Top Tips When Moving on a Budget

When it comes to moving, we are all trying to save. After all, you just had to switch your life completely, buy or rent a new home or an office, and now you have to have additional expenses for moving itself. Naturally, we are all trying to save by searching for cheap movers, buying packing materials that are not that expensive, and so on. But, the crucial thing to know is where you should and where you shouldn’t save.

If we are trying to find the budget movers that are not trusted and checked, it might be even more expensive than hiring local movers who actually know what they are doing. That is why we are here to help you with the whole process with some simple tips that you should follow if you want to have a budget-friendly relocation. Don’t worry, these steps are easy to follow and they won’t take you too much time. Let’s dive into it! 

Plan things ahead of time

A well-planned move is usually a budget-friendly move. When you plan tasks in advance, there won’t be any surprises on the moving day that will lead to extra expenses. Not only should you plan the moving budget, but also everything that needs to be done. If you want to finish something in a day instead of a few weeks that procedure takes regularly, you might need to pay extra. When you are planning a move, the best thing you can do is write down all the expenses you will have along the way, all the tasks, and keep all the paperwork that is important for you in one folder.

If you are not tech-savvy and prefer writing things in a notebook, keep one dedicated to your move. This will help you keep a track of things that are done and of everything that needs to be done. A good organization is not only a key to a budget-friendly move but a successful one too. 

Search for affordable movers in your area

When searching for local movers, it is not enough to type cheap movers near me and book the first company on the list. Unless you are willing to risk the safety of your belongings, which we don’t recommend by any chance. Before deciding what local movers to call and learn more about their services and rates, you will have to do research. Read the reviews, take advantage of free quotes and companies that will come to you, and give a free consultation. All of this will help you find affordable movers that are offering quality moving services.

Read the Yelp reviews from your state. Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it’s right, so pay attention to multiple negative reviews. Weigh up the value of your stuff and how you will feel if it’s damaged. On the other hand, not all of the affordable movers are bad. You just need to be careful and to do your research in detail. That will help you learn as much as possible about potential local movers and you will be sure that you are making a good choice. 

Get more moving quotes from local movers

Don’t assume that your move is going to be the same process every time. However, if you have found reliable local movers in the past, you might want to stick to them for this move too. Conveniences and prices change like everything else. Taking the time to shop around and understand your options will alleviate some of that stress we just talked about. If this is your first time moving, you should always explore your options since different local movers are offering different services, and you will need to find a suitable company.

If you have the money to budget for a moving company, then choose wisely. Know the market and the going rates. After you search for different companies, narrow it down to your top three or five choices that you want to call to get a quote. Also, before calling local movers to get quotes from them, you should prepare questions that you will always have for the team that is going to handle all of your private belongings. Knowing what your moving needs are will help you find the best local movers in the area. 

Hire licensed local movers so you don’t have to purchase extra insurance

Instead of risking hiring some shady local movers that don’t have licenses, you should always do a decent research to find those that are both licensed and insured. Not only will you save a lot of nerves if something gets damaged, but you will also save some money. Licensed local movers might be slightly more expensive than those without it, but that difference is something that will fit everyone’s budget. When you think of it, it might even be cheaper because you won’t have to purchase a third party insurance that you would need to buy when you are moving with some shady business.

Also, we believe that your items are more valuable than a couple of dollars difference that you will have to pay. When doing your research, you might have seen some stories that people who had unpleasant experiences shared. From charging some additional fees that were not mentioned to keeping your items hostage – anything can happen. And when moving with local movers that are not licensed, you won’t have any protection if something like that happens. Your peace of mind should be your number one priority and therefore, always invest more time into your research and find reliable and licensed local movers that will keep you and your items safe and sound during the whole process. 

Give up additional services local movers are offering

Local movers are charging different rates depending on the amount of additional services that you want to add. For example, if you want to have multiple stops during your relocation – that might be more costly than moving from point A to point B. The same goes for packing, this is an extra service that might be more expensive. To avoid any expenses that are not necessary, you should always stick to the basic service local movers are offering.

That basic service is usually pretty good, and it includes local movers with a truck that is well-maintained and clean. Besides that, your local movers will bring all the equipment needed to disassemble, reassemble, and protect your furniture. They can also bring moving dollies to handle anything that is extra heavy. All of this comes with no additional charge, so you will be covered for the majority of your moving needs. However, you can keep adding services as long as it fits your moving budget.

Check with your local movers if there are some additional charges

Local movers have the right to charge any additional fees they come up with. However, you should know about them all before you book your move. Even if your local movers said there are no charges, you better check twice, just to be completely sure. And not just that, but read the confirmation email too. This is a document that contains all important information about your move and it will help you prepare for it. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises on your moving day because you didn’t have time to read a couple of pages that your local movers have sent over. Keeping an eye on every detail will ensure you have a smooth and seamless moving service. 

Ask your local movers if there is some price difference between days

Did you know that some local movers are charging less for moving on weekdays? That might be the case with your potential local movers too. This can affect your budget significantly, since the price can go as low as $20 per hour less. Weekends are the most desirable days for moving, especially Saturdays, so it makes sense that some local movers are offering discounts for moving on non-weekend days. However, when moving in the middle of the moving season, this might not be applied. In the period between April and September everyone wants to move, so those are the most expensive months for the move. If you are not strict with the date, you might plan your relocation according to this.

Pack on your own

Packing is one of the additional services local movers are offering that takes the most time. Even though it is perfect if we don’t have to lift a finger during our move, when moving on the budget, we might need to give up this. Local movers usually don’t have the charge for packing, but they will need more time to finish your move. And if they are charging hourly… You did the maths. I know, you don’t like packing and trust me, no one does. But when moving on the budget, you might want to spend those weeks slowly packing up your home. Think of a bright side of it – you will be able to label the boxes the way you want and you will have full control of your move.

Find free or cheap packing materials

Speaking of packing, a big task on your budget list is packing materials. We completely agree that you should find quality packing materials, especially for your fragile belongings. But, for the items that are not that fragile and delicate you can find any boxes that you wish. That is why you should visit one of the stores around you, especially if there are liquor stores. They usually have a bunch of boxes they don’t need, and you can make good use of them.

Check their cancellation policy

When you decide to book local movers, you will have to leave some sort of deposit. And once you do, you want it to be applied towards the final bill no matter what. It’s usually between $50 to $150 deposit and if you are moving on the budget, you don’t want to say goodbye to that money. That is why you should check with your local movers what cancellation or rescheduling policy they have. It is understandable that sometimes life can get chaotic and you might need to make some changes that are related to your move.

 But in a situation like that, you want to know it will come with some additional expenses. Local movers are keeping that spot for you exclusively, and if you bail on them at the last moment – they might need to keep that deposit. So, check everything in time and try to stick to your plans as much as possible. 

Always leave some money for rainy days

No matter how well you have planned your moving budget, there are some things that no one can plan. This is why it is important to leave some money for the rainy days so you don’t lose all of your nerves if there are some unexpected expenses.

Looking for affordable movers in New York? We have a solution for that too. Long Beach Moving Company is a longstanding company with tradition and experience. We have a goal to show you that white-glow moving services don’t have to be super expensive, on the contrary. We strongly believe that every person out there deserves to have high-quality relocation while staying within the budget.

All of our customer support agents are experienced people who will know how to identify your moving needs based on a few simple pieces of information you share with us. They are here for you every day of the week and they are ready to guide you through the booking and moving process. They will explain everything that you should know because transparency is the way we do business.

All of our staff members are trained individuals, so your items will be in the safe hands of our local movers who will make sure that everything arrives at your new location safely and in one piece. You can rely on our team and let us plan and execute amazing moving services for you at the very best price. Get your free moving quote today! We are looking forward to chatting with you.