The Ultimate Guide to Saving Money on Your Move
Moving Can Be Expensive…Here’s How to Save Money Moving!
Okay, so you are going to do this moving thing. Well, moving can be a lot of work. You have to move all your stuff from here to there and you generally want your stuff to arrive THERE in good shape. Now obviously the more stuff you have and the nicer the stuff is, the more you will want to invest in your move and a quality mover. You can save big bucks by going the DIY route but there are many hidden costs and many hassles you will have to deal with.
As industry insiders, we can tell you that the moving industry is kind of like the airline industry in that it is based on supply and demand. Most moving takes place in the summer when the weather is nice and kids are out of school (people generally don’t like to have kids change schools mid year). Probably somewhere around 75% of moves take place between May and September so your timing can have as much as 40% impact on your overall cost. Outside of timing, the more of the work you can do on your own, the more you can save…but sometimes it’s nice to just kick back and let someone else do the work!
Here are Some Top Insider Tips for Saving Money On Your Move:
Get Quotes from Multiple Quality Companies
When multiple movers compete for your business you win! Just make sure that you are dealing with certified pro movers from top national brands that will stand behind their service and can cover you if anything bad happens during your move.
Move During Off Peak Times of Year
The peak moving season is from May through September when the weather is warm and kids are out of school. If you can move outside of these months you can save as much as 40%!
Reduce the Amount of Stuff You Are Moving
Movers charge based on weight and time. Newsflash: The more stuff you have the more it weighs and the more time it takes to move. Moving is a good time to purge stuff you don’t need. Many charitable organizations will pick up stuff you don’t need and can give you a tax write off. It is often more cost effective to re-buy certain items than move them, so if you aren’t attached…get rid of it!
Pack Yourself
Packing can be time consuming and tedious work but it can save you hundreds of dollars in labor. If you don’t want to do all the packing yourself…throw a packing party!
Find Free Boxes
While boxes might not be a major expense, every bit helps! You can get free boxes from many local stores…all you need to do is ask! Typically grocery stores, liquor stores, and drug stores are good bets to find free moving boxes.