It’s possible not to break the bank when using cross country moving companies or professional movers. Unlike crazy weather or weird detours that are hard to see coming, you control most of how much you spend on long-distance movers. From what you leave behind to what time of year to move, you have many options to help save a considerable amount of money. Here are a few simple long-distance moving tips to help your wallet.
1. Pick The Right Season
Think of Memorial Day to Labor Day the same way you would think of rush-hour traffic. This time of year is moving season, and everyone is trying to move during this time. What’s that mean to you? It means that many times it costs significantly more to move during this time of year. If possible, try to make a reservation with affordable, long-distance movers in spring or autumn. If you want to take this a step further, move during the second or third week of a month; most people move during the first and last week of any given month.
2. Lighter Weight Equals Lighter Spending
Out-of-state movers like to charge by cargo weight. A lighter load directly impacts how much you are going to spend. Check out our articles on moving tips to make your move simple and plan, prepare, and accomplish a stress-free move. These articles go into the finer details of what you can do to lighten the load and lower your stress level along the way. Garage sales and donations go a long way when bringing the weight down. This process helps you generate extra cash to help with the costs of your move.
3. Discounts Help
Most moving companies know that they will get clients during the moving season, so they don’t offer discounts. Out-of-season moving is, therefore, a big win for saving money. Cross country movers like to give great discounts because demand is much lower. The best time to search for deals on affordable movers is right after Labor Day because schools are back in session and people are back to their usual schedules. Many long-distance moving companies like to package their products and services by throwing in extras like moving supplies. Always do your research. Some movers have internet-only discount promotions, and if you’re a veteran or currently serving, keep looking because there is a discount for you.
4. Find Your Moving Supplies
Most long-distance movers offer packages or bundles containing stand-alone products or combinations of their products and services. Finding free or heavily discounted moving supplies is one of the most effective strategies to ensure you remain under your moving budget. Try a local liquor store or a friend that keeps every box they ever received from amazon (we all have one of those friends, and they’re pretty awesome for this reason). Restaurants, appliance stores, the next-door app, Facebook marketplace, and craigslist are also great resources to find free or discounted moving supplies. Those who take the time to find their moving supplies are often delighted with the amount saved over this stressful journey.
5. Friends and Family
Let’s be honest; not everyone wants to help people move, but with some pizza and beer encouragement, it’s possible to get some friends and family over to help organize and pack. It’s better to ask and get a no than not to ask at all. Your friends may surprise you and be happy to help, but it’s more often the case that we should be good hosts and provide some incentive to help.
6. Drive Your Vehicle
If it’s possible, use your vehicle to transport some of your property. This will not only lower the weight for your moving costs; it will allow you fast access to the items you deem most important to have along with you. You can quickly load your vehicle with other items like stationery, books, photos, cooking supplies, documents, and clothes/uniforms needed wherever you may be. If you go this route and decide to get a small trailer, remember that you may have to install a hitch. A cheaper alternative to having a moving company take everything, it’s very common to have a small trailer with you on your move as this provides you the comfort of taking many of the essentials that can be tough to be without when you do arrive at your next home.
7. Negotiate Your Cost
Contact your movers and ask them if they have ongoing promotions or discounts you can benefit from. If you’ve done the research and called other moving companies, you can use the information and quotes received from other movers to see if you can get a better offer. Many moving companies would rather discount their services for your business than to not get your business at all. You can also use negotiating power to ask for additional discounts on antiques or heavy items that can have added costs, take pianos for example. Remember, it’s your money and your move so be bold, you have nothing to lose by asking for a better price.
These tips don’t cover everything but they do give you some insight into the big picture of executing a long-distance move. Cross country movers want your business because the average cost of such a move is between 2000$ and 5000$. If you’ve got a bigger house, be prepared to spend up to,10000$ or more.
Every dollar saved from the start is a dollar that is applied either to the move or back to your pocket. Long-distance moves can take a lot of energy and add up quickly if you’re not careful. By taking the time to prepare, iron out the details, budget appropriately, and set rigid guidelines, you’ll set yourself up for a move that saves money, time, and stress. With over 130 years of moving commercial and residential, Chicago Movers has the experience and know-how to safely and affordably guide you down the path to your next home.