It is no secret that moving is a costly venture. This feature is one of the main reasons why people opt out of professional moving assistance and try their luck at DIY relocations. However, it is not always the case that the latter saves money. As a matter of fact, the way to reduce moving costs has more layers to it than it might seem at first. And, Verified Movers will be glad to help you learn about all those ways to make the process of moving easier on your budget, whether you are moving on your own, or with the help of experts.
Guide to reduce moving costs easy and trouble-free
You know what they say – the early bird catches the worm, and the same can be said here. The earlier you schedule the move, the better. Basically, once you determine your moving date, finding the most suitable moving company will be much easier. And this is something most moving experts will advise you as well. When it comes to saving money, first-minute booking of moving services gives you the chance to aim for the off-peak season (mid-September to May). This, in turn, can reduce moving costs by up to one-third of the total.
Self-packing to reduce moving costs
Unless you have the money for a full-service move, you might want to consider going with self-packing to save money. Conducting part of the move by yourself is one of the most basic ways to reduce moving expenses.
Get packing materials cheaply or even for free
Moving boxes are simply something you will need in large quantities for your move. Now, people usually opt for having the moving company they hire supply them with the moving boxes or by purchasing them. But what if we told you that there are places where you can find moving boxes for free?
Reduce moving costs with the use of cheap or free packing materials.
In addition to this, you can also save money on wrapping and protective padding making use of the old blankets, socks, etc. that you have around the house. Furthermore, certain movers offer the option to rent plastic bins.
De-clutter in order to reduce moving costs
The fewer belongings you have to take with you, the less money you’ll have to spend moving it all. So, do a quick inventory and consider which of the belongings you have do you actually need in your new home. Once you compose a list, it all comes down to de-cluttering in the best way possible – garage sale, donation, or trash.
Perform a DIY move to reduce moving expenses
Rent a truck and make the trip by yourself to save on expenses. However, there are two important factors to consider:
- The distance can determine whether it will be more reasonable to move on your own or with a verified moving company. If you are looking to do a short-distance move, moving on your own is a good direction to go. It comes down to renting out a truck and asking a couple of friends to help with the packing and loading. However, if we are talking about moving out of state, you really need a professional mover to handle the move.
- Time, of course, is the other prerequisite that you need to factor in before making your decision. If you’re looking to have a quick-step move and have no time to organize it, hiring professional movers would be the best course of action.
Hiring cheap moving companies to reduce moving costs
Not only does an established moving budget help you organize within budget limits, but it can also help lower your moving costs. Reach out to several moving companies and arrange for a house call with the representatives to get moving estimates. Then cross-compare the quotes and choose the one that best fits into your moving budget. The good kind of moving companies will make the extra effort to negotiate the most affordable solution in accordance with your budget limitations.
Finding and hiring affordable movers is one of the best ways to reduce moving costs.
Unfortunately, with cheap movers comes the risk of fraud. So you should be on your guard for suspiciously low quotes that seem too good to be true. That being said, you must know how to recognize and avoid moving scams, as well as what to do if you ever became a victim of a fraudulent relocation scheme.
Reduce moving costs through tax deductions
Once you find your ideal moving company considers the aspect of tax-deductible moving expenses. With this knowledge, you can get a return on your long-distance moving cost quite a bit. You just may be eligible for a tax deduction on the costs of packing, transporting, and storing your household items. So be sure to keep all the documentation related to your move (including all the receipts) and consult a professional tax consultant whether your move is tax-deductible or not.
Avoid using cheap and low-quality packing supplies for your move
As previously mentioned, finding moving boxes free of charge will lower your relocation costs greatly. But there is a border to be drawn between cheap/free and low quality. Even one moving container in bad condition can break easily and cause additional expenses. And that damage alone could triple the amount of money you saved by not using good quality boxes. Considering this scenario, perhaps using substandard moving boxes is a risk not worth taking.
Save time to save money on moving expenses
Time is money, remember? So, the better your moving and packing organization is, the more time you are likely to save in the end. All this can help save moving time, and lead to reducing moving costs. And to make sure you are completely ready for moving day, take advantage of these carefully selected packing tips and tricks.
Time is money and the quicker your move is done, the less you will end up paying for it.
Making your personal moving budget is another best way to reduce moving costs
It is always a good idea to monitor and control your expenses. And do so in a way that will let you step up and apply the necessary fix. That is if a task suddenly requires more money for its completion than you have originally planned. And state to state movers Tennessee suggests you make a moving budget to help you stay within your limits. And it will also lower your moving costs even more. Hence your personal relocation budget will serve as a moving costs checklist and it will give you valuable information regarding moving company expenses. Those are:
- relocation cost estimate
- additional services
- moving insurance
- extra charges
- relocation equipment
- packing supplies
- and also hidden DIY costs
Make your personal moving budget
Schedule your relocation as soon as possible
You probably already know, that when it comes to reserving any services, you need to do it in advance. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a local mover or long-distance moving company, because no relocation can be booked too early. You probably already know that the summer is the busiest season for the moving industry. So if you’re planning a summer relocation, then the fundamental the earlier. Hence the better booking rule becomes even more important, so that you can have a stress-free relocation experience.
Schedule your relocation in advance
Think about the relocation date
Many professionals regard that when the moment the relocation date is confirmed, the chosen moving company will meet your relocation needs. And, of course, the best movers in the industry are the first ones to get booked, especially during the peak moving seasons. Hence there isn’t any point in postponing this significant task. Moreover, there’s an added incentive to book your move very early in the relocation process. And some moving companies may give you a price discount for early booking, hence that’s something that’ll also help you lower moving costs. If you need additional information, you can always consult with long-distance moving companies Racine to clarify it for you.
Negotiate a better price with your moving company
Don’t forget to ask your movers for special deals or some other possible discounts. Because anyway you can lower your relocation costs is more than welcome. And it’s good to keep in mind that no relocation company rates, and prices, are set in stone. That also means that you should try and negotiate a better deal with your movers, even if you are not very proud of your negotiation skills. So, the Top Movers in Denver will give you some good tips for negotiating a moving company price.
Compare moving estimates
Most of the time, reputable moving companies will try to give you a better deal than to see you go to look for one of their competitors. So, if possible, use this tactical information to your advantage. Make sure to compare the price quotes of many different professional moving companies. Afterward, contact the mover that you have selected and try to negotiate a better price. You should tell them that you do want to use their moving services, but you have been offered a lower price by another mover. And inform them of the lowest bid and ask them directly if they will be willing to price-match it or maybe even go lower than that.
Make sure to compare the moving estimates before you make your pick.
Try it a few times
You probably already know that serious moving companies will surely try to keep and win customers. They will do so by providing more flexibility including pricing and conditions. Because the goal is to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with your mover. This may also mean slight compromises on your part as well if that is a feasible option, of course. If your moving company is not willing to reduce the price, then you can try again the next day. Above all, your persistence will be a sign that you are a serious customer. Additionally, the chosen moving company can change their minds in the meantime. Other than that, there’s always a possibility that you resume the price negotiations with another more flexible moving company representative.
Set up your relocation smartly
Another good idea to cut your relocation costs, even more, is to set up your relocation right away. However, it is not always possible to choose the exact date to relocate. But if you are lucky enough to have that flexibility, then you should use your scheduling freedom to notably reduce the cost of relocation. Since the moving company rates are the highest during the peak moving season it is simply because the requests for relocation services are the greatest during that period. And the Top Movers in San Francisco suggest you should always aim to move during the off-peak moving season.
Peak moving season
The peak moving season starts on Memorial Day which is the last Monday in May and ends on Labor Day, the first Monday in September. According to statistics, nearly 70% of all moves in the U.S. occur during that May-September period. You should also keep in mind that moving services are more expensive at the beginning and end of each month, as well as on weekends. Hence, if possible, schedule your relocation on a weekday. And in the middle of the month from September until May. During that period, the standard relocation rates are usually lowered significantly, sometimes up to 20-30% of the regular movers’ rates.
So you should know the best ways to reduce moving costs. It is something you should definitely attempt by doing your homework in advance. If there are some real opportunities to keep plenty of money in your pocket, then why not take these chances? And this guide will help you do just what you set out to do. And that is to conduct an affordable move. So, get to saving and lower your moving costs – best of luck!