How to save money on your relocation process?

Not only is moving stress-inducing and time-consuming, but it can also be very costly. Of course, the cost can depend on several factors. Are you moving locally or intrastate? How many things will you be transporting? Still, regardless of these factors, we completely understand why you’d want to save money on your relocation process. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide that should help you with cutting down the costs of money.

Find an affordable moving company

The first thing to do is to find an affordable moving company. Sometimes, it is more affordable to hire a company that isn’t situated in the town that you’re currently living in, but rather in a city where you will be living. That’s because the costs vary from city to city, while the service remains the same. What we mean by this, is that you’ll be able to find an equally good company in both cities, but their prices may be significantly different. So, if you’re moving to, for example, NJ, here’s how to find cheap movers in New Jersey. Repeat the same process for any other town, and then compare the prices.

Movers packing things in a cardboard box.

Save money on your relocation by finding affordable movers!

You should try to check out at least three different moving companies. Their representatives should come by your home, and see all of your belongings. What’s more, they should weigh them, because their weight will greatly influence the estimate. And if you’re not planning to transport all the things in your current home, but you’d rather give some stuff away or get rid of it in a different way, be sure to tell that to the movers. That way, they won’t include these belongings in an estimate.

Once you’ve been visited by the representatives of at least three moving companies, compare their prices and choose the cheapest one. Of course, if you really want to save money on your relocation process, then you can also move by yourself. However, we don’t recommend doing that, unless you have a lot of time on your hands and some impeccable nerves.

Save money on relocation by getting free moving boxes

Another way to save money on your relocation is to only use free moving boxes! There’s really no need to buy any moving boxes, and they actually might be quite expensive.

Cardboard boxes in different sizes.

Get as many free boxes as you can!

What’s the best way to get free moving boxes? For example, you can check on Craigslist, under the ‘Free’ section. There, you should be able to find at least a dozen free boxes. Then, you can also ask at your local liquor stores. These stores get plenty of shipments in medium-sized cardboard boxes that could be great for moving. Also, it’s a good idea to try at some public schools. They get a lot of supplies. If you’re nice and polite to the janitor, he or she just might agree to give you the boxes instead of recycling them.

Move off-season

While this is often impossible, it’s also a good idea to try to move during a specific time period. Namely, try to avoid the peak season for moving. This season lasts from May until August every year. We don’t know where you’re moving to or where from, but reliable moving professionals in Edison, NJ will definitely offer you better prices if you move between September and April.

Some snow.

If you move during the winter, for example, you’ll be able to save a lot of money.

Apart from that, you should also choose the correct time during the week. People usually don’t move during the mid-week (or even during the mid-month, while we’re at it), so moving then will definitely save you some money. If you’re moving on a budget – that’s certainly the way to go.

Pack by yourself in order to save money on your relocation

Another way to save money is to pack by yourself. Here are some tips that will help you out with this matter:

  • Choose an area where you will pack. This area should be spacious and wide enough for all your packing needs. Bring all the belongings that you’ll pack there, as well as all the packing supplies.
  • Determine just how many boxes you will need. Even if you’re getting free boxes, accumulating extra boxes that you won’t need is certainly not worth your time (and time is money, after all).
  • Line the boxes with newspapers and other such materials. This will prevent your belongings from moving during the transportation process, in turn preventing them from being damaged.
  • Pack all the small items in small boxes, and then place these small boxes into larger boxes. It’s a good idea to do so because it’s hard to prevent small items from moving, even if you line the moving boxes.
  • Properly label the boxes. Use a marker to inscribe the name of the room where the belongings inside the box will be placed in. Also, make sure that each box has a unique number. That way, you’ll be certain that all boxes are accounted for.

Get a binding estimate

Finally, be sure to get a binding estimate from the movers. This kind of estimate guarantees that you won’t be charged any more money than what was originally estimated. While this won’t exactly save you any money, it will make sure that you don’t exceed your budget.

We’re guessing that the reason why you’re reading articles on how to save money on your relocation has to do with a rather modest budget that you’re operating on. That’s why it’s imperative to know exactly how much money you will need to pay to the movers. If you get a non-binding estimate, the movers have the right to request an additional 10 percent of what was originally estimated. Of course, reliable movers won’t take advantage of that. They’ll only ask you for more money if they have a good reason to do so. However, you should still get a binding estimate, just to be on the safe side.