AS OWNER OF A LOCAL MOVING COMPANY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, here are some ideas to help you save for a local move.
They are:
-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.
Finding the lowest price when choosing a mover.
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.
Work Around Your Movers' Schedule To Insure The Best Rate.
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.
If you are looking for cheaper or even free boxes there are other options. Try going to Craigslist for your area and search for "free moving boxes". You'll be surprised how many sources there are. Another place to find cheap of free boxes is look for someone that is moving INTO your neighborhood. Introduce yourself and offer to take away their used cartons for free.
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.
Being Prepared For The Movers Will Save You Money.
Anything you can do yourself to help the movers can save you money. This may mean things such as clearing a pathway in a hallway taking a part and putting back together beds, doing all the connection work for refrigerators washers dryer and other appliances. Also packing stuff yourself can save money. By placing pictures or other breakables in the car and moving them yourself will save the mover's time and you money.
A big way to save money is to have the mover move only the large items in your home. This may save a lot of money but will create a lot of work for you. You will have to move stuff like boxes, pictures, and lamps. Anything small you will be responsible to move on your own.
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.
If your move is small you can often get your quote by phone or email. Be absolutely certain to give the mover a complete and thorough list of items to be moved. Give it to them in writing, preferably by email. Don't be vague by saying only "contents of 1 bedroom apartment". Be specific with a list of items within the apartment, including small items such as lamps, pictures, boxes, etc.. This will minimize the chance of unpleasant additional costs on moving day.
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.
They are:
-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.
Finding the lowest price when choosing a mover.
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.
Work Around Your Movers' Schedule To Insure The Best Rate.
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.
If you are looking for cheaper or even free boxes there are other options. Try going to Craigslist for your area and search for "free moving boxes". You'll be surprised how many sources there are. Another place to find cheap of free boxes is look for someone that is moving INTO your neighborhood. Introduce yourself and offer to take away their used cartons for free.
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.
Being Prepared For The Movers Will Save You Money.
Anything you can do yourself to help the movers can save you money. This may mean things such as clearing a pathway in a hallway taking a part and putting back together beds, doing all the connection work for refrigerators washers dryer and other appliances. Also packing stuff yourself can save money. By placing pictures or other breakables in the car and moving them yourself will save the mover's time and you money.
A big way to save money is to have the mover move only the large items in your home. This may save a lot of money but will create a lot of work for you. You will have to move stuff like boxes, pictures, and lamps. Anything small you will be responsible to move on your own.
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.
If your move is small you can often get your quote by phone or email. Be absolutely certain to give the mover a complete and thorough list of items to be moved. Give it to them in writing, preferably by email. Don't be vague by saying only "contents of 1 bedroom apartment". Be specific with a list of items within the apartment, including small items such as lamps, pictures, boxes, etc.. This will minimize the chance of unpleasant additional costs on moving day.
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.
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