When moving to a new home, you want to keep your stress and expenses low. These two things almost go hand-in-hand with one another, as everybody wants to save money on relocation. However, while trying so hard to spend less, people often make mistakes that add up and cause financial loss. That’s why Fairfax Transfer and Storage shares 6 smart money saving moving tips with you. We are one of the many good movers out there, but aside from just offering our moving services, we also want to help you with some advice. Through our many blog posts and articles, we want to help our clients prepare for their move. By reading up on a moving topic that interests you, you’ll have an idea of what to expect. So, stay with us and find out how to save money and reduce stress when moving homes anywhere in the country!
The most important money saving moving tip is to hire professional movers and learn how to choose them
Many people will opt for a DIY move or risk hiring unlicensed movers just to save money, but this usually backfires. Let’s say you’re moving from Arlington and you want to hire one of the many movers Arlington can offer. You’ve given up on the idea of self-relocation, so you want to hire pro movers to do all the work for you. This is good: professional movers offer an array of helpful services which can make the move easy. If you look carefully, professional movers also offer insurance that protects you in case of item damage.
However, not all movers can be trusted. While searching, you might run into fraudulent movers. Luckily for you, we know a couple of ways to figure out whether you’re dealing with scammers or with the real deal movers- which is one of the most important money saving moving tips.
Recognize fraudulent movers
When visiting the company website, you should be able to find a physical office address. Otherwise, you very likely ran into a scam. Lowball offers may be tempting, but 90% of the time, you’re being lured into a trap, so don’t fall for it. Iron-clad estimates, or in other words, fixed moving costs, are just not realistic. Thank the company for the offer, and keep searching. The company should always insist on sending a representative to do an in-person check of your home and belongings in order to give you an estimate. On moving days, unmarked vehicles are a huge red flag. In other words, always look for the company name or logo on their vans, trucks, etc.
Pack properly
Of course, despite hiring one of the many residential movers in Northern VA, you might want to do some things on your own and see what other options you have.
Trying to pack your home without using your movers’ packing services? Here’s a tip: declutter and then pack. If you get rid of items you no longer need, you’ll have way fewer items to move, which will reduce the moving costs at least a little. Also, when packing, you don’t have to buy brand new packing materials. Source them wisely: either get them second-hand or get them for free or even use alternative materials and packing methods.
Schedule your move off-season to avoid crowdedness
While this might not be an option every single time, try to schedule your move off-season. Moving companies have way less business during the cold months than in the summer. This is also the reason why you might find moving costs lower in the late fall, winter, and early spring. While you’re at it, don’t shy away from asking your company for a deal or discount. We’re all well aware of how much a move can break the bank for the common person, so we will sometimes try and help you with a little discount. Ask multiple moving companies and see what prices and deals you’ll be offered. Make sure to ask about moving services and insurance as well. After all, all of these things will add up to the price.
Always have a plan A and a plan B
Planning ahead and making a plan B can save you and your money greatly. As much as you try to plan your move so that it goes smoothly, things can always go south, so it’s good to have a backup. For example, if something goes wrong during the trip or transportation, make plans with friends or family to have you over to avoid spending money on hotels. One more thing that also has to do with choosing your movers is to see if your company is flexible and if they charge you a fee for making changes on short notice.
Manage your utilities before the move
One last thing that can spare you the unneeded expenses is canceling your utilities on time. Before your moving services Northern VA arrive, consider canceling your cable and internet bills and starting fresh. Some companies might even allow you to transfer their services to your new home and have them installed there, so long as you return the old gadgets like routers and remote controllers. By doing this, you won’t have to pay for the same services twice!
Final words on money saving relocation tips
To sum up, what are the money saving moving tips we learned today? Hire some of the reliable professional movers Northern VA has. Know how to avoid fraudulent movers. Learn how to pack and when to pack your belongings. Look for the right time to schedule your move. Always have a plan B ready in case things go wrong. And last but not least, cancel your utilities so you won’t pay for the same service twice as much.
