Best Ways to cut moving costs

6 Ways To Cut Moving Costs

One of the challenging parts of moving is the cost involved. Moving from one home to another is not only stressful, but it’s VERY expensive. I’ve moved way too many times in my life, so today I’ll address some tips to reduce your moving costs. Unless there is a huge budget for your move you will definitely need to find ways to cut moving costs.

There are ways to reduce costs and below are some of them. This list of tips should help you reduce your moving costs by more than 40% of the expected cost. These aren’t listed in any particular order, so read until the end. I’ll also address a few hidden expenses to watch out for when moving.

1. Decluttering Before You Move

This one may seem obvious, but what may not be so obvious is that you’ve got too much “stuff”. In the last month or so my wife and I have been doing a little purging. What we found was that we had a lot of “stuff” that we always deemed important, but that wasn’t important any longer. We were holding onto things for our kids that our kids didn’t want. As such, we’ve been selling, and even giving away all sorts of stuff.

My team and I will often find ourselves with someone thinking of selling their home. Most of the time they have things that they will NEVER use. Sometimes it is hard to see it all when you’re living in it. Have a yard sale and get rid of anything that you haven’t used in the last year or don’t expect needing in the next 6 months or so.

The volume of items is what makes the cost high. You have to reduce the number of items as much as possible. When moving you will see that there are items that you have not used in a long time. It is best to throw away some items or donate if you think some of them are still valuable.

Getting rid of some of that stuff could save you a lot of money moving something that doesn’t need moving. You might have been thinking of a new bedroom set or living room furniture? If you are, then NOT moving those items could help pay for that new furniture at your destination home. Less “stuff” means a smaller moving truck or storage container. That usually translates to lower moving costs.

You can make use of affordable junk removal services to discard items in volumes. Go through your items and see what you still want to keep and what you are no longer using. Less items means lower packing, moving and storage costs.

2. Pack Your Own Items

My family, and some of my friends had fun at my expense after I’ve gone into all kinds of stores to ask for leftover boxes. They were happy to give me FOR FREE. I’ve also been dumpster diving for boxes if they looked clean. I cannot confirm nor deny that this ever happened. But let’s say that those boxes were WAY cheaper than buying boxes with fancy labels.

So you already know that I’m cheap, but doing your own packing can be one of the best ways to reduce moving costs. Yes, it can be a LOT of work, but spread it out, and do the packing over weeks, or even months.

Doing a little here and a little there can make the process manageable. When you arrive at your new home, you’ll be grateful that everything is good. Plus, you’ll have the confidence of knowing that all your belongings are secure in their boxes.

Packing costs are significant when moving. It is not only packing that attracts a fee but the packing material as well. Doing the packing yourself eliminates the packing and material costs. All you need to do is call the moving company to pick up items that you have already packed. Source used carboard boxes from retailers that are enough for all your items. Label all items to speed up the packing process and for easy of unpacking.

I tend to consider my labor as free. Its because I am a cheapskate. But I’m a big fan of using a storage container and having it shipped… as opposed to using a moving company. Compare the cost of a moving company to that of one of these moving storage containers. The cost of these storage containers can vary, and the services they provide can as well. A storage container could be set in the driveway for as long as you want, or can afford. This allows you to load it the way you want it loaded.

3. Move at the right time

Moving on weekdays could help keep your moving costs down. I suspect it’s a simple matter of supply and demand, but moving mid week could help save some dough. Moving in the winter can help save some money, too, but it can be risky.

I remember years ago moving on March 16th in Stellenbosch. They were calling for rain, but I didn’t take it serious. I was young and new better, and I couldn’t afford to pay someone else to move me. I was using my little pickup and my friend’s Champ, and we were moving 10 minutes up north of the University.

By the time we arrived at our new apartment, we had like 5 inches of rain on our belongings. It was a mess! So we ended up moving everything else in his Ford Ranger, which was hard on most of our stuff. Yes, I needed to move anyways, but had I heeded the weatherman’s warnings and adjusted by a day or so. The entire experience could’ve been much more pleasant.

Moving has peak seasons that is the beginning of the year and end of year, this affects prices. From March to September the moving costs are lower. Choosing to move at the right time will make a significant difference. When there is less demand for moving services companies will lower their prices.

4. Compare Different Quotes

This one is straightforward. Do not settle for one option get different quotes and see which pricing suits your budget. The most important thing is not to target lower quotes as they might come with poor service quality.

Check for hidden costs and ensure you have the right moving truck. Speaking of a moving truck or storage container, it will take some time to find the right moving vehicle for you. Unless of course you’re planning to throw it all in the back of your pickup. Moving companies can be VERY expensive. Failure to compare the cost, reputation and availability of several companies is costly.

5. Consider DIY Moving

If you are ready to go to greater lengths this can be a great option. This can be hiring a trailer to carry your items by yourself or hiring a bakkie. You can even use a friend’s vehicle there are risks associated with that though. DIY will save money on professional moving services but comes with damages, injury and fuel cost.

I mentioned earlier that my friend helped me move when I lived in Stellenbosch. Well, what if I didn’t have his help? All my items, not one pickup load, would’ve been completely covered in water. But it wasn’t his Ford Ranger that was helpful. Shaun was strong as an ox and helped me carry all that furniture out of the old house and into the new one.

As such, I didn’t NEED to hire someone else. I am sure I bought lunch, and some drinks for his help, but he was not only willing, but he was also happy to help me.  If you have got a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend that would consider helping it is a blessing to you. 

Remember that they may need help one day too, and they may be more willing to help than you think. Your moving expenses could be tax deductible. While you may not see this as a savings TODAY. It could still be a huge savings that may be visible on your taxes.

6. Cut Hidden costs

When I moved to Southfield from Goodwood years ago. We rented a great big truck and packed it up and drove down here ourselves. This was a HUGE savings! This is NOT for everyone. But if you’re looking for one of the best ways to save big, and you’re able to, then renting a moving truck. Loading and driving it yourself could be a great opportunity.

Hidden costs can be temporary storage fees or fuel costs. To cater for these you will need to plan ahead. Try sharing the moving truck with someone who is also moving then split the fuel costs. You can also share a storage and split the cost.

There are some moving expenses that are often overlooked. If you’re having a moving company move you, be aware that some items that need special care may cost more to have moved. Ask the movers what they have special charges for. There might be a glass table, or a heavy safe. If you don’t want your mover moving you when it’s convenient for them, then may charge you a storage fee.

If you’re moving a significant distance away, then don’t forget about the cost of gas, tolls and meals. Also you aren’t sleeping in your front seat, then you will have accommodation expenses. Utility hookup fees  and even tips for the movers can add up. You are thinking of using an equity line or even bridge financing to help with the move? Well, both of these can be very expensive.

Conclusion

You are not expected to break the bank when moving. Using the tips above you can find the balance between hiring a professional and chipping in. Try using the tips above to reduce your costs and get the best moving bill.

Extra Tips For Reducing Moving Costs:

• Create A Moving Essentials Kit: Pack your essentials in an easy to access labelled box. These can be snacks, tissues or important documents.

• Protect Your Items: Make use of furniture slides and blankets to protect walls and floor. It is necessary to avoid damages when moving items this is one of the ways to cut moving costs.

• Review Moving Contracts: Before you commit and sign take a good look at the terms and conditions. If you need clarity ask so that you understand in full.

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