How to Hire Movers & Stay Within Your Budget

​Whether you're moving locally or out of state, the idea of moving can lead to many a sleepless night. After all, you have a checklist of tasks ahead of you, not the least of which is moving all of your possessions to your new home. If you're on a tight budget, which is always likely these days, moving yourself can seem hopeless.  There's a lot of time, work,  and money is involved in relocating. Fortunately, its easy to minimize your anxieties and expenses by hiring movers within your budget. Below are several useful tips to help you find an experienced moving company without having to take out a loan to cover the cost.

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​Embrace the Idea of Using a Moving Company 

​For many people, the idea of completing a do-it-yourself move often comes to mind when first think about moving. After all, you should be able to pack a truck and do it on your own, right? You'll save money in the long run, right? In all honesty, unless you are experienced in how to packing fragile things or strong enough to lift  furniture for hours at a time, you might find yourself at a serious disadvantage when your actual moving day arrives. It takes a lot of time and effort to wrap delicate items correctly and box them, label the contents of each box, and carry it out to a moving truck or portable storage container. Hiring someone else to do it for you might seem to cost more money than toughing out on your own, but you'll save time and your back while simultaneously insuring that your furniture arrives safe and sound. 

Using a moving company makes sense for a variety of reasons including:

1. Professional movers understand the intricacies of packing and possess the skill and conditioning to move your things safely. 
2. Your items are generally insured as long as you choose this option when making your reservation. Most professional moving companies offer insurance options you can purchase. Alternatively, your homeowner's insurance may already provide coverage some of your things during the move, but it is essential for you to verify the details with your insurance company. However, you are less likely to discover broken items since they are in the hands of professionals with the skills needed to move them correctly.
3. Qualified movers makes things go smoothly and take far less time than if you did it on your own. A side benefit of having more time on your hands is that you can devote some of that time to things related to the moving process like canceling utilities, changing your address with the post office, and signing up for new services.
4. You don't need to worry about planning the route to your new home since you can just follow along behind the moving truck. 
5. Hiring professional movers gives you access to one-stop shopping. The movers can provide packing supplies, the truck, the fuel, and the moving muscle to complete the job. All you have to do is simply request the services you need or want and pay for only those services.

As you can see, hiring movers is within your budget because it eases the many of frustrations associated with moving. Plus, the only thing you'll have to lift will be your finger to dial the phone, since the moving company will do all of the work for you. 

​Call for Quotes 

​Although any quote you receive is more likely to be an estimate than the actual cost of hiring a moving company, it is important to call around and get a few quotes. Doing so provides a starting place when you are looking to hire the best movers within your budget. You can sidestep the ones that are outside of your budget and focus on calling only affordable moving companies. 
 
Also remember that you can negotiate prices in many cases. This is particularly true if you are only in need of loading and unloading a truck without the need for packing services. Furthermore, what furniture items you're moving specifically, can influence the cost of the overall move so don't be afraid to open up negotiations with the company in order to lower your costs. 
 
Obtaining a quote should be your first step in finding an affordable price simply because it gives you a standard to compare all other moving quotes. If an amount seems too low, it probably is. For the best results, you might want to start your search in the middle range of prices, particularly because you know you can most likely negotiate a deal.

Attempt to Negotiate Fees 

​It's important to be upfront and tell the moving company that you are working on a tight budget and looking to save as much money as possible on your actual moving costs. Doing so at the beginning of the conversation avoids the frustration of finding an experienced moving company that isn't within your budget. It also encourages open negotiation of the cost to move since both parties are fully aware of your financial situation.
 
You shouldn't be afraid to ask if any wiggle room exists in the quoted price. If you allow your discomfort to prevent you from asking, then you lose a valuable opportunity. Its always possible that the movers can offer you a discounted rate based on how many jobs they currently have on a particular date or how long each of the existing jobs are going to last. Plus, you might be able to lower your price if you helped with the move in some way such as packing your own items or moving the boxes and smaller things to the new location yourself. It never hurts to ask, and the worst that can happen is that you receive "no" for an answer.

Only Request the Services You Need 

Most moving companies offer a full array of services to accommodate the needs of each of their customers. Some customers need all of these services, while some people do not. In general, these companies can provide packing materials, packing services, the moving truck, and the labor for loading and unloading of the vehicle. However, no written or unwritten rule exists that states you must arrange to pay for each of these services. Plus, most professional movers adjust their pricing according to which services you decide to use.
 
Once you talk to the moving company, you should make clear, exactly, what services you need so that the quote you receive is as accurate as possible. If you only need help with packing up specific rooms, then you should just pay for those services. In fact, many moving companies suggest that you leave your clothing in bureau drawers rather than packing them separately. Doing so reduces the cost of your packing supplies, effectively lowering your overall cost of moving. Besides, the movers are strong enough to carry out furniture containing items in its drawers. However, you should keep in mind that anything stored on a shelf does require packing since it won't stay in place. 
 
Another example is that you might only need help with breakables, collectibles, and antiques, so you can arrange for custom crating services for those items while packing up non-breakables yourself. Not only can you lower your cost to pack your home up, but you might also gain access to better insurance rates if you have professional movers packing your valuables for your move.
 
It is essential to determine the packing services you need and want, in addition to the loading and unloading of the moving van, before you begin your negotiations. You might be surprised at the money you can save by doing so as well as by packing up part of your home on your own. In fact, customizing your moving services is one of the easiest ways to save money on this necessary expense.

​Consider Off-Peak Hours for Moving 

Moving companies go through busy periods as well as slow ones, so it is possible that you might be able to access cheaper rates if you plan your move accordingly. It's easy to understand why moving companies might be busier at certain times if you consider several factors, including:

1. Real estate sales are more active during the spring and summer than they are in the fall and winter, so those months are going to keep moving companies busy.
2. Many people prefer to move on the weekends since they do not need to take off from work.
3. Certain days of the month are busier than others, simply because rental agreements start at the beginning or middle of the month.
4. It is also possible that certain days of the week are busier than others for a specific moving company due to their employee schedules or days the business is open.

 
So, you might be able to hire the best movers within your budget by merely asking to move during one of their slower times. All it takes is a moment to ask, and you might save a lot of money by doing so. If you can arrange to move during the company's slowest times, it might make a higher-priced firm more affordable for your moving budget. 

​Request a Written Contract 

​One of the easiest ways to avoid extra fees is to simply get a written contract that outlines all of your costs. Not doing so places you at risk of having to pay for unexpected incidentals that can drive the cost of your move up in price. Reliable moving companies do not pad their bills by adding on extra charges at the end of the service. If the moving company you are considering refuses to provide you with a written contract, you might want to look for a different outfit to hire. Having a written contract guarantees that the price listed is what you are required to pay for these services. 

​Identifying the Best Movers within Your Budget 

​You should never consider only the lowest quotes when choosing the best movers within your budget for relocating your possessions. Whether you are taking a house full of furniture and personal items or only a small apartment's worth of things, your ability to find the most qualified movers is as important as locating the most affordable ones. 
 
With a low-end moving company, you might gain access to low prices, but you must consider what you are getting for your money. The packing materials might be of low quality, and the employees might not have the experience or skills needed to pack and move your possessions safely and without incident. Choosing a slightly higher priced company might save you money by avoiding many of the pitfalls of hiring individuals without the skills, materials, or desire to provide a quality moving job. 
 
To find the best movers within your budget, you should be prepared to ask for flexibility in services and costs. Many qualified movers are willing to negotiate their services with customers to come up with an arrangement that everyone is happy to consider. Professional moving companies understand that not everyone is going to require their full array of services, so they are more than willing to adjust their pricing by tailoring their moving packages to fit each customer's needs. If you want the best movers within your existing budget, you should be willing to ask questions and get your answers in writing. Moving should be an exciting experience, so you should try to minimize the stress associated with this scenario by getting what you need without paying more than you have to spend.