Low Cost Options When Moving
Being a OWNER OF A LOCAL MOVING COMPANY for over 30 years, here are a few ways to save money when moving across town.
They include:
-Finding the lowest price when choosing a mover. -Know what days movers are willing to wheel and deal on price. -Figure out the prices for moving material such as boxes, paper and tape. -Things you can do to prepare before your mover gets there. -Finding the right mover and paying a price that fits your budget. -When moving less than 100 miles, most likely you will get charged by the hour and the move will be done in one day.
Getting the best pricing.
Local moving is usually 100 miles or less, is charged for by the hour, and often completed within the same day.When selecting local movers, research is key. The internet today provides many helpful tools that enable you to find qualified movers very quickly. Various review sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Yelp can help you narrow down your search to a few qualified movers. Movers that belong to the BBB and movers that belong to any state moving associations are good choices. The reason is because member movers value their reputations within these associations. You will rarely find bad movers or rogue movers that are affiliated with consumer or moving associations, because over time they would be exposed.
To get the best rates from movers, when you contact them, let them know you will be contacting a few other movers, and that budget is important. When movers know they are competing with other movers, they will tend to give the best rates and pricing. Ask them to email you their quotes and rates in writing. Be sure their quotes includes the list of items to be moved, along with access descriptions of each location. Actually read the quotes, as each mover may have different minimums, rates, terms, etc.
Negotiate Your Moving Date For Better Rates
Planning ahead can mean big savings. If you choose your moving day close to the end of the month you are likely to pay more, as this is the busy time of the month for movers. Also, Fridays and Saturdays are without saying the busiest days of the week for moving companies. Many times you can get good pricing by scheduling your move on a Monday or Tuesday or during the middle of the month. Movers are less willing to give you a deal in periods they are busy. So if you can pick a day that works best for the mover and you may save money.
Options For Moving Materials Such as Packing Paper, Boxes and Tape.
There are a number of options for finding cheap or free boxes. The quickest and cheapest sources for new moving boxes are Home Depot and Lowe’s. Within the last few years these stores have created small moving centers. Consumers can buy boxes at these locations almost as cheap as movers can buy the same boxes in pallet loads.
Craigslist can be an option if you are looking for inexpensive or even free moving boxes. If you do the research you’ll be amazed at how many places you can find cheap and even free moving supplies. I always like to look at a new neighbors moving in down the street. Don’t be shy, go over there, introduce yourself and offer to take all his material away for free. You’ll find lots of boxes and other packing material that can be reused.
Another source to consider for cheap boxes is the local recycling center. They may sell you a carload or vanload of boxes by weight instead of by the box. And yet another source? When you see the guys driving around in their pickup trucks loaded with cardboard stacked 15 feet high, flag them down and offer to pay them $20 for some boxes. You may get as many as 50-100 boxes for this price, because it’s more than the recycling center will give them.
Be Prepared For The Movers – Do More of the Work Yourself
Local movers generally charge by the hour, so anything you can do yourself will save money. This includes tasks such as dismantling and reassembling beds, and taking care of any connections and reconnections of appliances such as washers or dryers or refrigerator icemakers. Also consider packing and moving yourself the small items such as boxes and lamps and stereos and pictures, etc.
Another way to save with local movers is a “large items only” type move. This will definitely save money. But then you will need to move the smaller items such as lamps, pictures, boxes, etc.
Also consider preparing for the movers by putting all boxes in the garage, and having THEM put all boxes in the garage at your new location. Naturally, some people will need the movers to do the aformentioned work, but these are certainly areas where the consumer can save.
Bad Estimates and Surprise Moving Costs
No one likes to get a moving quote, then be surprised by charges on moving day that are far greater than the estimate. This often happens when the moving company does not have complete information to generate an accurate estimate.
The 2 most important factors for an accurate quote are: The list of items being moved, and the access at each location – for example, single story home vs. 10th floor apartment – certainly the apartment move will take far longer than the house move.
Sometimes if your move is small, an “in person” visit by a salesman is not necessary. Often times on small moves if you give a detail list of everything to be moved, (better to be in writing) you can simply get a quote back in less than an hour with your price. But you must be very thorough when describing what you would like moved. Just saying “I have a one bedroom apartment” will only end up confusing the estimator and possibly costing you more for the move when the movers arrive.
This is very important. If you have a move bigger than 2 bedrooms it is essential that you have the moving company estimator come to your house and give you an estimate in writing, detailing and listing everything that needs to be moved. This is very important because your move price is based on all your household items. Please don’t leave out small items hiding in the closet.
These are just a few areas where you can save when doing a local move. But with proper planning and preparation and a willingness to do some of the work yourself, your savings can be significant.
It is important that when choosing local moving companies that you research and investigate whether you should hire them or not. If you need movers in Los Angeles be sure you pick the right one because there are a lot to pick from.
Comments are closed