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Moving Tips

7 Effective Strategies to Stay On Budget When Moving Long Distance

Moving long distance is stressful and expensive. Setting a budget for the move allows you to keep costs on track. Here are seven effective strategies for keeping your long-distance move on a budget.

1. Use Free Moving Boxes and Supplies

Start collecting moving boxes and supplies as soon as you know you will be moving. Check Craigslist and other online forums for free moving boxes. Many people give them away after they finish unpacking. Check liquor stores for sturdy boxes. See if family and friends might have some boxes tucked away in the attic.

2. Move at Off-Peak Times

Movers have busy times and not-so-busy times. You will pay premium prices if you choose to move during one of their peak times. If possible, move between September and May to avoid the summer moving crowd. Avoid holidays or the end of the month.

Have the movers arrive in mid-week instead of the weekend. Families tend to move over weekends due to school and work obligations. Weekends are prime time.

Book the movers as soon as possible. Last-minute moves come at a premium price.

3. Ask Family and Friends

Ask your family and friends for recommendations on professional movers, especially if they’ve moved recently. Also, ask about any negative experiences they had.

See if your family and friends can help with packing. An extra set of hands, even for a few hours, will make a difference. See if they can babysit the kids or pets on moving day to make things go smoother.

4. Declutter and Downsize

Only pay for what you need to take with you. As you pack, start getting rid of the stuff you no longer need or want. Get rid of stained or broken items. See if family and friends can use what you don’t need. Sell the rest or donate to charity.

5. Get Multiple Quotes

You want a minimum of three quotes for the move. Ask each mover for a binding estimate. Then compare the quotes carefully. Getting three quotes from a site like Cheap Movers Houston allows you to see what the average price of moving is and if one offers a better value than most. Look through the terms and conditions carefully. You don’t want a nasty surprise with hidden fees and costs.

6. Pack Everything Yourself

Getting movers to pack your belongings is expensive. Do the work yourself. Start with the less used items first. Work room-to-room. Label everything. Take a count of the boxes before they go on the truck.

7. Travel Cheap

Moving long-distance means you have to get your family there along with your belongings. Prepare to travel cheap. Bring a cooler with drinks and snacks. Buy the stuff to make sandwiches and other easy-to-make meals, so you can avoid the cost of eating out regularly. Stay with family along the way to cut down on accommodation costs.

Packing Tips

8 Items That You Should Not Pack When Moving State-to-State

During a move, you are advised to separate your belongings into things that stay with you during the move, items to discard or donate, and things to pack. So, here’s a list of things to leave behind:

1. Furniture that won’t fit in your new home

Your pre-visit should give you a precise idea of what will fit in and what won’t find space in the new house. If you are downsizing your house, chances are some furniture won’t fit into your new space. You could sell or give them out and avoid carrying bulky furniture that you won’t use in your new house.

2. Perishables

There’s no point in transporting perishable food that may go bad along the way. You could donate the food or invest in a cooler large enough to store your ice cream and soft drinks for the long-distance move.

3. Flammables

Flammable or corrosive products can get hazardous when not stored appropriately. Products such as matches, gasoline, pesticides, and acid can combust under pressure or even leak. Consider disposing of these products instead of risking an issue. Also, this interstate moving service points out that movers will not transport these items!

4. Clutter

You might want to simplify your move and cut down the moving expenses by de-cluttering anything in your home that no longer serves its purpose. It could include old clothes, furniture, shoes, electronics, and art, among others. In a huge garbage bag, move from room to room, collecting any item that you no longer use. You could choose to either discard or donate the items.

5. Garage junk

The majority of homeowners make their garages a junkyard for things that don’t belong to the house. You should not load potentially dangerous materials in the moving truck such as paint, insecticides, fertilizer, etc. Dispose of the garage junk appropriately.

6. Certain cleaning supplies

Cleaning supplies such as bleach and ammonia become useless and potentially dangerous when exposed to sunlight and certain temperatures in the moving truck. Due to congestion, these are likely to spill and cause damage to adjacent items. You might want to leave the cleaning supplies behind and preserve your stuff in dry conditions.

7. Fire extinguishers

We know that you are striving hard to maintain the safety of your new home, which includes investing in a new fire extinguisher. Do not get funny ideas trying to sneak your old fire extinguisher in the moving truck. Like flammables, extinguishers may build up pressure, eventually blowing up. Leave them behind for the new tenants or donate them for charity.

8. Liquor

Typically, liquors are in highly fragile glass bottles. Secondly, alcohol is flammable when exposed to fires. Thirdly, it is a liquid that may stain or damage other belongings when spilled. Before you consider packing that entire cabinet of liquor, ask yourself if it’s worth the risk. You could throw a farewell party and minimize the likelihood of including the liquor stock in the moving truck.

Packing for a Move

Differentiating between what to pack and what not to pack can get confusing. This piece, in conjunction with some professional advice from your moving company, may help you straighten out the details for a safer and stress-free move.