Hiring professional movers takes a huge weight off literally and figuratively, but it can be costly. At least eight weeks before you move, you should start familiarizing yourself with your options and your budget. If you are making an interstate move, you should figure out your overall relocation budget.
When hiring professional movers for the job be sure to check out their cancellation policies and liability coverage before signing a contract. Look for moving companies that are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands.
You can keep the cost under control by using these five strategies:
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#1 Time your move right
June, July and August are the busiest months for movers, according to moving.com. When demand is high, movers can charge more or be less willing to negotiate the price. Weekends and the beginning and end of the month also are busy times for movers.
So if you can move after Labor Day through April, you’ll typically find that rates are lower because demand declines. By booking a move from Monday through Thursday and mid-month, you may also pay less and you’ll have a better chance of getting the moving services you need. Of course, this can be difficult for people who work Monday through Friday — but if you can swing it, there are definitely some perks.
#2 Book in advance
Moving companies tend to set prices based on availability, so you’ll have more room for negotiation if you book a reservation well in advance of your move. Plus, it will be harder to find a company with openings if you wait until the last minute to book your move. There’s a chance that the only movers that will be available will be unreliable ones.
#3 Get several estimates
Because people don’t move frequently, they often go online and shop by price — picking the mover who charges the least. But this can be a mistake. Moving is not something you want to do on the cheap, especially if you want your stuff to arrive safely and in one piece. That’s why it’s important to get at least three estimates from reputable movers. With several estimates, you’ll have more leverage to negotiate price.
To create a list of potential movers from which you can get estimates, ask friends and family who moved recently for recommendations, check out companies on Angi’s List, Thumbtack, or the Better Business Bureau site. You could also look for an AMSA-certified ProMover. Make sure the movers come to your house to give you estimates, that way, they’ll know exactly what you’re moving and won’t try to charge you more on the day of the move.
#4 Get rid of stuff you don’t need
The size of your home and the weight of your possessions are major cost factors. Movers will charge substantially more to move a three-bedroom home than a studio apartment, as more belongings results in more labor and equipment. Some companies also charge extra to move items up or down stairs.
For interstate moves, the price is based on distance and weight. So declutter and get rid of everything you don’t need or won’t fit in your new house so that you don’t pay for extra weight. Have a garage sale to unload unwanted items — and bring in extra cash to offset the cost of moving.
#5 Provide your own packing materials
Unless you completely outsource packing (which will be expensive but will eliminate the need to get moving supplies yourself), you’ll need certain items to protect and transport your belongings. Even if you do pay someone to pack your home, you’ll still need to pack personal essentials for moving day.
I’ve never had trouble finding free, discarded boxes. Ask shop owners or managers what day they get shipments and set out boxes so you don’t have to dig through dumpsters. And avoid boxes that stored food items because they’re more likely to be infested with pests.
You also can use towels, sheets and clothing to wrap fragile items. However, movers might be reluctant to take responsibility for damages to your items during the move if you packed yourself. Leave boxes with breakable items open so movers can see what’s in them and make any necessary adjustments.
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