How To Save Money When Moving
Moving is never easy. There are always so many things to think about before the movers come to your house. You must contact the utility companies and have them shut off the power, discontinue the telephone service and shut off the cable. Change of address notification cards must be filled out and delivered to the post office. On top of all those worries, there is the general concern over how you will be able to afford the move.
Fortunately, there are several ways that you can save money during a move. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, consider some of the following ways to reduce the expense of moving.
Packing Your Own Boxes
A moving company will charge you extra to box up all of your possessions. They will also charge you for every box that they use and the basic supplies such as bubble wrap and sealing tape. Instead of having someone else do the packing, do it yourself. You can save on the cost of boxes by going around to some liquor stores and getting a few strong boxes that are ideal for packing dishes and glassware from your kitchen. You can get bigger boxes for bulkier items by going to grocery and other nearby retail stores.
It can sometimes be hard to find enough boxes in a day or two, so, start your search early. Plan well in advance of your move and gather a few boxes every day or two until you have a garage full of empty cardboard containers. For wrapping your fragile items, old newspaper works just fine. Again, start stacking up those papers weeks or even months in advance of your move date.
Have a Big Moving Sale
While we all think our “stuff” is irreplaceable, the fact is, that most of the things we own are not worth shipping. Have a big garage sale and get rid of items you really do not want or need. Furniture and other heavy items should be at the top of the “for sale” list. Moving companies usually charge you by the weight and the amount of space your load takes up in the van. Keep the load as small and light as possible and your moving bill will be less.
Long Distance Moving
Relocating more than 500 miles away to your new home can add substantially to the cost of the move. Instead of buying expensive one-way plane tickets to your destination, it is more cost-effective to drive. You will probably have to spend a night or two in a motel and have to pay for gas, but that is cheaper than buying plane tickets, especially if you are traveling as a family. Pack your car with your electronic toys and expensive items. If you want to be really frugal, avoid eating at expensive restaurants and bring a big cooler with plenty of food and drink.
Shop Around for the Best Rates
Rates vary depending on the individual moving company. Get at least three separate quotes before making a final decision on which movers to hire. While the cheapest is not always the best, you can eliminate outrageously high bids and choose from among those that better fit your budget.
Hey these are great tips. mind if I share these on my moving blog on my louderback moving services website?
Hi Dave – as long as you don’t copy it word for word and include a link back, please do…and thanks. 🙂
These are Great tips! Can I share them on my Easton Movers website and blog? Of course I will source you guys!
Great tips, packing well will save you space on the truck too so that you don’t have to leave items behind. We learned that the hard way!
For saving money in your moving; it is essential that you should have knowledge about market rate of moving. It is also very important that you should have customers feedback of that moving company, which you are going to choose for your move.
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