The cost of moving house keeps rising with every dawn of the day. Local relocations can be particularly expensive if you’re not careful. Generally, a local move is one within a 50-mile radius, perhaps to a new neighborhood, across town, or to a nearby city, but not interstate. Indeed, they seem less complicated than long-distance moves, but they still require careful planning and execution, lest they turn out overly expensive.
Despite the several factors skyrocketing moving costs, there’s a lot you can do to save a dollar or two. Read on below for the details.
1. Choose an Affordable Way to Move
For short-distance moves, it’s not mandatory to hire professional movers. You can move your belongings all by yourself if you have a sizeable vehicle. Or you can team up with friends and neighbors with vehicles to reduce the total number of trips.
Another option is recruiting day laborers to help you with the move. These usually charge a fair hourly rate. You can leave the heavy lifting to them and pack lighter items yourself.
However, the most guaranteed option is working with professional local removalists. These will handle your property with the desired expertise. Moreover, they’re insured, meaning you can get compensation in case your belongings get damaged in the process.
2. Declutter Before you Pack
Decluttering reduces the volume and amount of items you have to ferry, reducing handling and transportation costs. Moreover, it gives you the chance to better understand your home’s size and the kind of storage you require. It also speeds up the moving process, saving you more cash.
To declutter your home, look through all of your possessions and list all items you no longer need. It might be hard to part with items you’ve accumulated over the years, but it’s necessary if you desire to cut moving costs. Should you decide to sell the discarded items, you can get extra money to aid with the move. Otherwise, donate the items to persons or organizations in need of the same.
3. Use Free or Low-Cost Packing Supplies
Packing supplies make up a significant portion of your moving budget. Luckily, you can get these materials inexpensively. Visit local businesses to inquire whether they have sturdy, free boxes. Most of them throw away boxes in which their products were delivered. So, they won’t mind giving them out to anyone who needs them.
Another option is ditching expensive bubble wrap for more budget-friendly and eco-friendly alternatives. Options include cornstarch-based packing peanuts, seaweed packaging, paper-based compostable and recyclable wraps, and mushroom packaging.
You may also want to use what you already own. For example, the towels you use daily can be used to protect breakables like sculptures, vases, and mirrors. They can also cushion box bottoms filled with kitchenware. use baskets to carry lightweight items like clothes. Use hampers to transport blankets, shoes, and pillows.
Using such household items significantly cuts costs.
4. Ask for Discounts
Asking for discounts directly from moving services is a straightforward way of lowering moving costs. Don’t shy away from asking because you never know what cut you can get.
Local movers usually extend discounts to first-time buyers, first responders, online buyers, seniors, students, teachers, and out-of-season reservations. If you fit in one or more of these groups, you have a higher chance of getting discounts. But don’t hesitate to ask even if you’re none of these.
On the same note, don’t simply settle on the first moving company you come across. Ask for moving quotes from at least three local moving services for purposes of comparison. Choose the one with the most competitive rates, making sure to check the rates versus the services offered.
5. Choose a Favorable Moving Date
You don’t have to move when everyone else is moving. The moving costs are typically high around such dates. Arrange your moving during off-peak periods. The beginning of the year is a typical off-peak period. Then, demand grows throughout the spring and summer months.
The day of the week is also something to consider. Many people move over the weekends, especially toward the end month. So, you’d want to move on a weekday to keep costs low.
Conclusion
Although moving house is generally expensive, there are workarounds to keep costs low. Choose the most appropriate cost-cutting measure depending on your particular situation. However, as much as you’re determined to move in the most inexpensive way possible, take care not to compromise on the safety of your belongings. Whichever moving method or helpers you choose, evaluate them properly to make sure your items reach the destination in one piece.