Did you know that moving is considered the third most stressful life event – right behind the death of a loved one and divorce? This might seem a little bit dramatic, but, if you’re planning a move, you’re certainly feeling the pressure.
Planning your move, packing, and dealing with all of the logistics isn’t easy, but one of the biggest stressors is the cost. However, if you’re planning a local move, there are many things you can do to save yourself some serious cash. Check out these awesome tips.
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1. Cash in Those Favors
The number one way to save money on a local move is to get family and friends to help! While it’s a great idea to provide incentives (like pizza and beer) it’s still far less expensive than hiring movers.
Of course, this assumes that you have people you can count on. There’s nothing worse than being ready on moving day and finding that you don’t have as much help as you need.
If you have a ton of stuff to move or a lot of heavy furniture, then this also might not be the best option. But, even then, if you can borrow a friend’s truck and use it for all your boxes, then you can pay a mover much less to just take care of the big stuff.
2. Look for Inexpensive Local Movers
Unless you have awesome friends, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to pay for movers. Luckily, if you take the time to do some research, you can probably find a good deal. You may simply start by going to Google and searching for “Moving companies near me” or, better yet, ask family and friends if they have a moving company they would recommend.
Either way, may sure you do your research and make sure the company you’re considering his highly rated and has lots of great testimonials. For example, this service has hundreds of five-star reviews and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
When you call for your estimate, it’s always a great idea to ask if they are running any specials for local moves or if there’s anything you can do to lower the price.
3. Save on Packing Materials
Getting free boxes from your local grocery or liquor store and packing your breakable items with old newspapers has always been a great way to save money when moving. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may want to buy new materials instead.
This doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune, though. Many moving companies sell discounted packing materials, so spend some time shopping around. It’s worth the time for the money you’ll save, especially if you have a lot of stuff to pack.
4. Pack Your Stuff Yourself
Sure, it’s much easier to pay a company to pack for you, but if you’re on a budget, you’re better off taking care of this yourself. If you’re hiring movers, they’ll likely offer to take care of this task, but don’t accept – it’s super expensive!
5. Ruthlessly Purge
One advantage of packing yourself is that you can go through each of your items and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Being ruthless about your purging will make you feel more organized, and it will also save you a pretty penny.
It makes no sense to pay someone to move things that you really don’t have a need for. So do yourself a favor and start weeding out the stragglers now. Clothing, books, and home décor are some of the most common items that people get rid of when they move, but you don’t have to stop there.
You might also want to think about your furniture. Will it fit well in your new home? If you’re not sure, you might be better off selling it and buying some new pieces when you arrive. Not only will you not have to deal with moving it, but you’ll have some extra cash on hand as well.
6. Organize Ahead of Time
Movers usually charge by the hour, so you’ll want to make sure that everything is packed and organized before they arrive. If you can, start taking apart things like bookcases so they can just grab up your stuff and go.
If your family and friends are helping you, they’ll appreciate this courtesy as well. Being super organized means you’ll get more done while they’re feeling motivated to help.
7. Time Your Move
This might not be an option for you, but if you have some control over your moving date, you can save some money by doing it in the off-season. In most places, movers are busiest in the spring and summer. Putting off your move until the fall or winter months could end up saving you some serious money.
Even if you can’t change the time of year, you might save some money by being willing to move in the middle of the week or at another time when the movers aren’t too busy. It pays to ask about this when you call for your estimate.
Start Planning Your Local Move Today
With a bit of planning (and some help from your friends) a local move doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Once you arrive at your new place, you’ll want to spend some time making it feel like home.
Take some time to browse through the rest of our blog! We have lots of tips for decorating, remodeling, and more!
