Easy Moving

9 Ways to Make Moving Day Easier on Your Movers (And Cheaper for You)

Tackling a move can be an intimidating and overwhelming process if you don’t plan and prepare accordingly. It can also be an expensive change. Research suggests the average cost of a local move taps in around $1200 and a long-distance move goes up from there.

That said, there are ways you can reduce your costs and make moving day a breeze. Here are a few tried and true tips:

Submit an early address change.

Strangely enough, the postal service sends a variety of moving discount codes and coupons once an address change is requested. However, if you wait until AFTER you’ve moved to submit the change, you’ll miss out on some of the associated savings. Consider submitting your address at least two weeks before your scheduled move date to cash out on this opportunity.

Pick the right date.

The first thing you’ll want to do is schedule your move. Moving on a random weekday is much less expensive than planning a move over a weekend or during the end of the month when movers are in high demand. If you can swing it, moving mid-week produces excellent cost savings.

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Ask around for packing supplies.

Moving can get quite expensive, but there are a few ways to make your hard-earned money go a little farther. For one, you can get all if not most of your packing materials for free. You need quite a few things like boxes, tape, wrapping materials, and a good sharpie to ensure that things don’t get broken during the move. If you are super organized and keep a list system, you will also need a notebook and labels. 

Packing supplies like boxes, bubble wrap, and tape can really add up, but you can usually get these for free pretty quickly. Instead of buying directly from a supply store, you can post an ad that you are looking for free boxes and packing materials, if you are on social media. You can also try asking your employer or call around to local stores and businesses to see when they get shipments in which ultimately means that they will have some to give away. Many companies are happy to help as the supplies will go to waste otherwise. You can use old crumpled newspapers as packaging or even other things you need to pack, such as scarves or dish towels.

Label everything.

Labeling boxes and keeping a master list of your items take more time but will make it much easier later. It may sound like an obvious step, but failing to do this can create a lot of confusion and extra work. When you get to your new home, you and your mover will know what belongs where. You can purchase labels at discount stores. Label kitchen boxes, “kitchen,” and so on so that you don’t have to look through countless boxes for your blender or much-needed items. Just a few simple steps will save you a lot of time later on. Additionally, it not only helps you keep track of your items but also better directs the movers.

Use suitcases for heavy items.

This trick can not only save you money on boxes, but it also makes the process easier for the movers. It’s much easier to lift and carry a suitcase with a handle than some of the more stiff moving boxes. Everyone wins!

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Research tax breaks.

Many moving costs are tax-deductible, but you’ll be required to submit your receipts with your return. Keep an organized stash close by and make sure you don’t miss out on this saving opportunity if you’re eligible.

Use trash bags for hanging items.

Trash bags are a handy moving tool. You can skip out on expensive wardrobe boxes, leave your clothing on the hanger, and roll! The trick is a quick and easy way to transport your clothes and makes unpacking a breeze.

Understand the fee structure.

Most moving companies charge by the hour, so it’s in your best interest to help the movers get in and out quickly. A cross country moving company, on the other hand, charges based on the weight of the shipment. You can start by breaking down large furniture or moving lighter boxes to a central location. Then, get out of the way!

Pack your meals.

When you’re in the middle of a move, ordering pizza or whipping through the drive-through is often the only option. However, if you plan your meals ahead of time, you can skip the added cost of eating out.

These are just a few of the many ways to maximize efficiency and reduce costs come moving day. With a little prep and planning, you can reap huge savings and enjoy the moving process a bit more. Good luck!

Packing Kitchen Stuff

How to Pack Kitchen Stuff When Moving to Another State

As moving day approaches, you’ll be consumed with going through all of your belongings and finding a way to pack everything up in time for your move. However, preparing your kitchen and all of the items inside it for your move can seem like a particularly challenging task. When moving, many people put off going through their kitchen until the last minute. This is because they aren’t sure how to go about properly preparing everything.

Read the following five tips to figure out how to ready the items in your kitchen for your move.

1. Sort Everything First

In order to make the entire kitchen packing process simpler, start by going through all of your items before packing them up. Be sure to sort through everything and see what should stay, what should go, and what should be given away. Selectively choose what you’ll need in your new home to make sure that you aren’t adding to your clutter.

When selecting the items you will keep, you should choose anything that you’ll need in your new kitchen. These include glasses, a core set of plates, utensils, and the like. Donate or dispose of other items.

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2. Have a Box of Essentials

Your kitchen needs to be packed up, but you will also need some kitchen essentials in the days leading up to your move. Be sure to have an essentials box nearby that includes the things you will need in the final days before and after your move.

Keep this separate from all the other boxes to make sure you have easy access to them.

3. Choose the Right Packing Material

When getting down to the nitty-gritty of packing up your kitchen, be sure you have all the necessary materials. That includes several medium-sized boxes or pots and pans, heavy duty boxes for fragile items like plates and glasses, unprinted newspaper to wrap around fragile items and sell kits to make packing glassware easier.

Moreover, you’ll need a fair amount of packing and sealing tape to keep all the boxes tightly sealed. If you want to go the extra mile, write “fragile” on all the boxes containing glassware and plates.

4. Clear Out the Pantry

Many people forget to pack the items in their pantry until the last minute. Make it a point to sort through your spices, canned goods, and everything else in your pantry to ensure that you haven’t forgotten anything. Be sure to properly seal any opened items like cereal, pasta, flour, and the like. Cheap Movers Philadelphia (cheapmoversphiladelphia.com) suggests donating non-perishable items to a local food bank, rather than lugging these heavy items with you across the country.

5. Get Your Appliances Ready

Moving with all of your kitchen appliances? Start preparing these items well before your move. At the very least, your larger appliances should be prepared no later than 24 hours before your time of departure.

If you find that you have trouble disconnecting or dismantling your appliances, contact a professional moving service.

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When it comes to packing these appliances, start by deciding how you will transport them. Appliances like fridges, stoves, and other bulky items should be properly wrapped with cardboard and bubble wrap to prevent any dings or damages during the move.

Preparing your kitchen for your move can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Try these five tips to make sure all of your appliances and kitchenware are ready for your move.

Moving Budget

How to Save Money and Keep Your Move Budget-Friendly

Moving is a challenge, particularly if you’re taking on a long-distance move or you have more than a few boxes to take with you. From the cost of supplies to prepare your home and belongings for the move to the expense of transporting everything to your new home, moving can get pretty pricey.

Moving on a Budget

Though you need a budget for moving, this doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune during the process. By planning strategically and creating a tight, yet realistic budget, you’ll be able to save as much money a possible during your move. Read on for five ways to make your move more affordable.

1. Analyze the cost of hiring a professional or going the DIY route.

Many people that are working with a budget during a move automatically assume that it will be easier if they do everything themselves. However, this isn’t always the case. A lot of times, people that try to sort through, pack up, and transport their belongings themselves end up overworked, injured, and with damaged items.

When considering the consequences and sweat equity that goes into doing everything yourself, it may be easier and more cost-effective to hire a professional. Do this by taking the time to research local moving companies thoroughly.

Keep in mind that even though you will be spending money to hire a moving company, you will be working with packing professionals that will be able to take care of every aspect of the moving process expertly.

Often, the easiest way to move on a budget is by drafting a plan and sticking to it. You know you’ll want to make sure to save up enough before a move. Determine the cost of hiring a professional mover as compared to a DIY relocation. Check out a list of expenses comparing the two options.

Cost Analysis for Hiring Professional Movers

  • Labor and fuel quote – Professional movers charge for labor and fuel in their basic moving quote. This quote will depend on the distance, peak surcharges, excess cargo, and storage services provided.
  • Relocation insurance – Moving companies offer a valuation for the household items in transit. This moving insurance acts as a cushion and pays for any loss or damage while moving the items.
  • Packing charges – A moving company like U-Haul provides boxes at a fee. Still, you can borrow packing materials from family and friends to cut on packing costs. Other packing items include bubble wrap, furniture covers, and bungee cords.
  • Additional services – These include cleaning, utility charges for installations, and tips.

Cost Analysis for a DIY Relocation

Apart from moving insurance and packing charges, here are costs that are unique to a DIY move.

  • Truck and equipment hire – The cost of renting a vehicle varies depending on the van’s size, fuel costs, and move duration. Further, you’ll need to hire equipment to move heavy furniture safely and efficiently.
  • Storage services – Relocating can be stressful and draining. You may want to find a self-storage unit to keep your stuff for some time as you rest.
  • Food – Are you getting help from friends and family? Factor in the cost of their snacks, lunch, or other meals for the entire duration.

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2. Don’t buy boxes.

Regardless of what you are moving, chances are you will need cardboard boxes to do it. While you can buy cardboard boxes easily, purchasing enough to contain all of your belongings will seriously set you back. Instead of buying brand new boxes, get creative, and find used ones.

When hunting for used cardboard boxes, start by asking friends and family members if they have any available.

Similarly, look around your office for any old boxes that aren’t being used. Be sure to keep an eye out as you are walking around town as you may find that certain businesses are throwing out their boxes.

3. Pay attention to the shut-down dates for your utilities.

Try your best to align your utility shutdown dates with the date you are moving out. If you can’t, you may want to consider shutting off the utilities earlier so that you don’t pay an extra month unnecessarily.

Thought it may slightly inconvenience you for the final days before your move, you will be able to minimize your budget that much more.

4. Ship your books with USPS.

Have a lot of books that you need to move? Don’t pack them with everything else. Instead, make use of the U.S. Postal Service when moving your books.

This will help you to keep your other boxes as light as possible while saving you a significant amount of money on shipping expenses by using USPS.

5. Look for discounts.

While this may be obvious for anyone trying to save money, it can be an easy tip to forget during a move. Save money by keeping an eye out for discounts before your move.

Looking for a place to stay? Need to save money on plane tickets? Try different websites like Airbnb and Skiplagged to get the most bang for your buck as you move.

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Moving isn’t easy or inexpensive, but it can be manageable. Make sure to stay within your moving budget by using these five tips for your next big move.