With new spaces sized differently, you’re looking at replacing at least a few furniture pieces. Depending on your taste and the size of the new space, most homeowners spend anywhere from $5,000-$50,000 on new furniture. - Hiring your own inspector and design-build consultant
If you never thought about why you would need your own inspector or a design consultant, this video explains it in must-know terms. This is ESPECIALLY important for Texas homeowners (and you’ll see why in the video). The cost of hiring these professionals can range between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the extent of their services.
Watch the video.
READ: This investment is the one that does the MOST to protect you from surprise structural problems later. - Time off work
Once you start tallying up all the “to-dos” between paperwork, walk-throughs, the furniture shopping, and everything else, it’s clear why some homeowners take some time off work to get it done. This can mean lost income for some types of professionals, for example lawyers and consultants who bill hourly. - Pet care, childcare
Moving can be stressful, especially with pets or kids in the mix!! Boarding pets or hiring childcare can help, but expect to spend anywhere from $300 to $1,000, depending on how much time you board or book… - Whole-home professional cleaning
Before the official move into your new home, a deep cleaning is often necessary, including more stuff for the “handyman” category above — like a full duct cleaning. Just for the surface cleaning, a whole-home service in North Tarrant County usually ranges from $900 to $3,000, depending on the size of the home.
The Full Cost of Moving
Let’s look at two hypothetical households to see how costs add up…
| Household A in Keller, Texas | Household B in Southlake, Texas |
| Closing costs: $45,000 (for a $1.5 million home) Moving company: $10,000 Temporary storage: $300 Facelifts and handyman work: $25,000 New furniture: $20,000 Inspector: $1,500 Time off work: $5,000 (opportunity cost) Cleaning service: $750 TOTAL: $107,550 | Closing costs: $60,000 (for a $2 million home) Moving company: $20,000 Temporary storage: $1,000 Remodel and handyman work: $50,000 New furniture: $35,000 Inspector: $2,000 Design consultant: $750 Cleaning service: $1,000 TOTAL: $169,750 |
Really…how could a move ever end up being just $1,250 to $4,890?!
Is Moving Still the Right Decision?
Moving is still the right decision for some households. It’s important, though, to go into it prepared.
For starters…moving also requires SIGNIFICANT time and energy to coordinate. From scheduling movers to handling last-minute repairs and furniture deliveries, moving can become a full-time job.
Despite the high costs, moving is sometimes the right choice. If your current home no longer suits your needs and can’t be adapted to your NEW needs, OR you’re ready for a new chapter in a new neighborhood, city, or state, then moving becomes worth the investment.
To manage these costs and keep stress to a minimum, consider these tips:
- Create a detailed budget: Account for both expected and unexpected expenses…everything listed above!!
- Hire a professional: A moving consultant or real estate advisor can help you navigate the process and avoid costly mistakes. It’s also VERY wise to hire a designer who can review online listings with you over a consultation to identify what can and can’t be done in each space…that’s something you can schedule in our interior design services.
- Time your move wisely: Avoid peak moving seasons if possible and ensure all renovation or handyman work on your new home is completed before moving in to minimize disruptions.
In the end, whether you move or decide to remodel, being informed about the true costs will help you make the best decision, helping you live your best life.
READ: We have worksheets and a WHOLE devoted Mastery Course to help you see whether the right answer for YOU is to move or to stay and renovate!! Visit the event page to see when the next course is that you can watch live…
About the author
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for nearly three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
This is such a great post, Robin. I love how you broke it down so methodically. And hiring an interior design/renovation consultant like yourselves, before someone moves into a new home, so buyers can understand the actual dollars it will take to make a new home work for their family – is a GREAT idea.