6 Tips for How to Find Affordable Moving Services
It’s hard enough to find a home in today’s world. It’s even harder to pack up your life to move to another location.
That’s why so many people rely on movers to help the process. It’s why the moving industry has a market size of $18.5 billion.
However, not all moving services have an affordable price, so you need to research to find the more affordable options. Keep reading to learn six tips to help you find affordable moving services.
1. Check for the Right Licenses
You might be able to get a better deal if you buy from a mover without licensing, but that doesn’t mean they can handle the job. Depending on how far you have to move, you need to have a specific skill set.
A license tells you how qualified a mover is for the job. Take moving out of state, for instance. You need a license to handle long-distance moves across the country.
The same is true if you’re moving internationally. You need to understand the laws of both countries and have a license to handle the move. Before hiring a moving service, make sure they have the proper licensing.
2. Don’t Move During Peak Times
There are times during the year when movers have more business. Moving is seasonal, so there are specific times when moving is more in demand. That’s why movers charge higher prices during those times.
If you want to cut your costs and not sacrifice quality, try to schedule your move during off-peak moving time. Since there is less demand during those times, you won’t get charged as much by moving companies.
Look at the real estate market trends to figure this out. Peak times usually happen during the same time every year. Avoid this time to avoid the extra cost.
3. Look for Moving Services Only
Some moving services offer the complete package. They’ll come to your home, pack all your stuff, and make sure everything gets to the truck in excellent condition. However, that extra service and care come at a cost.
If you want to avoid some of the costs of moving, handle packing yourself. Unless you have unique furniture and items, it doesn’t take much expertise to handle packing yourself. It’s moving stuff to your new home that’s the problem.
The good news is that many moving companies can fulfill that request. Look for services that only take your packed items and move them to save some money on moving.
4. Get Several Quotes
A moving company that says they offer the best rates isn’t always the case. Moving companies invest a lot of money in marketing, and that message may not always be accurate.
If you want to get the most value for your money and get a lower cost, you need to get quotes from as many companies as possible. The minimum number you should aim for is three.
Once you get several quotes, you can figure out the average cost of moving to determine who offers the most value. You may also be able to get your moving company options to compete with each other to get your business.
5. Look for a Great Warranty
Even if you can find long distance movers at a great rate, that doesn’t mean accidents will never happen. Things can get packaged incorrectly, and accidents happen on the road. The question is, will you receive compensation for those damages?
Reputable moving companies offer warranties for these situations. By default, you can get compensation up to a specific amount if an accident occurs. You’ll take responsibility for any extra costs above your warranty coverage.
However, some companies offer extra warranties if you have a lot of valuable stuff. Check into your warranty options to see how much gets provided by default and how much extra you’ll need to pay to get the coverage you need.
It may cost money for more coverage, but it won’t cost as much if an accident causes your stuff to get damaged.
6. Check Consumer Reviews
It’s tempting to go for the cheapest moving service when looking for moving companies near me. After all, you don’t want to spend a small fortune moving your possessions. However, not every cheap service offers quality.
You never know what quality you’ll get with an inexpensive service if you don’t look at consumer reviews. Before you go for the cheapest option, check out the reviews about the company posted on the internet.
Online reviews will tell you about the negative aspects of working with moving companies. From there, you can determine if the problems are worth the money you’ll save or if you should spend a little more for quality service.
Another option is to check the BBB website. You’ll find consumer complaints on this website verified by an independent party. This is a great way to see how many issues a company has and how well they respond and solve customer problems.
Do Your Research to Find Affordable Moving Services
If you hire a moving company for your big move, you’re going to spend good money, so you need to do everything you can to find someone that provides excellent value for the money. The above tips will help you find affordable moving services in your area. Use them to find a moving company that can handle the job and doesn’t cost a fortune.
Do you want more tips that will help you plan and execute your big move successfully? Check out the blog to find more advice on how to move to a new home.