Moving can be a pricey endeavor, especially if you’re moving far away and/or if you have lots of stuff you need moved. However, with the right preparation and with the right moving company, you can move quickly, easily, and without going over your budget. There is some know-how to this, of course, so here are our 10 affordable moving tips for families on a tight budget.
1. Choose the best time for moving
The prices of moving companies are rarely set in stone. Instead, they often vary a lot, depending on numerous factors, some related to the move itself, but others having to do more with the time of the move. In particular, moving during the off-season (October to April) usually costs significantly less than a move in the busy season (May to September).
Likewise, moving on a weekend is much pricier than moving during weekdays. The reason for both of these is pretty simple, and it’s that most people want to move in the summer and during weekends. So, if you can time your move to be during the autumn, winter, or early spring, or at least time it for weekdays rather than the weekend, you can save a lot of money.
Read more:
- The Ultimate Checklist for Moving Into a Newly Built House
- Common Moving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- What Sets Professional Movers Apart From DIY Moving
- The Ultimate Guide to Packing and Moving Homes Efficiently
- Hidden Costs to Remember When Moving House
2. Start looking for the right company early on
Leaving things for the last minute usually ends up costing more money, effort, and stress than if you plan them ahead of time. This is true for most things in life, and moving is no exception. The sooner you start, the more time you are going to have to plan and organize everything properly, and make it as easy and cost-effective as possible.
3. Look for personal referrals, not just online reviews
We all know that the Internet is full of fake reviews, yet we all tend to read and trust them nonetheless. This is not always a bad thing; online reviews can be helpful, particularly if you read enough of them and if you have an eye for discerning between genuine and fake reviews.
However, what is even better is to look for real-life referrals instead. A referral from someone you know is ideal, but even if it is from a stranger, it is usually worth much more than an anonymous and potentially fake online review.
4. Get multiple quotes
Even if you think you’ve lucked into finding the best moving company from the get-go, it is always recommended to get a few more quotes from other movers before you commit to anything. This is not only a great way to make sure you get the most affordable deal possible, but it will also give you a deeper understanding of how moving companies work and what you can expect.
5. Look for discounts
The moving niche is full of lucrative discounts, especially if you managed to time your move for the off-season. With the right deal, you can often get up to 20% off the original price. When you add this on top of an already lower off-season rate, you can end up saving hundreds if not thousands, of dollars compared to moving on a mid-June weekend with no discount. As you can see in this Chris Townsend article on moving affordability, long-distance moves can cost anywhere between $0.80 and $1,50 per mile, which is almost a 1:2 difference.
6. Look for licensing and insurance
A fully licensed and insured moving company will cost more than one that is not. At first, this can seem counterproductive to the goal of affordable moving. However, licensing and insurance are two things you really don’t want to compromise with when you move, as you can very quickly go drastically over-budget if an accident happens and your movers aren’t licensed and insured. In particular, always make sure that your movers have proper Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers and licenses from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
7. Only get the services you need
Moving companies offer all sorts of additional services, each adding a little bit of extra to the overall price. Depending on your circumstances, some of these may be worth it for you and others, not so much.
For example, if you can spare the time to do the packing and unpacking yourself, or do your furniture disassembling/assembling yourself, you can skip this service and save yourself some money. So, make sure that you go over the exact services you need and the ones you don’t need with your moving company ahead of time, as you don’t want to be charged for something you didn’t need.
8. Hire local if possible
Local moving companies almost always cost significantly less than larger nation-wide companies. And, as long as such a local company can indeed get you from point A to point B, this is a great way to get a lower rate per mile.
9. Getting a rental truck or van may be worth it
It is usually advisable to look for companies that have their own vehicles, as those are seen as the more reputable movers out there. However, getting a rental truck is a good way to save some money.
10. Negotiate
As we mentioned above, moving rates are rarely set in stone, as they depend on too many variables. So, don’t hesitate to negotiate a bit with your potential movers, as you may be able to get a slightly lower rate, brainstorm a few alternatives, forego unnecessary services, and so on.
