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Moving can be a time and money consuming process. While hiring a professional moving company will certainly save you time, moving bills will add up quickly. These tips below will help lighten the load on your wallet.
The general rule of thumb is, "hire movers in the summer - expect to pay more". Many families often aim to move over the summer months for the sake of convenience, ie. while their kids are out of school, the weather is ideal, etc. Because of this, moving companies fill their bookings quickly over the summer months, resulting in increased prices as they approach capacity. This is especially the case for higher volume situations like Calgary or Edmonton moves. To save on movers fees, plan your move during the slower months. In most cases, look at late autumn through early spring.
In general, moving companies will book up quickly on the weekends as this is often when most individuals and families have the most time on their hands. Consider a midweek move to save money. Many professional movers offer a discount to clients willing to work with their schedules. For example, the movers may be moving someone else on the day you had hoped to move, but they could complete the job the day after at a lesser cost.
Make sure your new home is ready to avoid paying transit and storage charges. Contact your moving company immediately if you think there will be a delay. For example, you have sold your home, and the new occupants expect to move in on Thursday. However, you cannot move into your new house until Friday. Call the movers immediately to avoid incurring extra charges. Planning your move in advance also gives you more time to find the best rates and has the potential to save you money as you can avoid having to pay a rush fee.
Moving too many possessions is going to result in a huge mover’s bill. Have a garage sale or donate goods for a tax break. Get rid of unwanted belongings to save money when moving homes. Professional movers typically charge by weight carried and distance traveled. More belongings results in a larger moving truck and a bigger moving bill.
While most professional moving companies offer packing services, you may want to pack your items yourself for the extra savings. By packing and unpacking items yourself, you will only pay for relocation fees.
Though some moving companies offer fairly good deals on packing supplies, there are other cost-effective approaches to obtaining supplies for your next move. For instance, storage facilities often offer cheap deals on packing supplies as well. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family if they have extra boxes that you can use to pack. People commonly ask local grocery and liquor stores ahead of close if they have any extra boxes they'd be willing to part with. It's always worth a try to ask! Additionally, when securing important belongings, substituting clothes and blankets in place of bubble wrap can help you save as well!
Though it can be tempting to select the first moving company that pops up on Google for convenience-sake, calling around and comparing your options is the most effective way to save. The moving market is highly competitive and these companies want to make sure they get your business. Though sacrificing quality and professionalism for the cheapest price is never worth it, taking the time to explore your options to find the right fit with a reputable moving company that offers competitive pricing is essential to save big come moving day.
If you're hiring movers and paying by the hour, do everything you can to make it faster for them thus, cheaper for you. For example, if you're able to carry your boxes from the basement to the first floor, this can shorten a mover's billed hours. By the same token, disassembling furniture including chairs, tables and couches will leave less billed work for the moving company.
While hiring a company to move large items is a great way to save time, money and prevent potential injuries, consider using your own vehicle to move smaller items yourself. Bulky furniture including beds, dressers, tables and appliances can be handled by professionals. Easier to manage items such as toiletries, decor, office supplies, and handheld items should fit in your vehicle - saving you on moving costs, without putting your back out.
Packing and transporting food can create unneeded weight and labour for your movers. By eating, donating or discarding unneeded items from your fridge, freezer and pantry, you can save the space, time, and money from your move. The week before your moving date is a perfect time to get creative with your meals and avoid a huge grocery shop!
