Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to cut corners and save a little money while moving, even if hiring a professional moving company. The most important thing to remember about moving services is that they’re usually paid by the hour. So prepare ahead of time with these tips to streamline a move as much as possible and save big!
1. Professional Moving Services Should be Licensed and Insured
This is an indirect way to save money, but it is so important. Before paying for professional movers, make sure that they are licensed and insured. Moving services are regulated by the state and are required to be registered with the DMV of DOT.
If a property is damaged during a move and movers aren’t properly licensed and insured, there may have no way to recoup that loss. Ask moving companies for copies of their licenses and registration, or look them up with the state’s local mover database through the DOT or DMV.
With Jochas Moving & Delivery Services, you will not experience time-consuming and stressful move.
2. Prepare Ahead of Time
Packing–as anyone who has moved before knows–takes a lot more time and effort than first assumed. Maybe this is why there are a shocking number of people still frantically packing last-minute boxes on moving day. This slows down movers and can end up costing money in the long run.
If movers are paid by the hour (as almost all are), make sure that everything completely packed and ready to go on the day of the move. This includes closing and taping every box shut securely. Taping everything securely will allow movers to stack boxes on the moving dolly, which is much faster than carrying each open box individually. It also makes packing up the truck easier and more efficient.
While packing services can be an excellent option for those who are crunched for time or physically unable, they do add an extra line item to the final bill.
3. Organize Boxes by Size
This is a very easy way to shave time off a move and save money on hourly moving services. Stack boxes by size (small, medium, large, etc.) in their own piles.
This is something that most movers do themselves to ensure that they fit everything safely onto the dolly and into the truck. Completing this step can save as much as 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the home!
4. Don’t Move During Peak Hours
This is an unpopular tip, but it could save several hundred dollars. If it’s at all possible, move during the middle of the week in winter. Summer is, by far, the most popular time of year to move, so it’s more expensive.
The same goes for weekends. A lot of people can’t take the time off work, but it’s usually significantly cheaper to move in the middle of the day on a Wednesday than on a Saturday.
The least popular the time to move, the better the deal will be. So even with time restrictions, try to move as close to the middle of the week as possible to save the maximum amount of money on moving charges.
If moving during peak moving times, booking way ahead of time may be able to save money. As soon as moving dates are identified, call around and start pricing moving services before demand drives prices up.
Disassemble and Disconnect
There are several relatively small tasks that can be completed before movers arrive to save them time–and money!
First, disassemble the beds and bed frames before the movers arrive. This is a relatively quick task, but the more bedrooms there are, the more this step adds to hourly rate! Good moving services offer this as a part of their services, but if on a budget, every minute counts.
The same goes for washer, dryer, and major appliances. Make sure that anything is fully cleaned out, disconnected, and unplugged on the day of move. One thing that’s often overlooked is the fridge–be sure to clean it out completely before the movers get there! The last thing one wants is spoiled food in the fridge or food splattered all over other belongings.
For reliable, affordable moving services in Orlando, Broward, Tampa, or Miami, Florida, contact Jochas Moving & Delivery for a free estimate. Visit their Facebook and Instagram page to learn how they can assist.
