Be
a Smooth Mover
 Moving
can be a costly nightmare, especially if not budgeted
for. Here are some tips to help the move be a little
less costly and whole lot smoother!
A recent Kiplinger’s article discussed
some of the keys to a successful move. By following
these ideas, you can help reduce the cost of your next
move, and help the process be a whole lot easier.
Be Selective
When choosing a moving company, don’t
just pick one at random. Do your research. You can use
Web sites, such as the American Moving and Storage Association
(www.moving.org), which will give you options for certified
movers. Next, you can do additional research at your
local Better Business Bureau’s Web site (www.bbb.org,
or http://lookup.bbb.org to find your local Bureau)
to see what complaints have been filed against your
chosen company.
Timing
Using a full-service mover can be a
costly proposition. However, if this is what you want
to do, then maybe think about moving during the off-season,
which runs between October and May – doing so
could save you about 10%.
Weight Weight Do Tell Me
Insist of having (and being there to
witness it) the truck weighed twice – first to
see the van’s weight when empty, and a second
time when it’s full of your stuff. Otherwise you’ll
have to believe whatever weight they tell you. If they
are reluctant to do this, it could be a sign of a disreputable
moving company.
Consider Packing Yourself
Packing companies can charge around
$900 extra for packing and unpacking for you. Consider
doing it yourself, and save even more by using an online
supplier, such as onlinemovingboxes.com or boxesdelivered.com.
Hire a Crate Mover
What’s a good alternative to paying
a moving company to pack and truck, drive it interstate
and then unpack it again? Well, for one you could hire
a U-Haul truck. But for a few extra dollars, you can
hire a company, such as ABF U-Pack Moving, to deliver
a crate to you, which you pack yourself, then they pick
it up and deliver it to your new home and you then unpack
the crate. Not too much work for a 50% savings in costs!
Moving for Work?
If you’re moving for work and
your workplace is at least 50 miles further from your
old home than your old workplace was, then you may be
able to deduct your moving expenses on your tax return.
Moving is always going to be a stressful process, but
by following these tips, you can be a savvy mover, save
some coin and make life just a little less stressful!
<<
Back to Home
|
