You don't always have a lot of spare money when you move home. You have a lot of expenses to cover including moving costs. However, there are ways to reduce spending at this time. If you plan ahead, then you can shave some money off your moving services estimate.
Read on to find out how to do this.
1. Book a Low-Demand Slot
Moving companies typically charge more for moves in popular periods or on popular days. So, for example, you pay more to move over a weekend or at the end of a week.
If you can schedule a lower-demand time slot, then you save money. So, ask moving companies about their cheaper time slots. Ask for a couple of estimates on different days or at different times to find the most cost-effective option.
2. Declutter Before You Move
Some people don't declutter their homes before a move. However, decluttering is a really simple way to get cheaper moving estimates. If you sell, donate, recycle, or trash things you don't need, then you have less to move. You might not need as big a truck or as big a crew. Your move will be faster. These factors all reduce your costs.
3. Do Your Own Packing
While moving companies offer extra services such as packing and unpacking, these services increase your costs. You pay for the convenience of not having to pack or unpack your own belongings.
While doing your own packing adds to your workload, it does reduce your costs. If you can source your own boxes, say from stores or friends, then you also won't have to pay for packing supplies. You can even use towels, clothes, and blankets to pack around fragile items so that you don't have to buy packing materials.
4. Reduce Your Moving Time
Moving estimates are partly based on the time it takes your moving company to do the job. You can get lower estimates if you reduce this time. So, for example, you could put all your boxes and furniture in one easily-accessible room in your home. Your moving crew will work faster if they don't have to go all over your home to collect items and boxes.
You can also save time at the other end by asking your crew to unload everything into one or two rooms rather than in specific locations. Again, this speeds up their work. If you decide to do this, then make sure to mention it to moving companies when you ask for estimates. They can factor your time-saving efforts into their costings.
To get started, ask local companies for a moving services estimate.
Moving has always been a difficult process, especially since it can impact almost every aspect of your life. From finding new friends to getting used to a new commute, moving can be a lot to manage. However, if you plan efficiently and execute your plans properly, things will always come together. I wanted to start a little blog all about moving and making the most of your experience, so I started up this site. Check out these tips for identifying relocation concerns, reducing your stress load, and making things work out in the end. You won't regret doing what you can to make things easier.