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Moving is a hassle, whether it is a residential move or commercial moving. It usually involves taking time off, packing up boxes, renting a moving van and paying for the gas yourself, and unpacking once you get to your final destination. Whether your move is across town or across the country, in most cases it is prudent to hire the services of a professional moving company. It saves a lot of time and it is usually more cost-efficient to let a mover do the work for you. However, whether you move everything yourself or hire a professional mover, there are things you can do to decrease the costs involved in the move. And let’s face it, regardless of your particular financial situation, saving money is always a good thing. Below are a few tips that will help reduce the costs of your next move.
Use Movers During Off-peak Seasons
Like many companies, professional New York moving companies have peak times when a large number of clients are hiring them to help them move. This includes early or late in the month and on weekends, when most people choose to use a mover. If your move can take place in the middle of the month and during the week, you may be able to save some money. When you first meet with the moving company’s representative, ask him if this will make a difference, and have him give you two quotes so that you can see the difference. In many cases, moving during off-peak times will help save a little money.
Get Rid of Some of the Items in Your Home
Before your move takes place is an excellent time to go through your home room by room and get rid of anything you no longer need or want. Old clothes, furniture, appliances and even dishes are excellent items to start with. You can box up these items and donate them to charity, or have a garage sale and make a little extra money for your move. Either way, having fewer items to move will cost you less in the long run, because there will be fewer boxes and packing materials to purchase. Fewer boxes equals less money spent on the move. Moreover, if you donate some of your items to charity, you may be able to save money on your income taxes if they allow this type of deduction.
Pack Up Your Boxes the Cheap Way
Even if you use a professional mover, you will likely be charged for each box that is used. Therefore, ask your friends and neighbors – and even grocery stores and discount centers – for any extra boxes they might be able to give you, so that you will not have to purchase more expensive new boxes. In addition, you can use materials from around your home as packing materials. For example, use thick towels, sheets, blankets, and newspapers as padding, since these items need to be packed anyway. It will save on other packing materials, such as bubble wrap and brown wrapping paper.
Pay Attention to Shut-off Dates for Your Utilities
Often, depending on how your billing cycle runs, you can save money by having your utilities, water, and cable services cut off at the right time. Try to have them cut off before a billing cycle begins, especially for services such as cable TV and Internet, which are not absolutely necessary. This will save you money and also increase the chances of getting your deposit back, which will put even more money in your pocket.
Use an Alternative Shipper for Some of Your Items
When it comes to items like books, which can be extremely heavy, it can be less expensive to use either the United States postal service, or even UPS or other shipping services. A 20-pound box of books may cost under $12 to ship. Even though it may take these items longer to get to their final destination, and may even arrive later than you do, the long-term savings will be worth it.
Moving Costs May Be Deductible
In certain circumstances, moving costs can be deducted from your income tax. When you move, keep every single receipt you receive, so that each item can be broken down and perhaps deducted. Naturally, you will need to check with your accountant or tax preparer before automatically listing a deduction on your income tax; however, it is possible to deduct some of your moving expenses in certain situations, so keeping all receipts is a smart idea.
Don’t Cut Corners with Everything
When you are tempted to handle the entire move yourself, be careful. If something breaks during the move and you’ve used a professional mover, you will be able to get some financial compensation for the item. If you move yourself and something breaks, you will have to replace or repair the item yourself. Although many things can be done to save money here and there, you must also look at the entire picture before making a final decision. Saving money is good, but if you take too many corners you may be paying a higher price later on. Always weigh all of your options so that regardless of which choice you make, it will be a cost-effective move to make.
Some Final Thoughts
Moving can be stressful, but the stress level during a move can be lowered somewhat if you do certain things that save both money and time. Whether you use a professional mover or not, you can save money on your move by following certain rules and by researching every one of your options. In addition, starting ahead is an excellent idea also, as it allows you the time you need to make sure that every “t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted.
Don’t let your upcoming move ruin your life. Start your planning early, research all of your options, and do whatever you can to reduce the costs involved with your move. The more prepared you are, the more time and money you will save, and the less stressed out you will be once your move time arrives.