Moving comes with mixed emotions. You are excited about going to a new place and anxious about having to pack up all of your things.
If you plan ahead you can make the move enjoyable and reduce the stress that comes along with a move. There are many things to consider such as a deduction on your taxes if the move is job-related.
Weigh the pros and cons carefully with each decision so that it benefits you in the end.
Moving companies are not all alike
Before signing on with the first moving company listed in the phone book or online, it’s in your best interest to do a bit of research on pricing and overall customer satisfaction. After all, it’s your money and your personal belongings that are at risk. Instead, select three to four reputable names of companies that are cross country movers and then contact them to get estimates. If any of them refuses to give you any type of pricing ahead of time, scratch them off the list and contact another. Once you have your written quotes, you should take the two best ones and then check for responses from prior clients and also check to see if there are any complaints filed against them. If you do your research first, you’ll go into the move knowing that the company you are using is reliable.
Choosing the time you move
Just like all moving companies are not alike, the same goes for their rates. During the peak seasons, generally from mid-May through September, the rates are naturally higher due to the high demand. If at all possible, it’s best to plan your move in the off season. The rates will be significantly less and the availability will also be much better. Plus, many moving companies take your belongings to a warehouse and then pack up several people’s things together in the same truck. During the busy season, this can mean that you lose some or your things or receive items that do not belong to you. If you have no choice because you are starting a new job, then you can still save money by scheduling your move for during the week and avoiding the weekend.
Reducing the packing expense
When you hire movers they come to your home and pack up your belongings and then load it on the truck. The packing part is an additional cost that can run you an additional $300.00 up to $1,000.00 depending on the amount of material you take. Instead, you can opt to do the packing on your own. There are pros and cons to this with the pro being huge savings and the biggest con being that you’ll have to do the work on your own.
If you have the time and family and friends nearby, you can make the packing up process fun for all by serving sandwiches or barbecuing for their efforts. It also gives you a nice send off with all your family and friends present. If you decide that you want to pack your things then just make sure to get the size and quantity of boxes allowed for your quote. If you go over on any of the sizes or the number of boxes you’re allowed, you’ll get charged an additional fee. Once you have the sizes and the number that you can have written down then you can either buy boxes or go to your local supermarket or retail store and see if they have any they need to get rid of.
Bring only what you need
When you move, especially long distance across the country, everything you add to your list is an additional fee. Instead, go through your items, especially the furniture, to make sure that it’s something that you really want. Otherwise, you’ll pay more than you should and have that item on the other end as well. Take the time to sort through your things. If it’s been several years since you’ve cleaned out your basement, garage, and attic, you probably have a lot of items you no longer need or want. You can host a yard sale to unload many of the things and then donate the rest to your local church. The money you earn you can put towards the cost of the move.
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