By the time you’ve found a new home, signed the paperwork, and sorted out the financing, you’ve already spent plenty. The move itself is the last bill anyone wants to see grow. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to keep it in check.
Two decisions do most of the work when you want to cut moving costs. The first is choosing your resources wisely, and the second is timing the move right. Get both of those right and the savings tend to follow on their own.
Isaac’s Moving and Storage has over 28 years of industry experience moving households, and the advice below comes straight from that work. If you’re still in the early planning stage, our ultimate moving checklist is a good place to start before you read on.
Proven Ways to Save Money on Your Move
Cutting moving expenses starts well before moving day. The choices you make about who handles the heavy lifting, when you book, and what you bring along all shape the overall cost. The sections below break each of those choices down.
Be Resource Smart: Factor in Hidden Costs of DIY vs Hiring a Moving Company
Here’s the part that surprises most people; hiring professional movers can prove to be often cheaper than renting a moving truck and doing the trip yourself with a few friends. The DIY route looks thrifty on paper, then the rental fees, fuel, insurance, and lost weekend add up fast.
Real savings are with experienced movers. A professional crew knows how to pack furniture and fragile items so they arrive intact, which helps cut down on breakage and loss. Movers also arrive with equipment the average garage doesn’t hold, large ramps and dollies among them, and they carry the packing materials a household needs.
Packing on your own can carry the same hidden costs. Boxes and supplies bought one trip at a time from a retail store cost more than most people expect, and a crew that packs homes every day can get the job done in a fraction of the time.
For international moves or very long distances, professional moving companies become the sensible choice. Organizing that kind of logistics on your own is a heavy lift.
A good moving company can give you advice ahead of time on avoiding unnecessary expenses and planning the move well. We keep a handy list on how to prepare for your move, and our article on saving money while moving covers more ways to save as you go.
Get Your Timing Right
Timing is one of the details people tend to forget about, and it can have the biggest impact. Booking during off peak times can get you cheaper billing rates, less traffic on the road, and faster service. Moving companies see demand swing with the calendar the way most businesses do, and planning far in advance lets you land on the dates when rates dip. A mid week move often comes with lower rates than a weekend one.
Early planning pays off in a second way. It gives you room to start packing whenever you like, which spares you the cost and chaos of a last-minute scramble. Most moving companies carry the packing equipment you’re likely to need, so there’s little reason to overspend on supplies.
Declutter Before You Pack
A lighter load costs less to move, so use your lead time to spring clean the house. Every item you sell or donate before moving day is weight you don’t pay to transport, and there’s little sense in paying to haul something across the country only to give it away at the new home. Fewer items means fewer boxes and less labor on the day itself.
Garage sales and Facebook Marketplace are quick outlets for unwanted items still in good condition. Decluttering early helps keep hidden costs out of your budget.
Cut Moving Costs With Isaac’s Moving & Storage
Over 28 years of moving households has taught the Isaac’s Moving and Storage team where the savings hide, and we put that experience to work on every job we take. Our customer return and referral rate reflects how our past customers felt about the value they got.
We handle every move with the same care we’d want for our own. The estimate costs nothing, which makes it an easy first step toward a cheaper move. If you have a move coming up, leave your information below and an Isaac’s Moving & Storage team member will be in touch with you shortly, or contact us today for a free estimate.
