The Misconceptions About Saving Money on a Cross Country Move

Moving to a new location comes with mixed emotions. You leave behind a place where you know people and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. However, you also have emotions of excitement as well, that your new home will become a place of warmth and comfort for your family. People move for many reasons like a new job, a change in climate or an empty nest. Whatever your reasons for moving, it doesn’t have to wipe out your savings. There are many ways to reduce the costs of your move whether hiring a professional moving company or deciding to do the move yourself. 

Using a moving company

A long distance move across the country can be stressful. The first decision you need to make is which way you want to go. Contact a few professional moving companies and get written estimates based on what you intend to bring and when you plan on leaving. These factors play a vital role in determining the cost of your trip. If you have the luxury of selecting a time of year, choose a non-peak season for moving companies, generally in the fall and winter.  If you aren’t able to put the move off until that time then select dates during the week versus the weekend. Since the estimate you receive consists of not only the time of year but also the amount of home furnishings and supplies you take, it’s best to discard anything that you no longer need or want.

Making the trip on your own

If you decide that you want to try and move on your own you’ll still need to get estimates on truck rentals and determine the size that you need. These companies also use the same peak and non-peak times of year and their pricing reflects it. When you move on your own you’ll have the sole responsibility of packing up, loading and then unloading and unpacking at the drop-off. Usually, you’ll have family and friends at one location, but the other you’re on your own. This is definitely something to take into consideration, as lifting and moving furniture and boxes can become exhausting, and if you’re older nearly impossible. Another point to doing the drive on your own is that if any damage occurs along the way, you won’t have any monetary help in replacing the damaged cargo.

Doing some of the work yourself

There is a way to get the best of both situations. When you hire professional movers you still have the option of doing the packing on your own. This can help to bring the original estimate down hundreds of dollars. You can get the boxes from them, but if you want to save even more you can opt to purchase them on your own. Moving companies have specific guidelines for the number and sizes of boxes allowed per the size truck you require.  So long as you use the correct number of boxes in the right sizes, without going over your limit, your estimate will not change. You can contact local stores to see if they have empty boxes they no longer need and if that’s not possible then you can purchase the boxes on your own. Either way, you’ll save money.

Downsizing

When you move, everything you decide to bring carries a price tag. It’s best to start early, four to six weeks in advance, and clean out your attic, basement and garage. Then sell, give away to family and friends, or donate these items to your local church. Moving is a great time to discard items you no longer want or need. If you have quite a bit of furniture and other useful items, have a yard sale. The money you bring in can go towards the move.

Moving can become stressful. But, if you plan ahead, weigh the pros and cons of hiring movers, and take only what you need, the move may just go smoothly.