This is a collaborative post.
How To Make A Long Distance Move Cheap
You will eventually move out of your parents’ home to gain some form of independence, find a new space with your new family, or many other reasons. But most moves won’t be just a walk next door and will require some effort to move the many boxes filled with your belongings over. You will probably also want to hire movers if you are making a long-distance move. There are many methods to do so based on your budget, the size of your new apartment and belongings, and the distance between the two places. Before you get started, you will need to create a budget for the shift based on the factors mentioned. This can range from $1,500 to $10,000. Here are some quick tips to consider to avoid blowing your budget.
- Plan In Advance
This doesn’t mean mentally planning it out but taking actual steps to book a company to help you with it. Selecting your preferred moving company takes time and you’ll tend to have a better deal at the end of the day if you provide them with the requests way in advance. Last-minute bookings won’t do you any good as you’ll be subjected to fewer and possibly pretty costly prices. In fact, booking your moving company half a year in advance can potentially help you save up to a quarter of your moving expenses. With more time to work with, you’ll also benefit in terms of finding other free moving supplies, packing your apartment, and gaining a bit of cash from a garage sale. And for a reliable moving company like Mesa Moving and Storage, be sure to check them out at:
Mesa Moving and Storage
7600 S Eisenman Road
Boise, ID 83716
P: (208) 336-7000
- Choosing The Best Service
Movers charge about $0.50 per pound of your belongings. This excludes packing fees, insurance, storage fees, and tariffs. You’ll need to factor in how much storage materials you require, such as boxes, moving blankets, and bubble wrap. If you require these materials, your moving company will charge you at a higher price.
We recommend you to obtain extra insurance on top of the basic liability protection that should be included in your contract. The extra insurance can be done up from the movers you intend to hire or a third-party provider. Moving valuation ranges from $0.30 to $0.60 per pound. A simple illustration of this is as follows: You plan to shift 5,000 pounds of your current belongings. This would provide you with maximum coverage of $3,000 in destroyed or damaged goods.
Other miscellaneous add-on fees include whether the movers have to climb the stairs to shift your belongings. Unless you’re living on the ground floor, it’s very important for you to clarify how they charge their services on this matter. Some companies charge you based on the number of levels they have to climb which may be from $10 to $20 per level with the first flight of stairs free of charge. Other companies might even charge you per step which might not be in favor of your budget. If your apartment has an elevator, professional movers will still charge an add-on fee from $75 to $100 for it.
- Instead Of Moving In The Summer, Move During Off-peak Seasons
The best time to move out is during the summer. The weather isn’t freezing cold and you won’t have to worry about children in your household being in school. Moreover, you can start early on the preparations your home will require for fall and winter.
However, because of the benefits of moving during the summer, it is a very popular season for moving, which increases the prices of moving companies drastically.
Therefore, if your plans allow, it is wiser to move during the off-peak months. The prices of moving companies drop throughout the fall months, from late October to November.
- Forget Hiring Packers, You Can Do It Yourself
While this helps you save quite a sum of money, it’s actually a rather tiring process. Grab a companion to help you out and start as early as you can, working one room at a time. Moving week can be stressful and you don’t want to put yourself into a position where you’re rushing to find your belongings and pack them at the very last minute. If you feel pressured by the packing process, start small by setting a fixed duration every day to pack just a bit at a time!
Packing your belongings can also use a few tips to make the process a lot easier for yourself. The trick is to pack smart and efficiently for your moving day. You’ll want to maximize the space in your storage boxes to minimize the number of packing supplies. This helps you to save time during the loading and unloading process. Keep in mind to prevent any damages from happening such as scratching of your furniture (or your flooring). There’s no point in going through all the trouble of packing just to spend that additional money to replace the damaged items.
- Don’t Fly To Your New Home, Drive Instead!
If driving to your new home is a feasible option, you should always choose to do so over flying there. Flying costs at least $300 per ticket for every member of your family, which can significantly cause your moving costs to shoot up. Moreover, you would need to engage a transportation service to bring items to your new home. In contrast, you’ll just need to pay for gas and maybe a hotel room to rest in for the night. Gas is expensive but it’s a lot better than paying for your plane tickets. That way, you can also save some money on moving by bringing along some of your belongings with you. If you’re really short of money, consider renting a moving truck and forget about hiring moving professionals. This works best for people with few belongings or those with smaller apartments.
Conclusion
With that, you’re ready to settle into your new home! Start planning early and don’t fret too much over the process. Moving doesn’t have to be difficult and it’s always a good idea to get help from your family members and friends. After all, more hands can help to save cost and reduce your mental and physical workload.
