Money-Saving Moving Tips

Whether you're moving down the road or across the country, moving is a big undertaking. Costly and confusing, a move can cause your bank account to take a larger hit than necessary if you're not organized. There are many things that could impact the cost of your move, such as the time of your relocation, how much stuff you plan on taking with you, and the way in which you pack your belongings. Making the right decisions on these aspects of your move, as well as many others, could help you save your wallet as well as your sanity. Here are some of the most helpful tips if you want to save money during your next move.

Be flexible on a timeframe when planning to move

Not many people want to find themselves moving during cold weather months. The thought of carrying heavy furniture under the threat of snow is not exactly appealing. If you have children, it's surely compounds the situation. However, the competition during the summertime may make you consider a winter move this time around.

For obvious reasons (good weather, ease of travel, etc.), the most popular time to move is during the summer months. Chances are high that moving companies will be booked through the summer and you don't want to have to settle for something way out of your price range just because they're the only place available for you. If possible, consider planning your move during the off-season. You will have more availability when it comes to choosing a date. Flexibility is a key component if you wish to have a successful and stress-free moving experience. As an added bonus to your flexible schedule, you may even be offered a lower rate than you would if you were to try and compete with other families hoping to move at the same time!

Sell, donate, or toss unused items

The cost of moving everything you own to a new home varies depending on the amount of things you own. Less stuff equals a smaller truck, less weight, less work for professional movers (should you decide to use them) and, ultimately, less cost to you. We suggest that you take your upcoming move as an opportunity to get rid of items you many not use or need. Why would you want to pay extra to move that bookshelf that never ended up holding as many books as you thought it would? Are you moving to a place where you don't know many people and won't have a need for a guest bed right away? There are probably many things in your home you could sell, donate, or throw away if you think about each item or piece of furniture as a cost. This will help you make sure that you only move the essential items with you.

Move everything yourself or hire a mover?

While packing and moving your belongings on your own may cost less than paying for professional movers to do the job, you're not insured should anything happen during your move. The moving company you choose will not cover damages to items that were packed by the homeowner. However, if you pay for a professional company to do the packing, loading, and moving for you, most companies will reimburse you for any damages they cause to your items during the moving process.

If you still wish to move your family on your own, we're not here to tell you that you shouldn't. Whichever method you choose to relocate your family with is a decision that must be made by each family individually. According to U-Haul, a popular moving and storage service, a 10' moving truck would cost you $19.95 plus $.99 per mile driven. Couldn't manage to downsize enough for that small of a truck? The other truck rental rates (subject to change) are:

15' truck for $29.95 plus $.99 per mile driven
17' truck for $29.95 plus $.99 per mile driven
20' truck for $39.95 plus $.99 per mile driven
24' truck for $39.95 plus $.99 per mile driven
26' truck for $39.95 plus $.99 per mile driven