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AS OWNER OF A LOCAL MOVING COMPANY FOR OVER 30 YEARS, here are some ideas to help you save for a local move.

They are:

-Finding the lowest price when choosing a mover. -Know what days movers are willing to wheel and deal on price. -Figure out the prices for moving material such as boxes, paper and tape. -Things you can do to prepare before your mover gets there. -Finding the right mover and paying a price that fits your budget. -When moving less than 100 miles, most likely you will get charged by the hour and the move will be done in one day.

Finding the lowest price when choosing a mover.

Local moving is usually 100 miles or less, is charged for by the hour, and often completed within the same day.When selecting local movers, research is key. The internet today provides many helpful tools that enable you to find qualified movers very quickly. Various review sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Yelp can help you narrow down your search to a few qualified movers. Movers that belong to the BBB and movers that belong to any state moving associations are good choices. The reason is because member movers value their reputations within these associations. You will rarely find bad movers or rogue movers that are affiliated with consumer or moving associations, because over time they would be exposed.

To get the best rates from movers, when you contact them, let them know you will be contacting a few other movers, and that budget is important. When movers know they are competing with other movers, they will tend to give the best rates and pricing. Ask them to email you their quotes and rates in writing. Be sure their quotes includes the list of items to be moved, along with access descriptions of each location. Actually read the quotes, as each mover may have different minimums, rates, terms, etc.

Negotiate Your Moving Date For Better Rates

The day of the week or day of the month you choose to move can often have an impact on your movers rates. High demand days for local movers are normally Fridays and Saturdays. Also, the last few days of each month and the first days of each month tend to be higher demand for movers. Movers have less incentive to give discounts on days where they know they will be busy. On the other hand, if you are able to schedule your move during lesser demand periods, you may be able to negotiate lower rates. Many movers actually give discounts for Mondays to Thursdays, or during the middle of each month.

Options For Moving Materials Such as Packing Paper, Boxes and Tape.

There are a number of options for finding cheap or free boxes. The quickest and cheapest sources for new moving boxes are Home Depot and Lowe’s. Within the last few years these stores have created small moving centers. Consumers can buy boxes at these locations almost as cheap as movers can buy the same boxes in pallet loads.

If you are looking for cheaper or even free boxes there are other options. Try going to Craigslist for your area and search for “free moving boxes”. You’ll be surprised how many sources there are. Another place to find cheap of free boxes is look for someone that is moving INTO your neighborhood. Introduce yourself and offer to take away their used cartons for free.

Another source to consider for cheap boxes is the local recycling center. They may sell you a carload or vanload of boxes by weight instead of by the box. And yet another source? When you see the guys driving around in their pickup trucks loaded with cardboard stacked 15 feet high, flag them down and offer to pay them $20 for some boxes. You may get as many as 50-100 boxes for this price, because it’s more than the recycling center will give them.

Being Prepared For The Movers Will Save You Money.

Local movers generally charge by the hour, so anything you can do yourself will save money. This includes tasks such as dismantling and reassembling beds, and taking care of any connections and reconnections of appliances such as washers or dryers or refrigerator icemakers. Also consider packing and moving yourself the small items such as boxes and lamps and stereos and pictures, etc.

A big way to save money is to have the mover move only the large items in your home. This may save a lot of money but will create a lot of work for you. You will have to move stuff like boxes, pictures, and lamps. Anything small you will be responsible to move on your own.

Another way to save money is to have all the boxes ready to go for the movers in the garage. Not only does it clear out the house but it makes it quick and easy to load them on the truck. At the destination you can have the mover place the boxes in the garage and you can unpack at your leisure. This may not be for everyone as it is hard work but it sure can save you bucks.

Bad Estimates and Surprise Moving Costs

No one likes to get a moving quote, then be surprised by charges on moving day that are far greater than the estimate. This often happens when the moving company does not have complete information to generate an accurate estimate.

The 2 most important factors for an accurate quote are: The list of items being moved, and the access at each location – for example, single story home vs. 10th floor apartment – certainly the apartment move will take far longer than the house move.

Sometimes if your move is small, an “in person” visit by a salesman is not necessary. Often times on small moves if you give a detail list of everything to be moved, (better to be in writing) you can simply get a quote back in less than an hour with your price. But you must be very thorough when describing what you would like moved. Just saying “I have a one bedroom apartment” will only end up confusing the estimator and possibly costing you more for the move when the movers arrive.

If your move is larger, say a 2 bedroom home or larger, request the mover come out and do a visual survey, then mail or email the quote to you. Of utmost importance is that the moving quote include a list of items to be moved, as this is the primary basis for the move cost. Insist they give you a copy of their shipper / mover pre move inventory of items to be moved.

These are just a few areas where you can save when doing a local move. But with proper planning and preparation and a willingness to do some of the work yourself, your savings can be significant.

It is important that when hiring local movers that you study and see if whether they are the right movers for you. If you need movers in Los Angeles, CA make sure to choose the right one because there are many of them.