{"id":97520,"date":"2026-03-25T14:56:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T14:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?p=97520"},"modified":"2026-03-28T15:00:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T15:00:36","slug":"planning-diy-move-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_38 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump Ahead To: <\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#2_Insurance_Upgrades\" title=\"2. Insurance Upgrades\">2. Insurance Upgrades<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#3_Equipment_Moving_Supplies\" title=\"3. Equipment &amp; Moving Supplies\">3. Equipment &amp; Moving Supplies<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#4_Hotels_Meals\" title=\"4. Hotels &amp; Meals\">4. Hotels &amp; Meals<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#5_Time_Off_Work\" title=\"5. Time Off Work\">5. Time Off Work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#6_Access-Related_Issues\" title=\"6. Access-Related Issues\">6. Access-Related Issues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#7_Damage_Replacement_Costs\" title=\"7. Damage &amp; Replacement Costs\">7. Damage &amp; Replacement Costs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#8_Fuel_Price_Volatility\" title=\"8. Fuel Price Volatility\">8. Fuel Price Volatility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#9_Wear_Tear_Often_Ignored\" title=\"9. Wear &amp; Tear (Often Ignored)\">9. Wear &amp; Tear (Often Ignored)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#10_Stress_Physical_Strain\" title=\"10. Stress &amp; Physical Strain\">10. Stress &amp; Physical Strain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#Want_to_Compare_Against_a_Fixed-Price_Long-Distance_Move\" title=\"Want to Compare Against a Fixed-Price Long-Distance Move?\">Want to Compare Against a Fixed-Price Long-Distance Move?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>When planning a DIY move, most people budget for one thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The truck rental. <\/strong>Maybe they add fuel. But that\u2019s usually where the budgeting stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem? A do-it-yourself move, especially long-distance, involves far more moving parts than the rental price suggests. And the things people forget to budget for are often the ones that erase the \u201csavings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re considering handling your own move, here\u2019s what most people overlook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Fuel (And How Quickly It Adds Up)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving trucks average <strong>8\u201312 MPG<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a 1,500\u20132,000 mile move, fuel alone can cost:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>$500\u2013$1,000+ depending on gas prices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even more in coastal or high-tax regions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And if someone drives a second vehicle? That\u2019s additional fuel, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fuel is rarely included in the advertised rental rate, but it\u2019s one of the largest real expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-2-insurance-upgrades\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Insurance_Upgrades\"><\/span><strong>2. Insurance Upgrades<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/reliable-long-distance-moving-company\/\">Basic rental coverage<\/a> is minimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most people add:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Collision damage waivers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplemental liability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cargo protection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Insurance add-ons can add hundreds of dollars to your total, but skipping them exposes you to major financial risk. That\u2019s rarely factored into the initial DIY estimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-3-equipment-moving-supplies\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Equipment_Moving_Supplies\"><\/span><strong>3. Equipment &amp; Moving Supplies<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rental trucks usually don\u2019t include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Furniture pads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mattress covers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dollies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tie-down straps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"\/moving-services\/packing-services\/\"   title=\"Packing\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">Packing<\/a> materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Add in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Boxes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tape<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bubble wrap<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wardrobe boxes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Supplies often cost $150\u2013$500+, depending on home size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s small individually, but significant collectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-4-hotels-meals\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Hotels_Meals\"><\/span><strong>4. Hotels &amp; Meals<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cross-country DIY moves usually require overnight stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People forget to budget for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>1\u20133 hotel nights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restaurant meals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Snacks and drinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parking fees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even modest travel spending can add $400\u2013$800+ to your total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-5-time-off-work\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Time_Off_Work\"><\/span><strong>5. Time Off Work<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A DIY move often requires:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Packing days<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Driving days<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unloading days<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equipment returns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That can mean 4\u20136 days of time commitment. If you\u2019re using unpaid leave or delaying income, that\u2019s a real financial impact, even if it doesn\u2019t show up on a receipt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Professional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/fixed-price-long-distance-moving\/\">long-distance options<\/a> remove the driving portion entirely, allowing you to arrive faster and potentially avoid extended downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-6-access-related-issues\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Access-Related_Issues\"><\/span><strong>6. Access-Related Issues<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people forget to plan for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Parking restrictions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Narrow streets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HOA rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Elevator reservations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stair challenges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your truck can\u2019t access your building directly, you may need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Shuttle services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extra labor help<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Extended rental time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Logistical friction costs money.<\/p><div class=\"getbe-middle\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"getbe-529995638\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/book\/service\/\" aria-label=\"The Better Way to Move\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"The Better Way to Move\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" width=\"600\" height=\"160\" style=\" max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160.png 600w, https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/600x160-300x80.png 300w\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-7-damage-replacement-costs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Damage_Replacement_Costs\"><\/span><strong>7. Damage &amp; Replacement Costs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Improper packing or load balancing can result in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Scratched wood furniture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broken electronics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cracked glass<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damaged appliances<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Replacing even one major item can wipe out DIY savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Professional crews are trained in securing cargo properly, something that reduces risk during interstate travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-8-fuel-price-volatility\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Fuel_Price_Volatility\"><\/span><strong>8. Fuel Price Volatility<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gas prices fluctuate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If prices spike between booking your rental and driving day, your total rises unexpectedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fixed-price long-distance moving absorbs fuel risk into a locked-in price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DIY places that volatility entirely on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-9-wear-tear-often-ignored\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Wear_Tear_Often_Ignored\"><\/span><strong>9. Wear &amp; Tear (Often Ignored)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re driving a personal vehicle in addition to the truck, that means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Added mileage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tire wear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oil use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-distance strain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not immediate cash out of pocket, but it\u2019s real cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-10-stress-physical-strain\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Stress_Physical_Strain\"><\/span><strong>10. Stress &amp; Physical Strain<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>DIY moving includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Heavy lifting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multi-day driving<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Route planning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Securing cargo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coordinating arrival timing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Physical exhaustion increases risk of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Injury<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mistakes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Stress may not have a price tag, but it has impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 id=\"h-a-realistic-diy-budget-example\"><strong>A Realistic DIY Budget Example<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say your truck rental quote is $1,800.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Add:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Fuel: $700<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insurance: $300<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplies: $300<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hotels &amp; meals: $600<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Miscellaneous: $200<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you\u2019re at: <strong>$3,900+<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before counting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Time off work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Injury risk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damage replacement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The gap between DIY and professional moving often shrinks dramatically once everything is included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 id=\"h-the-bigger-picture\"><strong>The Bigger Picture<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>DIY moves look cheaper because the base price is lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the forgotten costs, fuel, lodging, supplies, time, and risk, change the equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For small or short moves, DIY still makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For long-distance, full-household moves, budgeting accurately is critical before assuming it\u2019s the \u201cbudget\u201d choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-want-to-compare-against-a-fixed-price-long-distance-move\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Want_to_Compare_Against_a_Fixed-Price_Long-Distance_Move\"><\/span><strong>Want to Compare Against a Fixed-Price Long-Distance Move?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before committing to a rental truck, compare your fully calculated DIY estimate with a transparent long-distance quote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When pricing is fixed and clearly defined, surprises disappear, and decision-making gets easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Get your long-distance moving quote today.<\/strong><strong><br><\/strong>Call <a href=\"tel:+18776800559\">+1 (877) 680-0559<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/\">book online.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When planning a DIY move, most people budget for one thing: The truck rental. Maybe they add fuel. But that\u2019s usually where the budgeting stops. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1209],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.5 (Yoast SEO v19.10) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs - Bellhop<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn which costs you shouldn\u2019t forget when planning a DIY move across states.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bellhop allows you to choose from a variety of local, long-distance, and labor-only moving services that suit your needs and budget.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bellhop\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-25T14:56:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-28T15:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/bellhop-logo-960.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"227\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nick Valentino\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@BellhopMoving\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@BellhopMoving\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nick Valentino\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nick Valentino\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc\"},\"headline\":\"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-25T14:56:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-28T15:00:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\"},\"wordCount\":675,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Moving\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\",\"name\":\"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs - Bellhop\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-25T14:56:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-28T15:00:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn which costs you shouldn\u2019t forget when planning a DIY move across states.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Moving\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/category\/moving\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Bellhop\",\"description\":\"Moving Tips &amp; Moving Resources\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Bellhop\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg\",\"width\":148,\"height\":35,\"caption\":\"Bellhop\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bellhopmoving\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/bellhopmoving\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bellhopmoving\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BellhopMoving\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc\",\"name\":\"Nick Valentino\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Nick Valentino\"},\"description\":\"Nick Valentino handles day-to-day operations at Bellhop, ensuring our customer's moves go smoothly. When not knee-deep in moving logistics, Nick enjoys The Bachelor, Georgia Football (Go Dawgs!) and traveling. He lives in Atlanta, GA.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs - Bellhop","description":"Learn which costs you shouldn\u2019t forget when planning a DIY move across states.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs","og_description":"Bellhop allows you to choose from a variety of local, long-distance, and labor-only moving services that suit your needs and budget.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/","og_site_name":"Bellhop","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/","article_published_time":"2026-03-25T14:56:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-28T15:00:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":960,"height":227,"url":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/bellhop-logo-960.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Nick Valentino","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@BellhopMoving","twitter_site":"@BellhopMoving","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Nick Valentino","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/"},"author":{"name":"Nick Valentino","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc"},"headline":"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs","datePublished":"2026-03-25T14:56:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-28T15:00:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/"},"wordCount":675,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Moving"],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/","url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/","name":"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs - Bellhop","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-03-25T14:56:39+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-28T15:00:36+00:00","description":"Learn which costs you shouldn\u2019t forget when planning a DIY move across states.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/planning-diy-move-costs\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Moving","item":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/category\/moving\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Planning a DIY Move? Don\u2019t Forget These Costs"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/","name":"Bellhop","description":"Moving Tips &amp; Moving Resources","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Bellhop","url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo.svg","width":148,"height":35,"caption":"Bellhop"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bellhopmoving\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/bellhopmoving\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bellhopmoving\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BellhopMoving\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/BellhopMoving"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/0d1c7f232d2f71fbf2cfa16235d2d2bc","name":"Nick Valentino","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d972af744fec1ef673864921b6137b58?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Nick Valentino"},"description":"Nick Valentino handles day-to-day operations at Bellhop, ensuring our customer's moves go smoothly. When not knee-deep in moving logistics, Nick enjoys The Bachelor, Georgia Football (Go Dawgs!) and traveling. He lives in Atlanta, GA.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":false,"featured_image_src_square":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Nick Valentino","author_link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/"},"rbea_author_info":{"display_name":"Nick Valentino","author_link":"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/author\/nick-valentino\/"},"rbea_excerpt_info":"When planning a DIY move, most people budget for one thing: The truck rental. Maybe they add fuel. But that\u2019s usually where the budgeting stops. [&hellip;]","category_list":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.getbellhops.com\/blog\/category\/moving\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Moving<\/a>","comments_num":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97520"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97520"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97535,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97520\/revisions\/97535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bellhopblog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}