There are a lot of extra expenses that come with buying a house. You’ll have to account for legal fees, taxes, moving costs, realtor commissions, and even the expense of ordering out a bit more take out than usual, because you’re just too tired to cook (trust us, it happens). While we can’t help you with taxes and legal fees, today’ we’re going to tell you how to cut moving costs.
First, definitely hire a professional moving company to help your family relocate. Unless you’re a 20-something, have no kids, and a very reliable set of friends who will respect your possessions and your schedule, moving without professional help is going to give you a major headache. Simply ensure that moving expenses are a part of your budget from the beginning.
Most major moving companies charge an hourly rate of typically $80 – $150 an hour, with a minimum of around 6 hours of work. Of course, as with many things, prices can be higher or lower, depending upon where you live.
No matter what the rate is in your hometown, there are several ways that you can cut costs on your move. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Hire a Reputable Moving Company
Every profession has its bad apples, and moving is no different. The best way to avoid selecting a bad mover is to work with a company that is part of a reputable network of movers. They are usually rigorously trained and must adhere to certain corporate standards.
While it can be tempting to hire the “cheap movers with the handwritten sign”, you also run the risk of shady business practices and damaged belongings.
Ask Where They are Located
Learning the location of your moving company will help you save money. As we’d mentioned, most moving companies charge by the hour, and this INCLUDES travel time to get to your house. In Ontario, if you happen to live in Whitby but your moving company is headquartered in Mississauga, on a high traffic day, that distance could cost you around $100.
Move Boxes as Close to the Front Door as Possible
Again, the goal is to make the move as quick and easy as possible for your movers. So, it’s a good idea to get as many of your boxes and smaller bits of furniture as close to the front door as possible. A great way to do this is to designate a living room or other space as your packing storage zone. Store everything in that room till it’s time to move. That way your movers won’t have to waste time going up and down stairs.
Buy a Packing Kit
The moving service itself isn’t the only moving costs you’ll need to consider prior to your move. Believe it or not, the cost of boxes, paper, bubble wrap, tape and other moving supplies can really ad up. So save yourself some cash and the gas you’ll burn making multiple trips to Home Depot and purchase a ready-made packing kit. Home improvement stores and several self-storage companies sell bundles of boxes (in multiple sizes) along with the other products you need to pack up. Oftentimes, the cost of the kit comes out to being less than if you were to purchase the supplies separately.
Ready to get moving? Browse the listings here on eieihome.com to find local movers in your area.
