Let’s be realistic, no matter what way you look at it, a long-distance move can be expensive. In fact, it can be one of the most expensive parts of moving. We understand that life is full of expenses, and we want to give you all the secrets and tips for saving money on a long-distance move.
Not only can you save money on a small budget move, or regrouped move, but if you follow our tips you can save on any long-distance move you are about to make.
Tips for Saving Money on A Long-Distance Move from the Experts
Take it from us, we have assisted with hundreds, maybe thousands of long-distance moves. We know the tips for saving money on a long-distance move.
1. Get rid of things you don’t need
No matter how organized you may be, we all have things in our homes that we no longer use and no longer need. There’s a big difference between an organized person and a full-fledged hoarder. But we all have things that are just taking up space in our places.
Getting rid of unneeded things is the number one tip for saving money on a long-distance move. You can give things away to the less fortunate, which always makes people feel good knowing your things are going to a better home where they will be used and possibly cherished. If you are really bogged down by your things, you can resort to throwing them away. If you are overwhelmed, there is no harm in just throwing your unused items in the trash.
People can oftentimes feel paralyzed by the amount of "stuff" they have in their possession. Try your best to give things away, recycle or sell your items. But at the end of the day, if you need to throw things in the trash, just do it. You will have fewer things to fight with during your long-distance move. It will require fewer boxes, less manpower, and even a smaller truck to move a smaller amount of things. This is one of our best tips for saving money on a long-distance move.
2. Use Smart Packing Techniques
When it comes to packing, using smart packing techniques is the best way to save money. First of all, use properly sized boxes. This is important. You don't want to have a large box filled with too many things, as this can make the box too heavy and awkward to move.
Put heavier items at the bottom of the box and then lighter items on top. Also packing items from the same room will make unpacking less of a chore on the other side.
Start packing up the least used room. For example, pack up your spare bedroom first. Leave the most used rooms for last, as the last thing you want to deal with while moving is having to unpack a box to find something you need.
Pack your everyday necessities in a suitcase rather than a box, that way you can easily access these things when you need them. This includes packing a few outfits and sleepwear so you can have these things handy during the move-out and move-in days.
Also keep important documents like a will, passports, insurance, and birth certificates with you during your move. You don't want to face an emergency and not be able to access important documents or worse, risk losing these valuable items. This goes for valuable items as well. Keep precious jewelry or important family heirlooms with you if you can.
Using smart moving techniques is one of our best tips for saving money on a long-distance move. It helps you to efficiently use the fewest number of boxes, taking up the least amount of space on a moving truck. If done correctly, you could even select a smaller-sized truck to handle your move. This can end up saving you hundreds of dollars on your long-distance move.
3. Reuse packing material
We always suggest using the highest quality moving materials you can afford. However, if you are on a tight budget, reusing packing material is a way to save you money on a small budget move.
If you don’t have any boxes of your own, try reaching out to friends and family to see if anyone has any extra boxes. Some people break down boxes and keep them in their garage for this exact reason.
If you don't have any luck with friends and family, you can try social media. Put out a Facebook or Instagram post. You can also try an online classifieds site like Kijiji. These are packing materials you will need in a small budget move:
- Boxes of various sizes
- Newspapers to wrap fragile items
- Old blankets or towels to protect furniture
- Packing tape
If you are using old boxes, it is important to use the best quality packing tape you can afford. You don’t want to risk having a box rip apart and damage your items. These are just a few tips for saving money on a long-distance move.
4. Regrouped Move
Another great option for a small budget move is to do a regrouped move. This allows you to share the cost of a moving truck with others moving to the same location. A regrouped move requires a bit of flexibility on your part, as we will pick up your boxes, furniture, and other items on the day of your request, however, we will not move these items to their final destination until the truck is full.
With a regrouped move you may end up waiting a few weeks before your items can be delivered to your new home or office. If you have the ability to be flexible, a regrouped move is an excellent choice for a small budget move.
5. Move During Off-Season
The last of our tips for saving money on a long-distance move is to choose to move during the off-season. Depending on where you are moving from and to, off-seasons can be at different times.
Typically, the busiest season is during the summer months as kids are off school and the weather is better (especially in Canada). April through September tends to be the peak season for most moving companies. If you can pick your moving date, select a time that is less busy to save money on your long-distance move.
