Whether you are moving locally or long distance, we have covered many ways to save money on your move, you can check out this article or 75 Ways to Save Time and Money on Your Long Distance Move to give you some help when it comes to keeping a close knit on your hard earned cash when relocating to another place.  Whether you are using professional movers or not these are some easy tip to help you save some cash.

DIRECTION AND PREP

1. MOVE YOURSELF:  Moving yourself is not always the cheapest way to go.  If you decide to go this route, make sure you have enough help, and the proper equipment.
2. RENTING A TRUCK:  If you are renting a truck, make sure you reserve the truck with plenty of time ahead of you, and confirm your reservations beforehand.  Also check with the truck rental company to see if there is a mileage charge along with the daily rate.
3. HAVE FURNITURE READY TO GO:  The more you have ready to go (like beds taken apart, mirrors off dressers, etc, this will save you on time for moving day).  A lot of movers charge on an hourly basis, and if you are doing your move yourself, this will speed things up for you.
4. ELECTRONICS:  Have electronics unplugged about 24 hours ahead of time; make sure that they are at room temperature before moving.
5. TOSS OLD PAPERS:  Don’t move junk paper, discard any old newspapers, mail, trash, as this adds more time to packing, make sure you purge.
6. CLOTHING:  If you don’t wear it, don’t move it, you can donate or discard, if it is in good enough condition someone will benefit from it.
7. KIDS TOYS:  Kids can end up with a lot of unnecessary junk; this is a good way to get your child involved with giving to other kids and helping others out.
8. ADULT TOYS:  If there are items like exercise equipment, old rugs, games, etc that are not being use and taking up space, donate or discard.  You don’t need to move what you don’t use; this will only add time to your move which in the long run means money.
9. GARAGE ITEMS:  If it’s a lawn tool, or equipment that you haven’t used in 6 months, get rid of it, or donate, items that are just taking up space can always be rented or purchased at your new location instead of worrying how you are going to move it.
10. FOOD:  Try to use up all your food the month before you move that way you do not have to worry about any of it going to waste.
11. DONATE OR SELL:  Any items that are not going to be used can be sold on the internet like on Craig’s List, E Bay, Local charities will take furniture, and clothes, or to the curb is the final option.
12. SWING-SETS/TRAMPOLINES/OUTDOOR TOYS:  Try to sell these items or leave these items for the new homeowners this will save you costs on moving.  If it is necessary that you take these items with you, have them taken apart before hand or make sure to include with your quote when your mover comes to give you an estimate.
13. POOL TABLES:  Hire a 3rd party service when it comes to moving your pool table.  There are specialty pool table movers that will handle this for you, and will also set up at your new location if you are taking it with and not leaving the pool table for the new buyers
14. HOT TUBS:  Have them drained and ready to go.  If you are hiring a mover, make sure they move hot tubs and they know ahead of time, so it is included with your moving costs.  Some movers will require you to get a 3^rd party to move these.
15. MUSIC INSTRUMENTS:  Have your instruments tuned after the move, to avoid you paying for it twice.
16. HAZARDOUS AND FLAMMABLES NOT ALLOWED:  Do not assume your mover will take bleach, flammables, hazardous items, dispose of them ahead of time; it is against the law for movers to take these items.
17. GARAGE SALE/ESTATE SALE/MOVING SALE:  You will find many people come to sales, especially with a down economy, check with your city to see if a permit is required.
18. POOLS:  Do not move your pool; these can be a great hassle for most people.
19. CLEAN:  Have your old home cleaned before the new tenants move in or owners.  This includes carpets, appliances, etc this can save you extra fees at the end, and it’s always a good idea to hire a cleaning service, they know exactly what to do, and can save you time.
20. LEAVE SHELVES OR THINGS THAT ARE MOUNTED TO THE WALLS:  You don’t want to have holes in your walls for the new people who will be residing at your location.  This will also save you costs on repairs.

ORGANIZATION

1. BOXES/CONTAINERS SELF PACKED:  If you’re not using a mover to pack your containers, make sure your containers are ready to go, sealed and labeled with destination room along with contents of the box.  Also mark “fragile” if the box contains breakables.
2. MAKE SURE CARTON ARE CLOSED:  Make sure boxes have a lid or top on them so they are able to be stacked in the truck, this will save you time if you are using movers or moving yourself.
3. USED BOXES:  You can get recycled boxes from grocery stores, friends, family, and neighbors.  Sometimes a moving company will sell used boxes for cheaper prices than new ones.  Shop around.  This will save you some money.
4. BLANKETS/PADS:  Use quilts or blankets for wrapping your furniture to protect your furniture, especially if you don’t have movers to wrap the items for you, and so you don’t have to purchase or rent them, use ones that you already have.
5. WARDROBE BOXES:  Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes.  Most movers will rent inexpensively or include for free.
6. LEAVE CLOTHING IN DRESSERS:  Make sure your dressers are not overstuffed, no loose items, no valuables and nothing that will rattle around in your drawers to avoid loss or damage.
7. EMPTY DESK CONTENTS:  You do not want anything that will rattle around or that can fall through the drawers, no valuables, etc.
8. MOVE YOUR OWN VALUABLES:  Do not have movers take a box with jewelry or high value items, unless you do a high value inventory, they are not liable for missing valuable items, because if they do not pack, they do not inspect the boxes and open them up to see what is inside.
9. FILE CABINETS:  Lateral file cabinets-remove all files. If they are 2 drawers or 4 drawers- it is always a good idea to empty the top 2 drawers to avoid them from buckling in.
10. FLOOR PLAN:  Know where you will be putting your furniture and your new location, you may want to measure ahead of time to make sure items like overstuffed couches, etc will fit in stairways, homes, etc.
11. MEDICINE:  Don’t pack your medicine, and have it with you, also have backup refills available.
12. AVOID 411 CALLS:  Try 1-800-free-411 or use a phone book, or internet to save you on costs.
13. DO WALK THROUGH WITH THE LANDLORD OR BUYERS:  This will help you avoid extra fees or any glitches at the end.  Take pictures if necessary to confirm condition.
14. NOTIFY SERVICE PEOPLE OF DISCONTINUING SERVICE:  Notify service people like lawn, cleaning, pool, that you are moving and make sure to pay the final bill.
15. COLLECT SECURITY DEPOSITS:  You don’t want to forget about this especially if one is due to you.
16. KEEP CHARITY RECEIPTS, AND MOVING EXPENSES:  You may be able to write some of this stuff off at the end of the year, keep track of what is what.
17. HOME IMPROVEMENTS:  Keep track of any home improvement that is made, you can also write some of this off at the end of the year.
18. CANCEL OR TRANSFER SUBSCRIPTIONS:  This is good whether it’s a newspaper, magazine, voting, etc
19. CANCEL OR SELL MEMBERSHIPS:  You may have a gym membership or library card, etc that can be canceled or sold, make sure you contact the appropriate party.
20. TRANSFER ALL LEGAL DOCUMENTS:  Bills, driver’s license, etc, this will save you in the end.
21. CLOSE OR TRANSFER ACCOUNTS:  This includes bank accounts, safety deposits, insurance policies, etc
22. CHECK HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE OR RENTERS:  Know what is covered and what is not, this can help you make the correct insurance decision if you are using a professional mover.

THE MOVER AND LOGISTICS

1. SELECTING A MOVER:  Allow enough time, and do your research so you know what options are out there.  Make sure you know your state laws when it comes to local moves.
2. GET MULTIPLE MOVING QUOTES:  You can compare pricing and quality and what each mover has to offer.
3. BE ACCURATE:   The more information you provide to your mover, the more accurate the quote is, get an in home estimate.
4. PEAK SEASON VS. NON PEAK SEASON:  Different times of year are less expensive, winter is generally a cheaper time for most movers, so your rates may be less at this time, also some moving companies charge  more on weekends than during the week, and some companies charge more at the end of the month, then in the middle.
5. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PETS:  Have a place for your pet during the move, or have them in a temp boarding place.
6. ARRANGEMENTS FOR KIDS:  Keep your children out of harm’s way, have a babysitter, nanny or have them stay at a relative’s to keep them from getting injured.
7. TOO MANY FREEBIES:  Be careful of a mover who is offering too many freebies, if it sounds too good to be true, most likely it is.
8. GET REFERRALS:  Use companies that others have used, and you have heard good things about, if it is price you are concerned about, sometimes going the more expensive route is cheaper in the long run.
9. LARGER FURNITURE:  When using a moving company, you can save costs by letting the movers take the larger pieces and you move all the smaller items, like boxes, lamps, pictures, etc.
10. BOXES ON MAIN LEVEL:  Have all your boxes on the main level and ready to go, this will speed up the time of your move.
11. AGENDA:  Have a plan for move day, closings, picking up truck rental, what time your movers will arrive, babysitters, etc.
12. UTILITIES:  Notify all services of shut off dates and turn on dates, and have appointments scheduled.
13. FLOOR PROTECTION:  Have floor protection put down during your move to avoid damage, scratches, etc.  Rosin paper for hardwood, and plastic carpet shield for carpet can be found at home improvement stores.
14. CLEAR PATH:  Have a clear path on move day for movers to get in and out of your house and nothing blocking access to the doors to the truck, this will speed up the time of your move.
15. CLOSE PARKING FOR TRUCK:  Have a close parking space for the truck; the further the truck has to be from your home, the longer your move will take.
16. ROUTE:  Plan your route from point A to B, check for closures, bridge heights, etc.
17. ELEVATOR RESERVATIONS:  Make sure you have elevator reservations confirmed and set, and let the building know when your move date is, some buildings will pad elevators, and some may require a deposit for the movers or you to move stuff in and out..
18. SATELLITE SYSTEMS AND TV MOUNTS:  These are cheaper to leave, then having to uninstall and have them hooked back up.
19. MOVE YOU’RE OWN FRAGILE ITEMS:  Move your own items like artwork, pictures, and lamps, since these items can require special handling, and increased costs.
20. GET TIME OF ARRIVAL FOR MOVERS:  Find out what time your mover will be starting as specific as possible, traffic can be a factor depending on the time of day that the mover starts.
21. CHECK LAWS:  For local moves and if you’re using a mover, check state laws to see if flat rates or guaranteed not to exceed prices are available.
22. PAYMENT TERMS:  See if the mover has different incentives for payment terms.  Surcharges for credit cards, or cash discounts if they exist.
23. PROVIDING DRINKS:  Having drinks (water, sports drinks) and lunch can make the move more efficient with less starts and stops.  It also can build a good rapport with the crew. Believe it or not, how much the crew likes you can make a difference.
24. GRATUITY:  Tipping although not mandatory is customary.  Don’t be pressured into tipping but if on a multiple day move, tipping part on the front end, and part on the back can build a rapport also.  Have cash on hand before the end of the move.  Most movers and moving companies don’t want tips on credit cards or the extra step of a personal check.  This again will show a friendlier attitude.
25. PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS:  Protect your rights at the end of the move.  Sign all necessary documents.  Get copies of inventories.  Ask your company if they have a Rights and Regulations guide (which all movers should provide you with one).
26. DO A WALK THROUGH:  When doing a final walk through of your home with the movers, make sure all items are reassembled and where you want them to be, or if you are reassembling yourself, make sure you have all the parts before the mover leaves.   Do a walk through with the crew leader to check furniture, walls, floor condition.  Any damages or missing items should be listed on the inventories or bill of lading; this doesn’t insure any remedy but doesn’t hurt.  The type of insurance you took with the mover does play a part but documenting damages, etc. helps assign responsibility.
27. INSPECT THE VEHICLE:  This can help show that nothing has been left behind.