Moving yourself can seem like a good idea when you’re trying to save some extra money. If you’ve moved yourself before, you know the hassle can sometimes out-weigh the savings – but, in most cases when cost is your main concern, DIY-moving seems like the only option.

Even if you’re set on moving yourself – it’s important to think through all costs involved in order to make the right decision.

Many times, unforeseen expenses will creep into your DIY budget and, after the fact, you realize for only a little bit more money and a lot less sweat, you could’ve hired professional movers to do it for you.

Here are some hidden costs that should be considered when moving yourself:

After crunching the numbers, be sure to get a few estimates from full service moving companies like Allied, so that you can weigh your options. Any other costs you think someone should consider? We’d love your thoughts!

Allied Van Lines is pleased to welcome Fox Hollow Movers as its newest full service mover.

Fox Hollow is an Oswego and Syracuse, New York moving company that services the greater Syracuse and central Upstate New York areas. Fox Hollow Movers began in 2002 as a local family owned and operated moving company and two years later affiliated with Carlyle Van Lines. Kenneth Fox, the owner, still runs his own crews and personally trains all new employees in order to make certain his drivers and crews consistently deliver the highest quality service possible.

"Our customers are our top priority and always come first,” explains Fox.

The dependability and attention to detail of its employees has enabled Fox Hollow to grow and develop a reputation for excellence in its market. Allied would like to welcome Fox Hollow to its network.

Fox Hollow Movers is located at 8011 State Road 104, Oswego, New York. More information can be found on their website at: http://www.foxhollowmovers.com/

Ready for a change? Maybe you’re looking for a new job? Before you make a final decision, it’s always important to do your research and understand exactly what you’re getting into. Here’s our recommendation for finding the best and cheapest city for your specific situation.

1. Decide what’s important to you. It’s best if you sit down with all involved with the move and agree on your priorities. Maybe your first priority is for the city to be pedestrian-friendly, while you’re wife wants to ensure the schools are highly-rated. It’s important to sort these things out before you start your search.
2. Once you pick a few cities of interest, compare them: Use tools similar to the free tool below to compare neighborhood and community statistics. a. Free community comparison tool: http://www.onboardnavigator.com/1.5/webcontent/obwc_search.aspx?AID=63
3. Find best option for your profession: Use the below salary calculator tools to get an estimate of your potential salary in the new city. a. Salary calculator tool by Monster: http://monster.salary.com/
4. Do a cost of living analysis: Use this free tool to analyze cost of living for the new city. a. Cost of living tool by Sperling: http://www.bestplaces.net/col/
5. Talk through the pros and cons: Once you’ve pulled together all of this information, get together with your family to discuss the pros and cons of each place.
6. Make a collective decision and start the move or job search process!

Does anyone have other tips? How did you decide where you were going to move?

We’ve compiled some of the top tips for moving to New York City and we hope these will help you on your upcoming move to The Big Apple!

1. Buy a back pack. You will be walking a lot – use a back pack to transport things from one side of the city to another.
2. Carry a small umbrella at all times. Having a small umbrella at all times will be a life-saver when you’re across town and it starts to rain.
3. Don’t bring a car to NYC. If you can avoid it, don’t bring a car to New York City. Parking is scarce and extremely expensive.
4. Find a bank as soon as possible. In order to avoid expensive foreign withdrawal fees, it’s recommended that you open a local bank account as soon as possible.
5. Know how cab signs work. You will know a cab is occupied if either the “off duty” light on the top of the cab is illuminated or if the cab number light is off. If a cab number is illuminated, the cab is available.
6. Understand parking meters. If a parking meter is broken, it’s legal to park in the space for one hour.
7. Use these websites to find a place to move.
   1. http://www.craigslist.com: This site will help you find an apartment or house in your price range.
   2. http://www.villagevoice.com/: Once you find a few interesting apartments research the neighborhoods.
   3. http://www.onnyturf.com/subway/: Figure out how close these apartments are to the nearest public transportation hub, it could help you make your decision.
   4. http://www.nyc.gov/: Check crime rates by neighborhood to ensure the area is safe.
   5. http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork: This site will help you map your route once you decide on a few apartments and schedule a trip to see them.
8. Get rid of what you don’t need. Because housing is expensive, you’ll more than likely be moving into a smaller place, so it will be important to purge the items you don’t need. This will help lower your moving costs when moving to New York City.
9. Enjoy all of the free things that New York has to offer. Get a library card, walk in the park or read free local papers for free city events.

Do you have other tips for moving to New York City? Leave a comment below!