A Lucky 13 List of Ways to Cut Your Moving Costs

By Relocation.com Staff

Because of rising fuel costs and a shortage of drivers, the cost of a full-service move has risen in the past few years. Anything you can do yourself -- even if seemingly small -- will help cut your bill and give you extra money to spend on other relocation costs (like the pizza and beer for after your move).

1.For Every Season: You will save money if you can be flexible on your move time. Avoid June, July, and August -- those are the most expensive months to move because of greater demand for full-service moving companies. Year-round, try to play your move during the middle of the month -- rates are higher at the beginning and the end of the month because of the large number of apartment leases that have month-end dates. If you can be flexible with your move-in times, that can also save you money because the moving company may be able to combine shipments; however, ask yourself how long you can go without your stuff.

2.Do You Really Need That? Because most long-distance moves are based on the weight of your shipment, evaluate the need to move certain heavy items. Check areas of your home for items that have not been used for a long time and simply get rid of them -- if you don't use them, why pay for them to be moved to new place where you won't use them all over again? Sell it on eBay, have a garage sale, or donate it to charity and take a tax write-off.

3.Know What You Own: Decide what items you want to ship and what will be discarded. Inspect your home from top to bottom before the move consultant arrives, and be certain the mover has marked all items that are "going" and "not going" on the survey sheet. Keep in mind that if you change the number of items you move, the total cost of your move will change. Inform the mover of any changes -- effective communication is a key factor for a successful move.

4.Pack It Yourself: Packing services performed by the mover are often as expensive as the transportation cost itself. Even if you are having your goods packed by the mover, there are some ways of saving money. For example, items that are nonbreakable such as linens and bedding can be packed easily without the risk of damage. Most movers will be happy to do a partial pack of your goods, and every carton you pack yourself is more money in your pocket.

5.Save on Packing Luggage and duffel bags are perfect for packing sheets, towels and clothing. Also, the bottoms of wardrobe boxes are great for bulky, lightweight items. Use that space. Be wary of packing tips that might save you money initially but won't protect your stuff -- for example, using newspaper instead of bubble wrap. Sure, it might save a few bucks, but in the end, is breaking something worth it?

6.Stock Up Make sure you have plenty of boxes and materials so you don't have to keep making trips to buy more. You'll probably need more than you anticipate, so buy extra. If you're buying from moving companies, you might be able to return the boxes you don't use.

7.Is There a Disconnect? Movers do not generally disconnect or reconnect appliances such as washers and dryers. It can be costly to have a third-party do it, so if you or someone you know can do it, you can save a lot of money.

8.Break It Down As you would expect, every service that you have a professional mover perform will come with an additional cost. If you have items that are located at a storage unit or at another location, you should try to move those items to your home to avoid extra pick-up charges. Most items that need to be disassembled, like beds, can be done so by the mover. However, other items such as exercise equipment, outdoor gym and play sets require extra labor, and will cost you more. Whenever possible, disassemble and reassemble these yourself.

9.Time is Money Color-code the boxes according to the room they belong in so they all end up in the same place, saving time for both you and your mover.

10.I Am the Tax Man If it's for business reasons, your move may be tax-deductible. Keep all receipts and ask a professional.

11.Are You Insured? Your existing homeowners insurance policy might cover your move so you don't have to buy additional moving protection. Ask your agent.

12.Doing Without Between the time your stuff is loaded into the truck and you get moved in, think of everything you might need so you don't have to buy it on the road, perhaps in some run-down truck stop along the Interstate.

13.Just Ask If you have a tight budget, have a conversation with your moving company when you get your moving quote. Many can find ways to work with you and there may be other things that you can do yourself to help reduce the total cost. Most moving companies want your business and will strike an appropriate balance between services provided and costs to meet your budget. Have any more ideas? We'd love to hear about them at Relocation.com. Click here to send us an email.