The moment a move becomes only a matter of time, one of the very first thoughts that will most likely occupy your mind will be how to save money on the move. And much to your surprise, that same moving date will probably be approaching much faster than you want it to. Yes, you would be right to occupy your mind with these money-saving issues, for you should probably know by now that the moving expenses due to be paid out of your own pocket won’t be a joke.
And yet, there are a number of proven ways to save money on your next move. In order to keep your spirits up during this stressful transitional period, take advantage of the following 10 fool-proof tips on saving money when moving.
#1: Fill out a moving quote
By taking a minute or so of your time to fill out a quick moving quote, you’ll get the luxury of receiving multiple moving quotes in a day or two from reputable moving companies. The offers you get will have been prepared by moving experts and will be tailored to your specific relocation needs. When contacted by professional movers, make sure you request in-house visual estimates for a precise calculation of the final moving costs. And, when you’re asked to choose between a binding or non-binding moving estimate, always opt for a binding one in writing.
#2: Choose a low cost moving company
The next step for you is to select a moving company that will best fit into your relocation budget. Once you have the various moving estimates in front of you, you won’t find it too hard to make the right choice. Pay attention to the additional services offered by your movers (packing materials, packing, unpacking, transportation of your car, etc.), their respective price tags and check if these accessorial moving services are included in the final price or not. Also, confirm again the availability of the moving companies as some of them may not be available on the date you wish to move.
#3: Ask your movers to meet you halfway
Now, if you like what a specific moving company offers but their price is a little over your budget, you can try and negotiate a better deal by explaining to them that you’re ready to book them right away as long as they are willing to give you a better offer price-wise. Don’t forget to also ask them about ongoing promotions, discounts, special coupons or anything else that will bring the overall cost down. In fact, some movers will be willing to make certain compromises in order to secure the moving job.
#4: Book your move as early as possible
The moment you decide firmly on a specific mover, it’s a good idea to book your move immediately as that may be another way to bring the moving expenses even further. Remember that “the earlier, the better” strategy can prove beneficial for you, and that no moving job can be reserved too early, especially during the height of the moving season.
#5: Be smart when scheduling your move
Speaking of the height of the moving season, you shouldn’t have any doubts when the peak season is: 65% of all household moves take place between May and September. The summer alone is the season where the demand for reliable moving companies reaches its logical peak and where real bargains are rare. So, if you can exercise any flexibility in choosing your moving date, then you are strongly advised to schedule your move during the off-peak season in order to save additional money on your move. Ideally, you would want to aim for a weekday in the middle of a month anywhere between September-May.
#6: Find inexpensive or free packing materials
Packing materials can add substantially to your final relocation bill so you should take advantage of any chances you have to obtain them cheaply or even for free. Ask friends, coworkers or anyone else who you know have recently moved house if they can spare some moving boxes in good condition, or maybe even packing paper or bubble wrap. The people who have experienced a move will know exactly what you’re going through and will be more than ready to help you out, if they can. Visit local businesses (supermarkets, office supply stores, bookstores and so on) and ask their managers if you can have well-preserved moving containers for free – they would normally not mind at all since you’d be saving them the trouble to recycle them. Moreover, if there’s a recycling center near you, you can go and check if they have boxes in good condition that you can utilize.
#7: Declutter your home before packing
Even if mathematics was never your strongest subject at school, you should be able to easily reach the conclusion that the more household items you pack for moving, the more you will have to pay for their transportation. Yes, you will get charged based on the distance to your new home and the weight of your shipment. Therefore, one logical way to keep more money in your wallet will be to go through your home item by item and decide to leave behind the possessions you won’t need in the future or have never liked in the first place. And even though that sorting process will require additional time to complete, the efforts will be well worth it in the end – you’ll save money from not shipping the unnecessary items, will pocket more dollars if you sell them, will get an unbeatable feeling of satisfaction if you gift them to friends or donate them to various charitable organizations and will win more uncluttered space in your new residence. Who says win-win situations are non-existent?
#8: Organize a successful moving sale
Organizing a garage sale in an attempt to sell your unwanted or unneeded goods is a good option to save money by actually earning more money. Clean well the items you have decided to display at your moving sale, assess fairly their current condition and price them accordingly. Consider promoting the yard sale in the local media or through appropriate signs throughout the neighborhood and select the sale date carefully. Oh, and don’t forget to bring out the salesperson in you on the day of the moving sale in order to bring in more cash.
#9: Pack what you can yourself
The most expensive option to move house is to go for a full-service move that includes quick and safe packing of your household by professional packers. So, you will be better off if you can pack some or most of your items yourself or with the help of reliable friends. Consider packing the smaller and easier stuff on your own and leaving the bulkier, heavier and more dangerous things (furniture, kitchen appliances and such) to professionals who know what it takes to reach great efficiency and follow all safety rules at the same time.
#10: Learn about tax deductible moving expenses
If you’re moving long distance across the country and the purpose of your relocation is to get a new full-time job, then the good news is that you may be eligible for tax deductions related to the expenses for packing, transportation and storage. Make sure you keep all your receipts and relevant documentation, and contact a tax consultant to confirm your eligibility.
