How to Manage Your Moving Costs

Moving is stressful enough without having to worry about unexpected costs popping up. Many professional movers have extra fees for different things and those fees can really add up. The initial estimate you receive is one based on the weight of the load and the distance traveled, but that doesn’t always tell you the whole story.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid having to pay more than you bargained for on moving day!

Ways to Manage Your Moving Costs

Hiring A Moving Company

If you plan on hiring a mover, you need to know the fee structure before you ever agree to hiring them. Getting multiple moving quotes from licensed and insure moving companies is a great option, and can be done at this website free of charge.

Obviously, if you turn over everything to the movers; packing, loading, and unpacking, then you will have to pay for all of that. If the objective is to save money, try to do as much yourself as possible. You also should try to have as open of a time window as possible. Using a shared truck is much cheaper than having the truck all to yourself.

Common & Uncontrollable Moving Expenses

Storage needs are a common expense during a move. Moving when your new home is not ready may mean you need someone to store your belongings for you.

There are some things that are completely out of your control, and those things may cost you. For instance, a home that is not accessible to large vehicles, possibly due to a narrow passage way, will result in the mover having to use a shuttle, which will incur extra fees.

Also, if the mover must carry your belongings over a very long stretch of space, such as 75 feet, you will incur an extra fee for such a long carry. If you have massive furniture or other items that cannot be broken down to fit through a narrow corridor (such as a grand piano), you will need to pay to have it hoisted up and through a window.

Another charge that many do not expect is for keeping the movers idle at your location. If for some reason you are not ready and you keep the movers waiting for a very long time, just understand that the meter is running, so to speak.

Picking the Right Time To Move

Keep in mind, if you choose to move at the time most other people are moving, you will pay for it.

Summertime is the most popular time to move and moving companies take advantage of that by pricing accordingly. In some states, the heat is oppressive and the guys doing the moving certainly deserve some extra pay. If you want to save money here, move during the off-season. The most affordable months go from September to May.

Another thing to consider is that the very best movers are almost impossible to book during the busy season, leaving those who didn’t reserve their moves well in advance with more amateurish movers. You are much more likely to get a great mover in the off-season. You will also pay more to move during a holiday or on the first and last days of a month. Within the week, Tuesday is the best day to move since it is the least popular. Weekends are the busiest for movers.

Moving Insurance

And on to the cost of moving insurance…the basic liability coverage (rated at only 60 cents an item) may not be enough to calm your fears over your stuff. If you have lots of sentimental value stored in your belongings, you may need to spring for the full value protection.

Before you sell your home and decide on a moving company, have an answer for each of the issues raised. You can set a rock solid budget that meets your moving needs while still not breaking the bank!