Moving from one home or apartment to the next is an expensive time for anyone, this becomes more of a problem the further you have to move. Interstate moving costs can quickly escalate, with an average move over 1,000 miles costing nearly $5,000 when using professional movers.
When moving long-distance or across the country, it can be even more expensive. Interviewing multiple long-distance moving companies would certainly be prudent as costs can vary tremendously from company to company.
Of course, if you are really bold, you could do the move yourself and rent a truck from U-Haul or another company like them.
With such sums of money at stake, it could cause you some headaches at an already expensive time. However, there are things you can do to save moving across country costs; let’s take a look.
Lighten the Load
It is incredibly easy to amass far more stuff than you really need in your home. When it comes to moving, this means more work and more expense. It is going to take you more time to pack and unpack again. If you can reduce the number of things you need to take with you on your move, you reduce your costs.
Go through your possessions, sorting things to keep, sell, or throw away. If you have items to sell, you can add to your moving budget at the same time as you are lowering the costs of moving. Packing and loading the truck will become far easier when there is excess “stuff” you no longer really need or want.
Free Packing Materials
One expense you can largely eliminate from your moving costs is the packing materials. See if you can pick up boxes from local retailers, community groups, or source them online. U-Haul operates a box exchange service, Freecycle or Craigslist are excellent places to look online as well. Ask friends or neighbors if they have any boxes lying around. Check with retailers like bookstores, liquor stores, and grocery stores.
Moving Containers
An increasingly popular alternative to using movers are moving containers. The container is delivered to your home, you fill it up with your possessions, and the company collects it and transports it to your new home.
Saving money moving your things this way, could potentially cut the costs compared to professional movers by half. The cost of your container will depend on the size you need, how long you need it for, and the distance of your move.
Freight Trailers
Another popular when moving to a new city is using a freight trailer. Similar to moving containers without the storage option, freight trailers offer another cheaper alternative to professional movers. The freight company will deliver the trailer to you a few days before they will collect it. This should give you plenty of time to fill it with your possessions.
The trailer will then be delivered to your new home, where you have time to unpack before it is collected again.
Ship Your Things
If you don’t have many items to move, you could consider shipping them using the USPS. There are specialist companies for moving larger items across the country as well.
Truck Rental
A DIY move should cost you less than hiring movers. It can be hard work, and there might be more costs involved than it initially appears, but it should save moving across country costs. There will be more risk of damaging your breakable items and of injuring yourself in the process, but if you are willing to put in the work, there are savings to be made.
For long-distance moves with a rental truck, you will have to stop for gas multiple times, there are also insurance costs to consider. The time it takes to make the move is another expense that should be factored in. These are costs that are easy to overlook but make a big difference to the budget. Here are some of the better rental truck companies worth considering for your move.
Moving Help
If you can get friends and family to help lift and carry during a DIY move, so much the better. If people aren’t available when you need them, you can hire people online to assist with the moving process. Since you will only be hiring people for the short time needed to pack or unpack the truck, the savings will be substantial over full-service movers.
Check the movers score at Great Guys Moving to help you find the best people to help you move across the country with less stress and hassle. When choosing a moving company make sure to keep these things in mind:
- Movers Reputation: Check any reviews or testimonials, along with the rating, about your prospective moving company.
- Customer Service: You want to make sure you can easily contact the company if untoward issues arise before, during, and even right after the move, such as damages, missing or lost belongings.
- Fees: Inquire about the existing rates of their moving services. Compare the different rates offered by at least three moving companies. Take note of insurance, bond, packaging, and other types of fees.
Picking the Date
If you want to move home at peak moving times, you will have to pay more. Moving in the summer months is going to be more expensive, as will weekends and the first or last week of the month. If you can move mid-week in the colder months, you will find the costs will be lower.
But remember, moving in winter months can be unsafe with high potential for slipping or tripping on a patch of ice when you’re carrying a heavy box. If you’re still planning a winter move, hire a professional moving company to ensure your safety.
If you’re planning to move in colder months, always check the weather news for heavy snow, so you can plan accordingly to ensure safety. If weather conditions get bad, it’s best to consider rescheduling. Also, check in with your moving company a week before the moving day to make sure you’re on track.
Look For Discounts
Any deals you can find to help in saving money moving home could make a big difference to the overall cost. Shop around to find discounts online. There could be significant savings to be found on the more considerable expenses involved. You might even find a deal for a moving company that makes them a better option than any of the other choices we have suggested.
Be Wary of Scams
If you see moving deals that look too good to be true, they probably are just that. Unfortunately, there are many types of moving scams. Unsuspecting consumers are bilked out of their hard-earned money every year by shady moving companies. Now more than ever, it is vital to do your homework when moving, especially when you’re going across the country.
Final Thoughts on Saving Money on Your Move
If you are moving for the first time, you’ll quickly learn it is a real pain in the neck! Moving is a very time consuming, stressful, and expensive process. It involves a lot of hard work, whether you hire a professional moving company or choose to do it yourself. Planning in advance will be a vital aspect of making sure things go as planned. It is far too easy to make mistakes when moving. Whenever possible, it makes sense to get help from family and friends.
Hopefully, you have found these tips on saving money on your move to be helpful.
