Want to save 50 percent on moving expenses? Do it yourself.
If that idea is too unappealing, at least spend time shopping around for the best deal.
If your family plans to move soon, moving specialists urge you to plan ahead and be ready when it is time for a decision. Finding out early what charges and services are involved will reduce frustration and offer ways to cut expenses.
To save up to 50 percent on moving expenses, pack, load and drive the truck yourself.
“The beauty of it is when someone is physically able to do the loading, it’s like paying themselves to do it,” said Thomas Edwards of Wall’s U-Haul in Biloxi. “It’s a way for a family to save money.”
U-Haul offers a free video detailing packing procedures and professional methods for loading trucks. Renters must purchase boxes from U-Haul, but any unused cartons may be returned for refund.
U-Haul and other companies rent 26-foot trucks for about $800 a day. Larger professional moving companies charge up to twice that much. On the other hand, professional movers will pack the boxes, load the truck and drive it to the mover’s destination.
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If you want professionals to move your belongings, shop around for reputable companies and competitive prices.
Charges for state-to-state moves are determined by the weight and volume of the load and the distance it is to be shipped. Moving companies work on a base rate, but some offer discounts.
“To be competitive, we have to say how much we can discount to get the business,” said Becky Sherman, operations manager for Allied Van Line in Gulfport, Miss. “Nine out of 10 customers get three estimates on the move. Some won’t go with the lowest estimate, but a lot of times, money is the big factor.”
To help determine moving expenses, most companies offer free estimates. To assist movers in calculating costs, show them every item to be moved, including the contents of your attic, storage sheds, basement and garage. Get a copy of the estimate.
Also, notify the company if you live on a second or third floor, or on a dead-end street that would make truck passage difficult.
Be sure to ask the moving company about its policy on damaged goods. Policies vary, depending on who packs the boxes and other variables.
Packing your own boxes can save up to one-third of moving expenses.
“We charge $20 to pack a box of dishes, and the box costs $15,” Sherman said.
If customers pack their own goods and something is broken in a box with no visible damage, the moving company may decide that the package was not packed properly.
Another cost-saver: Discard items you will no longer use or furniture that won’t fit in your new home.