Even if you’ve been offered the career opportunity of a lifetime, packing up and moving across the country can be stressful, to say the least. The regular moving process is already hard enough when you’re relocating a town or two over, but a cross-country move means you have even more factors to consider.
One of the concerns many people have in mind is how expensive a long-distance move can be. As professional long-distance movers, we understand that the last thing you want amidst all the stress of moving is big bills to pay. Luckily, we know a thing or two about the cheapest ways to move across the country! Here are some easy techniques to save money on your move, no matter how far away you’ll be traveling.
Time Your Move Wisely
Before doing anything else, plan out exactly when you’ll be moving. More people move during spring and summer than in fall or winter, so you can expect truck rental prices to change accordingly. We know some moves are time-sensitive and can’t wait another day. However, other people are in more flexible positions.
If you can adjust your moving date a few weeks earlier or later in the month, you might save a bundle by avoiding the busy season. One great way to find out the best time to move is to speak with professional movers about their usual seasonal schedule and workload. They’ll be able to tell you what you can expect.
Book Service Early
Being an early bird is definitely the way to go when it comes to moving. One of the easiest ways to save money on your long-distance move is to give yourself — and your movers — plenty of time. Once you have an ideal moving date in mind, call long-distance movers and schedule service as soon as possible. We’ll secure your truck rental, book your service dates, and get all the loose ends tied up long before the big day. It’s one less thing to worry about!
Get Rid of Extra Stuff
Another excellent way to cut back on moving expenses is to pare down your personal items. At least a month before moving day, take some time to assess what you want to keep and what you don’t need anymore. Visit your local thrift store and make a few donations, call up friends and family to find new homes for unwanted items, or have a garage sale to make some extra cash. And with the Internet at your fingertips, you’re no longer limited to the world of garage sales, either! You can easily list items on online marketplaces and have people come by to pick them up at your convenience.
Enlist Helping Hands
One of the costs of moving many people don’t anticipate is the actual time spent on the process. Rather than taking multiple days off from work or hiring childcare professionals, ask friends and family for help. It’s the closest you can get to free moving help (as long as you’re there to help in their time of need, of course)!
Pack Smart
Many people who have made cross-country moves in the past often say they wish they could have saved money on packing supplies. Here are a few easy ways you can save a couple of bucks as you load up the car, van, or truck:
- If you’re overwhelmed by the packing process, get help with our professional packing service. You won’t have to take time off work just to pack!
- Fill the space you have. Use moving boxes for rigid items such as books, but think “outside the box,” too. Things like clothes and bedding may be better suited to bags since they’re more malleable and fill in those dreaded “gaps” as you pack up the truck.
- Tape boxes securely using brown packing tape and include plenty of padding for fragile items, so nothing gets damaged during the move. It will be a long drive, so take the extra time now to save yourself money later.
- Don’t want to buy or hunt down cardboard boxes? Consider bin rental (it’s cheaper, AND it’s eco-friendly)!
Don’t Forget Essentials
Remembering often-forgotten moving essentials — such as cleaning supplies, furniture movers pads, and duct tape — can save you a lot of time and money. While it’s no big deal for people moving a town or two away to make a quick detour to grab something, when you’re on a long-distance drive, stopping your journey is the furthest thing from convenient. Plus, even when you find a location to make a quick stop, convenience stores and grocery stores along highways often sell supplies that are so overpriced that you’ll think twice about making a purchase at all!
Moving Long-Distance? Call Dan the Mover!
When choosing moving companies for your cross-country move, there’s no better team to call than Dan the Mover! Our professionals are ready and willing to help with every step of the moving process, from packing up boxes to driving thousands of miles with you to your brand-new home. Give us a call now or schedule service online before the big day. You’ll be glad you did!