Moving can be a big expenditure when hiring a moving company, and it’s a huge job whether hiring a professional company to simply move your items from point A to point B, or when doing it all yourself. Moving can cost a great deal of money, and as I’m preparing to move in about a week, I’m realizing ways to save money on moving, and I’ve discovered ways in which moving companies try to empty your pockets. Moving doesn’t have to cost a small fortune, and you can save money, even if you hire a professional company to transfer your belongings to your new home.
Do It Yourself
If you want to save the most money on moving, consider rounding up a few able-bodied friends and family members to help with the move. A 24-foot moving van can be rented for approximately $100 a day, and providing a few helpers with all of the thirst-quenching non-alcoholic beverages they can drink along with a satisfying meal is a small price to pay for help when moving. You’ll save hundreds of dollars over hiring a professional moving company, and you can turn a day of work into a day that isn’t nearly as trying or as costly.
It’s sometimes tricky to find people who don’t already have other obligations when moving day arrives, so unless you have a significant number of friends and able-bodied family members on call, doing it yourself might not go as planned. Those who are certain they’ll have the help they need can save a considerable amount of money, and it’s well worth it to trade services with those you can count on.
Moving Companies
Hiring a moving company will help make the task of moving to a new home easier than ever, but moving companies aren’t exactly cheap. Moving companies will do it all if you’re willing to pay a premium price, but when trying to save money on moving, it’s best to do the packing, and leave the loading and driving to the professionals. You can still save money but gain assistance with the most difficult of tasks.
To save the greatest amount of money when hiring a professional moving company, secure at least three estimates. Some charge by the hour and by the mile, and others charge by the mile and according to the weight of the load. Some professional moving companies charge extra to fully cover your belongings should they become damaged or destroyed, so make sure you fully understand what is and isn’t included before signing on the dotted line. Otherwise, you may not save money if your items end up damaged.
I’m hiring Two Men and a Truck to help with my upcoming move. Their price was by far the lowest, and they don’t charge extra for insurance coverage. I’m going to pack all of my belongings, and they’re going to load and unload their truck. They don’t charge according to the weight of the load – only by mileage and the total amount of time spent on the job. Check with Two Men and a Truck to obtain a free estimate, and find out if they can save you money over other moving professionals.
Boxes and Packing Material
Professional moving companies advise customers against reusing cardboard boxes in an effort to save money. In other words, they say that previously used boxes from grocery stores and other retail stores should not be used for packing and moving because they could be weak. Any idea why moving companies wouldn’t want you to reuse boxes? It’s because they want you to buy their boxes!
With the huge amount of free boxes available from retailers, I would never consider paying for boxes, and neither should you. All you have to do is examine the boxes you plan to use. If they’re in good condition and appear to be sturdy, they won’t fall apart when properly secured with packing tape. Don’t fall for this money-making ploy, especially if you’re trying to save money.
Moving companies will also try to talk you into buying their packing materials, but if you really want to save money, don’t fall for this sales pitch either. Do you read the daily paper or know anyone who does? Save your newspapers, or ask friends, neighbors, and relatives to save their papers. Most breakable items can be wrapped in several sheets of newsprint, and empty spots can be filled in with wads of newspapers for added cushioning. When properly wrapped and padded with papers, your items will arrive in perfect condition.
If you have items that aren’t washable and shouldn’t be wrapped with messy newsprint, wrap them with the shiny circulars and ads that are included with ordinary ink-covered newspapers. The ink won’t come off on your belongings, and they’ll still be protected from the shocks and bumps of travel. Wad up regular sheets of newspaper to place in between wrapped items, and they’ll stay protected while you save money on your move.
Very fragile items and electronics should be wrapped with bubble wrap, but you don’t have to buy this packing material either. If you plan your move in advance, you can save a great deal of money by saving bubble wrap that comes with fragile mail order items, and you can save Styrofoam peanuts to use as added shock absorbers. In every situation you’ll find someone willing to sell you something you really don’t need, and moving companies no exception. Simply say, “No thank you, I’ll use my own!”