35 Industry Secrets to Save Money on Your Move
The time and money you invest in your move can be reduced if you follow a few industry secrets. In this article, we’ll cover how you can save money. The following tips may require a larger time investment on your part or for certain things to work in your favor. However, even if your circumstances aren’t helpful, you’ll still find plenty of ways to save money.
1) Stay organized.
It’s easy to lose track of your finances when moving. Have a notebook where you track all of your expenses, where you list items you need to buy and tasks you need to accomplish. You’ll save time by staying on track and avoiding delays just as much as by using discounts and looking through different offers.
2) Take advantage of the off season.
Starting with October and ending in April, you’ll find most moving companies lower their price and/or release discounts. The weather discourages people from moving during this season, but because employees still need to be paid, movers will try to obtain your patronage in any way they can.
3) Check for cancellations.
If someone cancels their move, the company will probably be much more open to negotiations in order to fill the gap in their schedule. If you’re set on moving on a particular date, you can contact different companies and check if they’ve had cancellations. Then, you can offer to take the place of their last client in exchange for a reduction in price.
4) Get a container
When using a truck, you’ll have to load your belongings on the same day it arrives. This can be difficult to do on your own. You may be left with no choice but to rely on the movers’ help to load everything which will increase costs.
However, if you request a container, they can come by a week in advance and leave it in front of your home. Afterwards, you can take as much time as you need to pack your belongings and load them.
5) Research your options.
Just because you must pay your movers, it doesn’t mean doing it yourself will cost you any less. In many cases, paying a bit for your packaging materials, sacrificing some work time, paying for the rented truck, fuel bills, etc. add up to more than what a professional service will cost. The best way is to calculate all the costs of a DIY move versus what the quote from our company is, and then see for yourself which is cheaper.
6) Get combo deals.
Some movers offer moving trucks and storage as part of the same deal. You may even be able to rent the truck. Remember to ask about any other deals they may have available.
7) Get bundles on your digital services.
You’ll need an internet connection at your new home. Since you’ll be searching for a provider, it’s good to compare offers and get the best deal. Bundles are popular, and you can get some great discounts if you take the time to look for them.
8) Rent a truck.
If you’re moving to the other side of town, you can save some money by renting a truck. You won’t have to drive it across several states, so fuel expenses and time concerns won’t be a problem.
9) Request a fixed moving fee.
The quote you receive from your movers is not the actual price, but an estimate created by taking into account the size of your home, where you’re going, and various other factors. However, you may be able to obtain a fixed price in certain situations. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’ll pay, and there’s no chance of the price getting bigger on the moving date. On the other hand, you may end up losing money if the initial estimate was larger than what you’d have to pay for moving your property.
10) Avoid the beginning or end of a week or month.
When setting a moving date, it’s good to avoid weekends and Mondays. The first and last weeks in a month tend to be busy too. Most people choose these periods out of convenience. The competition is higher and so is the price.
11) Buy recycled boxes.
There may be people who’ve just moved into your neighborhood. They likely have a lot of boxes and packing materials they no longer need and would be willing to sell them for next to nothing. You can also search for used boxes online.
12) Get moving insurance.
If you pack your items, the movers won’t offer insurance. However, you can get it from another source. This way, you’ll recuperate your losses if something breaks. If you have no experience with packing, you may need additional protection.
13) Make sure there are no hidden fees.
Ask the company about it, check the contract, and ensure there are no surprises. If the movers try to give you what seems like a free service, confirm whether it’s actually free before accepting it.
14) Rags, linens, and blankets as packing materials
You can transport your blankets and some of your clothes in the same boxes as your dishes. You’ll keep your fragile items safe and save space at the same time.
15) Friends and family.
Instead of paying a steady fee to the movers to help with lifting the boxes, you can get friends and family for this task. Furniture can be especially heavy, so you may want to get several people in case 2 are insufficient. It will also help you save time.
16) Use large items as storage for smaller ones.
Drawers can hold numerous smaller items inside them. Most of the gaps in your furniture can be used for the same purpose. However, make sure there is sufficient padding between the smaller and the bigger items, so they won’t damage each other.
17) Socks as containers.
Very small items that are easy to lose can be stored within socks. They’ll protect them during the transport too, and you’ll save time and packing materials.
18) Get a neighbor to sell your items.
If someone is holding a garage sale next door, see if they can sell some of your old items. You can earn money without wasting time and get rid of unneeded clutter that would be costly to move.
19) Hold a garage sale yourself.
If you have the time, sell your items on your own. You’d have to give part of your earnings to your neighbor if you leave your items with him. When you want to take a break from packing, why not open up a stall? A good alternative is to sell them online.
20) Cheap packing supplies
It’s very convenient to get your packing supplies from the moving company, but it can be more expensive. You can find packing tape sold in bulk at department and office supply stores.
Use newspapers, gazettes, and used notebooks as free packing materials. If you buy a device that comes in a box and is surrounding by packing materials such as peanuts, keep those too and use them for the move.
21) Sleep at family or friends’ houses
Although it’s not recommended due to the risks involved, if you decide to drive a truck with all of your belonging across the US, you’ll need accommodation. It’s much cheaper and safer to stay with family and friends if they live on your path.
22) Negotiate.
The movers may be willing to negotiate, and it never hurts to try. However, if the answer is no or if they’re unwilling to go below a certain sum, you should respect their decision and move on.
23) Sell the boxes after the move.
You won’t need them anymore and they’ll just take up space. Instead of throwing them out, you can find buyers for them online.
24) Shut down utilities.
Close every contract you have with utility companies for your old home. Even if you’re selling it, make sure the bills are sent to the new owner and not to yourself. If you know the date or period when you’re moving out, you can schedule utilities to be interrupted the following month after your departure.
25) Measure your furniture.
You should check if your furniture can enter the new home and where it will fit. Make sure you have the exact dimensions and double check them at the location. If you cannot move your bed or wardrobe easily, it may better to sell it.
26) Move your non-perishables
If your food won’t rot during the trip, you might as well move it with your other belongings instead of throwing it away. You can even compare prices and transfer non-perishables that are noticeably more expensive in the state you’re going to.
27) Check for fuel sub-charges.
One type of hidden fee is fuel costs calculated/mentioned after the transport. Ask the movers about them just in case.
28) Reconsider moving heavy items.
You may be better off selling your workout equipment than moving it. Your items’ weight is a big factor in how much you’ll be charged for their move. If you own weights and other objects that are very heavy yet not that expensive, it may be better to sell and then buy new ones at the other location.
29) Find a free babysitter.
While you work on the move, you can get a family member or a trusted friend to guard your children. It’s a way in which friends can help even if they can’t assist with the lifting.
30) Check your appliances.
If your refrigerator is way past its warranty and it’s starting to malfunction, you’ll likely save more money by buying a new one. Appliances can be heavy and they break down in time. When did you buy them and how much did you use them? If some of your belongings are likely to break down in a few months, it may be cheaper not to move them.
31) Use the original package.
If you haven’t thrown away the box in which your TV arrived, it will be perfect for moving it. Any boxes you’ve saved from old appliances should be used for those appliances.
32) Cook for your movers.
You will need to feed your movers. Making them some sandwiches at home can be an economical alternative to ordering. If you do order meals, you can get cheap and tasty food such as pizza.
33) Get household items from the dollar store.
You may want to clean the house you’ve moved out of, so the future owners don’t find a mess. You may also need to do a lot of cleaning at your future home. You’ll need enough supplies for both houses, so you may want to get them for cheap.
34) Sell, donate, or throw it in the garbage.
After years of living in an apartment or house, most people have numerous items that used to be useful and are now just gathering dust on a shelf. Whether you forgot to throw them out or kept them as memorabilia, it’s a good time to remove them before they increase your moving costs. If it’s no longer useful and/or won’t fit in your new home, it’s best you get rid of it.
35) Take small items with you.
It’s important you don’t leave your documents and other essentials in a truck. However, you can take other small items with you too, especially if you think they’ll be useful as soon as you get to your new house.