Moving is never an easy process, and it can be pricey, too. There are tons of costs involved in safely transferring your possessions from one home to another, so for most people, moving conjures up an image of exhausting labor and excessive spending. However, there are various ways to minimize your moving budget without risking damage to your items.
Many people assume that doing everything themselves will be cheaper than hiring professional movers, but this is not necessarily the case. Considering the prices of U-Haul trucks, professional movers may be an affordable alternative that eliminates the hard labor you’d otherwise have to put in. Looking for cheap professional movers in Houston? Get a quote to find out just how inexpensive they can be.
When browsing professional movers in Houston, do your research. Nearly every company has an internet presence, and online reviews can provide valuable information about a business. You can also check the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records system. Make sure to gather quotes from various places, and if you move during the off season (fall and winter), you may even be able to haggle up to 30% off the price. Finally, always make sure to disassemble your IKEA furniture yourself, as it’s easy work and can save you a pretty penny.
If you’re still leaning toward the DIY path, plan it right. An easy way to save some money during your DIY move in the best city in America, Houston, is to avoid rush hour. In addition to reduced stress, moving during slower times of the day will give you better gas mileage. If you’d like to strike a balance between DIY and the professional route, opt for a portable storage unit. You simply load the unit, the company transports it to your new home, and you unload it once it’s there. This is an easy way to save a few bucks and some hard physical labor.
BYOB (bring your own boxes)
You can’t move without boxes. That’s why various moving companies in Houston will try to charge unnecessarily high fees for them. But don’t fall for such ploys: You can easily accumulate boxes for free.
Here are some simple strategies:
Gathering boxes from your office at work
Asking friends or posting a request on social media
Browsing Freecycle or Craigslist’s Free section
Asking the local liquor store for some free boxes
There are also box rental services available for budget movers looking to save the hassle of getting rid of all the boxes following the move. In this setup, you get boxes delivered to your current house, and once you’ve moved and unpacked, they’ll pick them up again from your new place. If you’re looking for a cheap and eco-friendly way to pack, incorporate box rental into your moving plan.
Save on your utility bills by cutting them off early
If you’re stuck with a utility company that refuses to prorate your bills to fit your departure date, you can save some money by cutting off service early. It’s up to you to decide what’s unimportant enough to live without for a couple weeks before your move, though.
Lighten your load
Want to move cheaply in Houston? Have fewer things. It’s that simple! You likely don’t need everything you have, so selling or donating some of your possessions not only garners you some extra cash but also reduces the number of things you’re moving and their weight, which movers use to determine their fees.
In terms of furniture, take some measurements to make sure what you’re moving will actually fit into your new place. If your bulky furniture simply won’t fit, find out in advance to avoid wasting the money and effort of moving it.
Move your books via USPS
Furniture aside, some of the heaviest objects during a move are books. The first way to shave expenses is to donate or sell the ones you don’t need. As for the ones you can’t part with, use the U.S. Postal Service’s Media Mail service to cheaply transport your books to your new abode.
You’ll have to wait a little for them to arrive, but the savings are worth it: Through this system, you can send a twenty-pound box of books for a mere ten to twenty dollars. If you complement this with other cheap moving services in Houston, your overall move won’t be so expensive.
Know how to wrap your delicate items
Movers wishing to do everything cheaply often recommend wrapping breakable items in extra clothing, bed sheets, towels, and other such things. However, there’s a hidden cost to this strategy, as it generates a massive amount of laundry—several loads—which is not only a nuisance but also expensive in terms of detergent and electricity (or exorbitant laundromat fees).
Instead of clothing and linens, newspapers and other recycled paper can easily do the job of padding your valuables. Just be careful not to use newspaper with anything that could be stained, as the ink may rub off.
Moving isn’t easy, but there are surefire ways to reduce your expenses. Wherever you’re moving inside or outside of Houston, we can connect you with reasonably priced Houston-based movers who are ready to help you on your journey.
Want to see how cheaply you can move? We offer free quotes!