Moving to a new city or location is an exciting prospect when you’re looking forward to making a fresh start. But, relocating can be expensive. And, if you’re not careful, the costs can add up quickly. The best way to go about the entire project is to plan every single aspect, down to finding and hiring the right movers in San Diego. Read ahead for some quick tips on minimizing the moving fee you’ll pay the service providers.
Scout Around for Quotes
Moving companies are open to providing free quotes to customers so they can make their decision. Most websites have a form where you can add details like the number of bedrooms, point of origin, and destination. Based on this information, the consultants calculate a rough estimate. You can ask for quotes from a few companies before finalizing the most competitive pricing.
Book Services Well Ahead of Time
Having made the decision to relocate, one of the first things to do is work out the date of the actual move. Booking a moving company well ahead of time will ensure that you get availability and lower costs. Chances are that the moving crews are fully booked, and you have to pay inflated rates for last minute services. On the flip side, last-minute cancellations could get you an unexpected deal when the company wants to fill their now-available slots.
Avoid Holidays and Weekends
Like everyone else, moving crews like to break for the holidays, and very few people are available to execute the move for you. This factor can result in more expensive moving costs. Further, if you schedule a move over the weekend, you’ll again deal with issues like non-availability. That’s because most people like to complete their relocation and settle in over the weekend. Starting their new jobs the following Monday is a practical thing to do.
Consider Relocating in the Off-Season
Families with kids prefer to move during the summer when schools are closed for the vacations. Also, the weather is sunny, and there’s a low chance of bad weather conditions like during winter or autumn. The last thing you want is a snowstorm or heavy rain when moving boxes and furniture into your new home. But, since this is the off-season for moves, you’re likely to pay a lower fee to the moving company. Anytime between October and April is a great idea, but May through September is best avoided.
Complete Packing Smaller Boxes Before the Movers Arrive
The moving crew will be moving all the heavy furniture you can’t handle. But, you can save their time by packing up sofas, chairs, and other pieces with plastic wrap. While you can hire the crew to pack up all your other belongings, you can save on their time and the final bill by taking care of the boxing yourself. In the months leading up to the move, collect boxes from friends and family. And, save the packages delivered by Amazon each time you shop online. You can also find used cardboard boxes on U-Haul’s BoxExchange site.
Try to Avoid Using Packaging Materials
Aside from boxes, you’ll need lots of packing and stuffing materials that the moving company can provide if needed. You can save on this cost by arranging for your own supplies. Use your woolens and softer clothing to pack fragile items and save on stuffing and bubble wrap. Books and kids’ soft toys also make great buffers to prevent items from breaking. Similarly, bedding like mattresses, pillows, and comforters can be used to secure valuable artwork, antiques, and other precious things.
With a bit of smart thinking, you can economize on the moving fee you pay the service provider. And, save some of the total cost of the move.
