It’s no secret that moving can be expensive. Sometimes, enlisting the help of a few friends and renting a truck could be the best way to save money. However, licensed and insured movers are the only option when moving to and from high-end luxury buildings. If you’re ready to hire professional movers, we’ve compiled these five tips for saving money on your upcoming move.
1. Pack in Advance
When planning a move, packing up kitchenware and clothes from your closets is a great way to save money. Most moving companies will pack large furniture items and electronics. Packing up the rest of your home, however, comes at an extra fee. Packing up your items in the weeks leading up to your move can not only reduce stress come move day but will save time and when being charged hourly – money.
2. Be Flexible in Your Moving Date
Moving during the summer tends to be more expensive than any other time of year. This is due to moving companies being in high demand during these months. If at all possible try to avoid this peak moving season as companies will often lower their prices the rest of the year to remain consistently busy. If you have no choice but to move during the summertime, being flexible on the day of the month you’re moving is another option to reduce costs. We recommend avoiding the first and last few days of the month as this is often when leases are ending and the majority of people are looking to move.
3. Declutter
Whether you’re downsizing or simply moving from one home to the next, moving is a great chance to purge items that are taking up space in your closets, basement, or attic. When planning your move, we recommend dividing your things into three separate categories – items you’re moving, items to be donated and items you’re throwing away.
This will not only help you put together a solid inventory list of what you’re moving but will also help save money on both hourly and flat-rate quotes. Not to mention, those items you’re donating can be written off come tax season.
4. Save on Moving Boxes
Adding moving boxes to your quote can quickly cause the price to skyrocket. Utilize local Facebook groups, local businesses (liquor stores, grocery stores, and offices are usually good bets), and sites like Craigslist to find boxes at a fraction of the cost. While moving companies generally offer higher quality and specialty boxes, moving non-fragile items in donated boxes is a great option when moving on a budget. One thing to keep in mind before taking free boxes – is to make sure to carefully inspect them for signs of insects and other unwanted pests. Saving money, in this case, isn’t worth the stress of dealing with a potential infestation in your new home.
5. Get Multiple Quotes
Research and reach out to at least three different moving companies when pricing out your move. Looking up online reviews as well as on the American Moving and Storage Association to verify that the moving company you’re looking into is a certified Promover who’s licensed to perform the specific type of move you’re looking for (whether this is local, interstate or international).
When getting quotes from moving companies it’s important to be transparent about your budget. Oftentimes moving companies will work with this budget to get you the most competitive price for your move.
Be sure to carefully review any paperwork that comes with your quote to make sure that the price is guaranteed. Otherwise, the low price you received during the quoting process may turn out to be much higher. This is especially true when it comes to hourly quotes where the move takes longer than expected. Some companies deliberately underestimate the time a move will take to make the price seem more competitive. Lack of communication about the scope of the move is most often the cause is higher than expected hourly prices.
If you’re ready to receive a quote give us a call or submit your information online and a FlatRate Moving representative will reach out shortly. Be sure to take a look at our other blog posts if you still need more research on the moving process. Thanks for reading!