Moving can be expensive and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. With some planning and flexibility, you can reduce both the stress and the expense. This post will present ten tips to help you save money on your move. If you’re planning a relocation soon, this information may be helpful to you.
Start Planning Early
If you wait until the last minute, you’ll likely have to pay top dollar for your move. Moving companies book quickly, especially during the summer, and you’ll have to pay for moving supplies. Instead, start planning as soon as you know you’ll be moving. This way, you can find the best deals and can compare moving companies’ rates.
Estimate the Cost in Advance
Online moving cost calculators can help you estimate how much your move should cost. This information will help when you’re talking with moving companies, so you’ll know when a quote is reasonable and when it’s way too high.
Move During the Off-Season
Sometimes your schedule is not negotiable: for example, you might be moving for work or school, and you have to show up at your new location at a specific time. Many school terms start in August or September; in that case, you have to move during the summer.
If you can avoid it, though, you’ll save a lot by moving during the off-peak season. The majority of moves take place during May through September. This is when the kids are out of school, and many people can get time off from work. It’s also when moving companies are busiest, their schedules are packed, and they tend to charge premium prices.
You can save 30 percent or more by scheduling your move from October through April. Many moving and storage companies cut their rates during these times to increase business. Moving during the off-peak season has other advantages:
- Moving companies’ schedules are less busy, so you’re more likely to get your desired moving date.
- There are more moving companies available so you can compare rates and terms.
- Your move will be handled by the company’s experienced staff; during the summer, movers may hire temps with less experience to supplement their workforce.
Declutter Your Home Before the Move
Over the years, you may have collected a lot of stuff. Much of it may now be gathering dust in closets and on shelves in the garage. Why bring all that with you? Moving is a great chance to rid yourself of things you no longer need or use. You can sell, donate, or discard any items you don’t use or won’t be needing in your new home. Movers typically charge by weight and the movers’ time, so the less you move, the lower your moving costs. You can even hold a moving sale to make money for your move.
Pack and Move Yourself
If you’re moving a short distance, such as within the same city, and don’t have much furniture or many heavy objects to transport, you may be able to save money with a DIY move. You can rent a moving truck and load your household goods on it, then drive it to your new location.
Instead of having the moving company come and pack everything, you can get some moving supplies and pack some of your items yourself. If you can’t move everything yourself, you still might be able to pack and transport some items. Just be sure to pack correctly; movers aren’t responsible for damage to items they didn’t pack, and if they believe a container is not packed properly, they may charge you to have it repacked.
Try Alternative Means of Transport
Instead of hiring professional movers to move everything, you can look into alternatives. For example, the U.S. Postal Service has a Media Mail shipping service to ship books at a low cost. This will enable you to save on moving company costs and free up space in the moving truck for more costly items.
Try Container Transport
PODS and other container transport services deliver a moving container to your home, which you load your household goods into. The service then moves the container to your new home so you can unload it. This arrangement can often be enormously less expensive than a moving company.
Get Free Packing Materials
Instead of buying new moving boxes, you can get free ones at retail stores, supermarkets, your local U-Haul, and other places. You’ll need to make sure the boxes are in good condition and sturdy enough to carry what you plan to put in them. You can also invest in reusable plastic packing bins, and save them afterward for future moves.
Instead of using packing paper, you can use towels, articles of clothing, and crumpled newspapers and plastic bags to wrap fragile items and fill empty spaces in boxes and provide cushioning.
Pack Efficiently
By making the most efficient use of your packing boxes, you can fit more items in each box, saving the movers’ time. You’ll also reduce the number of boxes you have, so the movers can possibly use a smaller, less expensive truck.
Prepare for Contingencies
As much as you plan, unforeseen events can still happen. Having backup plans can help you save money. For example, if the move gets delayed, arranging to stay in a friend or relative’s home can enable you to avoid hotel fees. If the delivery of your household goods is delayed by a couple of days, having some clothing and essential items with you can help you avoid having to do last-minute shopping.
Moving can be challenging and costly, but following the tips in this post can help you keep the costs to a minimum.
We hope you found this post, 10 Cheap Moving Tips: Save Money When Moving House useful. Be sure to check out our post, Common Factors that Affect Your Moving Costs for more great information.
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