Making Moving Fun

5 Tips To Cut Professional Moving Costs

by Ethel Lee

If you are moving to a new home, you are likely looking for ways to cut costs because moving can be expensive. While you may not be able to avoid all the stress and headaches that come with moving, you can cut some costs even if you hire professional movers to do the lifting for you. Check out these five tips to help you save money on moving costs.

Consider Moving/Storing Some Items Yourself

Hiring professional movers isn't cheap, especially if you are moving to a new state. Local movers charge about $25 per hour, and moving an average two-bedroom apartment should take about four to six hours, costing you about $300 to $450. Long-distance movers are more expensive. For a slightly smaller one-bedroom apartment, you'll spend closer to $3,600 or more. You may, however, be able to reduce the cost by reducing the time, especially if you are moving locally. Instead of letting the movers relocate every item you own, move what you can yourself. Pack up your car or a friend's truck with smaller boxes and items. You can let the movers deal with the heavy, awkward items.

Pack Your Own Items

Depending on where you are moving, you may not want or be able to move some of the items yourself because it's too far or you simply don't have the time. If that's the case, you can still help the movers save time by packing your own items. Professional movers will gladly pack your items for you for a fee, but doing it yourself cuts down on moving time and overall cost. When you do pack your own items, make sure you aren't packing hazardous materials. Items like gasoline, fertilizer, etc. are flammable and often illegal for professional movers to relocate. Ask the moving company if there are other items they won't move so you don't accidentally pack them, which could force the movers to repack your boxes, increasing the time and cost.

Mark Items You Are Moving Yourself

You may have items you want to move yourself. Some may be items the professional movers won't move for you, such as nail polish remover. Nail polish remover, like gasoline and fertilizer, is considered hazardous because it is flammable. Similarly, you may have items the movers will haul, but you want them in your possession. These may include personal information, such as passports, birth certificates, etc., but it may also include valuable items like jewelry. If you have any items you are moving yourself, mark them accordingly by writing "do not move" on the boxes, or you could physically put them somewhere else so they are not accidentally packed by the movers.

Sort Items You Want the Movers to Haul

The items you want the movers to haul should also be sorted and properly marked. Start by keeping similar items together. Keep all your bathroom items in a group of boxes, keep all your bedroom items in a group of boxes, and do the same for every room in your home. Mark the boxes clearly so the movers know where to place them in your new home, which helps you unpack and prevents the movers from wasting time opening boxes to see where they belong. If you have items you want packed first or last, ensure you mark those appropriately too.  

Keep the Area Clear

Moving boxes and heavy furniture takes a lot of strength and focus. The movers don't have time to look out for tripping hazards, and even if they did, they may not see any potential dangers while carrying large items. You can ensure this process is much smoother by keeping the area clear of clutter or tripping hazards. Even a rug could be considered a tripping hazard, so ensure you have a clear path from your items to the moving truck. If you have pets or kids, ask a friend to watch them so they don't get in the way.

The best way to reduce moving expenses is to streamline the entire process. By getting everything ready before the movers arrive, you help them work faster and more efficiently, which saves them time and you money. For more information about professional movers, contact a moving company like Wheaton World Wide Moving today.

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