Whether you’re moving yourself or your entire family – the idea of packing everything up and relocating to a new home can be a huge source of stress. As if it wasn’t stressful enough, on top of all the packing and planning, you still need to face the cost of moving. Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can save money when moving. Here are some great tips for you to consider:
Hire a Moving Company? Or Move Yourself?
Before you start moving, the first way to save money is to figure out if it’s more cost effective, depending on how much stuff you have, to hire a moving company or to move yourself. The answer depends on a variety of factors.
Moving Company
Moving costs depend on how much you have to move, how far you’re moving, and what your timeline is. If you decide to go with a moving company, research multiple moving companies in the area and compare their rates. Also take into consideration if you will need them to pack and box your stuff in addition to moving it. You will save if you pack your belongings beforehand, and can find boxes for free at warehouses such as Sam’s Club, at local retailers, or at liquor stores. Always ask for specials and discounts, as well as any additional ways to save when hiring a moving company. Moving in the middle of the month when rates are lower, instead of at the beginning or end of the month, should lower your moving costs as well.
Keep in mind that moving companies are required by federal law to provide a minimum amount of coverage to your possessions when you move. However, this basic coverage will usually result in far less reimbursement than the items retail value if damaged. If you will be moving valuable items such as plasma screen T.V’s, pianos, artwork, and more, you may want to consider purchasing additional insurance. This will increase your moving costs, but it can pay off BIG in the long-run if your items get damaged.
Move Yourself
If you’re considering moving yourself, most truck rental agencies offer resources like fuel calculators along with rental truck pricing to help you determine your rate. AAA has a great fuel cost calculator here if you need help calculating your costs. You will also want to consider the health status and physical condition of everyone involved in the moving process, as well as what is currently on your plate before deciding to move yourself. To help you decide, ask yourself these questions: “Am I physically able to move my entire home?” “How much time will it take to move?” “Will this take me away from work?” “If so, for how long?”
Make a Decision
Consider all of the factors that could possibly impact you when moving. Then contact a few moving companies to receive price estimates and compare the pros and cons of each moving method– moving yourself VS. hiring a moving company. You can save a lot of money by taking the time to figure out which moving method is most cost effective for you.
Additional Moving Tips–Ways to Save
Regardless of which route you decide to take– moving yourself or hiring a moving company– use these moving tips to continue to save:
1.) Get rid of anything that’s not absolutely necessary to have relocated. By decreasing the amount of stuff you move, you can save money and time. Another way to save is to have a garage sale or to host a house cleaning party before you move. This will allow you to get rid of any unwanted goods, and to make some extra cash while doing it.
2.) Make sure you book moving accommodations well in advance and try to make the move in the off-season (during the fall, winter, or early spring). Summer months are busy months for moving companies and they will charge accordingly. Also try to plan your move during the middle of the week to save additionally.
3.) To avoid extra charges, make sure you are ready to move on the day scheduled. Some moving companies may charge if they have to help package any items last minute. If moving yourself, moving trucks are charged by the day and per mile, so make sure you have packed all of your items and know the shortest route to travel beforehand to avoid additional charges.
4.) Ask the moving company if there are any extra charges that apply to services such as long-carry charges, moving pianos, or specialty items BEFORE they start moving your stuff. If moving yourself, inform whoever is helping you beforehand if they will need to move any large or specialty items to make sure they are ok with this and are capable of doing so.
When it’s time to move, make sure you have done your homework and understand what’s more affordable based on the amount of time and the amount of stuff you have; i.e. – move yourself or hire a moving company. If you need financial assistance with moving expenses, security deposits, down payments, or more, contact your local Mariner Finance branch today to see if we can help! We provide loans for any reason, and will work with you to find a lending option that best fits your budget and needs.