How To Save Money When Moving: Tips and Strategies
Moving can be expensive, but there are several ways to make the process more affordable. Hiring professional movers is one. Their training, resources, and experience ensure the job runs smoothly, which keeps costs down, especially if you're relocating to a new state or another country. But while professional movers are a good first step, there are a lot of other things you can do to save money when moving.
Here’s our list of tips and strategies for learning how to save money while moving:
Tips to Save Money When Moving
Whether you're moving down the street or across the country, the cost of moving can start to add up! After you solidify your budget, you'll want to take some time to review your moving plan. With a few simple adjustments to your moving plan, you can save big on relocation expenses and be more strategic with your approach to packing and planning.
Here are some moving-on-a-budget tips you can use for your next relocation:
Avoid Moving Season
Moving rates vary considerably throughout the year. Prices peak during the moving season (May-September), then fall sharply between October-April, making it the best time to search for discounts. Rates are particularly low during December-January, sometimes 30 percent less than what you’d pay in summer!
Move Mid-Week
By and large, people prefer to move on the weekend, which is why movers charge more on Fridays and Saturdays. Save money by scheduling your move mid-week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), when demand is generally lower.
Schedule Your Move Early
Generally, the longer you wait to schedule your move, the more it will cost you. Booking a move at the last minute is difficult for movers. Assembling trucks, equipment, supplies, and crews is a complex, logistical undertaking, which is why moving companies tend to charge more when you book last minute.
Efficient Packing Techniques
Did you know that packing more effectively can help when it comes to saving money to move? Many long-distance moving companies charge based on the weight of your items. So, if you pack, declutter, and downsize accordingly, you can significantly lower the cost of your overall move. Here are some packing strategies you can use to learn how to save money on moving costs:
Declutter and Downsize
Moving prices are based on weight and volume. The more stuff you have, the more you’ll have to pay to ship it to your new home. Therefore, one of the best ways of saving money is to sell or donate unwanted items. Before you start packing, take inventory of your possessions. Anything that you haven’t used in a while is probably something you don’t need: old clothes, extra blankets, worn furniture, books gathering dust, etc.
Contact a local charity. No doubt they’ll be happy to accept your gently used items. Or host a garage sale. It’s a great way to pare down your belongings while making a few bucks at the same time.
Pack Strategically
Many people pack by throwing items into boxes at random. Instead, take a few moments to think about how you’re going to fit your items into the available space. By carefully organizing the contents of each box, you’ll be able to pack more into them and complete your move with fewer boxes. You not only save on moving supplies, but transportation as well. Shipping costs are based on volume, so the fewer boxes you use, the less you’ll have to pay.
Get Creative With Padding
Bubble wrap doesn’t cost much, but you go through it fast. Save money by wrapping fragile items in blankets and towels instead. This not only cuts down on moving supplies, but reduces the number of boxes you need, since your items are doing double duty.
Managing Moving Day
Before your professional movers arrive, there are a few ways you can speed up the loading process and save on transit fees. Here are three moving-on-a-budget tips to help you manage the chaos of moving day:
Contact Your Utilities
The last thing you want to think about on moving day is your utilities. In order to avoid double paying for heat, water, and electricity, call your local utilities at least two weeks before your move. End service at your current location the day after you leave and begin service at your new location the day before you arrive. That will reduce expenses to a minimum without cutting you off from essential home systems.
Place Boxes Near the Door
Moving companies generally charge by the hour, which means anything you can do to save time saves money as well. In most cases, when people pack up a room, they leave the boxes for the movers. However, you can speed up the process and reduce costs by carrying your boxes to a central location after you’re done packing, someplace near the front of the house, such as the front door or garage. That way, the movers don’t have to go far to start hauling your stuff out to the van.
Disassemble Furniture Ahead of Time
The best way to save money when moving is to get everything loaded onto the truck as quickly as possible. While movers are happy to help disassemble your furniture, it takes time. Since you’re likely more familiar with how it was put together, dismantling it yourself is not only faster, but cheaper.
Choosing the Right Moving Company
The best way to save is to find the right reputable moving company for the job. Gathering quotes from different low-cost, long-distance moving companies can help you compare pricing, offerings and services. Some movers may even price-match their competitors. However, be careful if the price is significantly lower than what everyone else is charging.
Criminals posing as movers often use low prices to attract victims and gain access to their belongings. In order to avoid moving scams, never entrust your household goods to any company unless they're licensed, insured, and certified.
Save Money with Full Service Movers
North American Van Lines is a full-service moving company with over 90 years of experience. Our team is here to help you build a custom moving plan that aligns with your budget so you only pay for what you absolutely need. All our services also feature predictable pricing, so you don’t have to worry about surprise costs at the end of the move. With these moving-on-a-budget tips and our professional guidance, you can save big on your relocation.
