8 Ways To Save On Your Next Move
If you’re one of the millions of people that will be moving this year, get ready to have some sticker shock when you check out the price of movers. Unless you’re relocating on your employers dime, you’ll probably want to find ways to reduce the cost of moving.
Though changing houses is never easy, there are ways to reduce the pain on your wallet. Here are 8 ways to save on your next move.
Always Do Your Homework
Before you hire a moving company, do your homework to avoid problems down the road. Go to Yelp to find movers with the highest rating. Good reviews typically mean you’re getting good bang for your buck.
If you hear low pricing at the initial consultation, find out all of the details, like are you hiring the movers on an hourly basis or is it one fee for the entire move. How many people will be working on your home and will they be providing moving materials? Get quotes from several companies before choosing one to handle your move.
Pick The Right Time To Move
You can’t always choose when to move, but if you can, try to move during a time that’s less demanding on moving companies, like mid-month or even mid-week. If you’re even more flexible, moving during the school year will get the best rates. The summer months are going to be the costliest.
Get Your Materials For Free
Finding free moving boxes, tape and bubble wrap is easier than you think. Ask friends and family if they have any leftover moving materials and keep an eye on online classified sites for offers of free materials.
If you know you’re going to be moving in the near future, keep boxes you get from large items purchased online so you can repurpose them. Labeling boxes can also help relieve any frustration from packing. Getting a label maker from LabelCity might be a good investment in the end.
Pack Your Own Belongings
While you may need help with moving your items, you should be able to pack your belongings yourself. Hiring movers to pack your stuff can get expensive. Save yourself the cash and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing all your items made it into boxes by doing the packing yourself.
Only Pack What You Really Want
In order to cut back on the number of things you need to move, host a yard sale to raise some moving money. Donate whatever items are left that you don’t want to take with you.
If you’re hiring movers, long-distance charges are usually based on the pounds moved and the distance covered, so lighten your load for the best rates.
Get Estimates
You can have moving companies come to your home and give you a free estimate of what your move will cost. Make sure the person that comes looks at every room and any storage areas you may have to get the most accurate quote.
Pick The Released Value Option
If you’re moving long distance, movers will include a released value protection. That means you can get reimbursed up to 60 cents per pound for damaged or lost items. That helps cover replacements or repairs so you don’t have to shell out extra money out of your own pocket at the end of the move.
Keep Your Own Records
You should document the condition of your big ticket items prior to moving. Take pictures, get jewelry appraised and otherwise cover yourself. If the move is for a job, you can write off the expenses on your tax return as long as you have good records.
