10 Ways to Save Time and Money on Your Next Move

Aside from being stressful, moving can be expensive in terms of both time and money.  Even if you outsource the bulk of your move to a professional, there are still a number of ways for you to save when you get ready to break camp.

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      1.      Furniture Finesse – While you want to let the movers do the heavy lifting when it comes to moving heavy furniture, there are several things you can do to make the mover’s job easier and less time consuming.  When it comes to sofa’s and loveseats, pack the pillows separately.  If your bookshelves are removable, remove and box them. It also helps to take the drawers out of dressers and china cabinets.  The movers will need to do this before they shift large pieces of furniture, especially those that barely fit through the door.  By doing a little disassembly ahead of time, it will save your crew time and that saves you money.

      2.      Packed by Crew – Even if you let your moving crew do the lion’s share of the packing for you, there are several things you need to know.  Professional movers have the experience to pack household goods safely and efficiently.  As such, your crew will fan out to pack your belongings in several rooms at the same time.  They will designate each box with the name of the room only. If you want to identify specific items in any box, you will need to do so.  Just bear in mind that if you try to micromanage the packing, you will slow the crew down.

While you don’t want to get in the crew’s way, you most definitely need to be there while the packing is done.  When the crew arrives, you should lead them through the house, letting them know if there are any items that require special care.  When the crew is through, you should walk the crew chief through the house, opening and closing every door and cabinet to ensure that everything that needs to be moved has been loaded in the truck.

      3.      Packed by You – The biggest mistake most homeowners make when they pack their own belongings is to provide insufficient padding in boxes containing fragile items like glasses and dishware.  As a result, these items can wind up damaged or destroyed during a move.  If you want your dishes and glasses to arrive in one piece, put plenty of padding on the bottom of the box and wrap each item individually.  The best way to pack both dishes and glasses is standing on end.  Once the box has been filled, give it a good hard shake. If you hear the tinkle of glass on glass or dish on dish, you need to unpack and repack the box while adding more padding.

      4.      The Devil’s in the Details – Make sure you provide the crew with Ziplock bags so they can secure nuts, bolts and screws that they remove from any furniture.  You should also pack up all your remote controls, cordless phones and other accessories in a box prior to the crew’s arrival.  If not, you will be forced to dig through box after box to find them later that night after the move is done and you want to watch TV.

      5.      Items Your Movers Won’t Touch – Prior to the arrival of your crew, you should gather and transport anything that is hazardous.  (At the very least, load it onto your car.)  This includes, paints, insecticides, liquid cleaners, solvents, nail polish remover, drain cleaner, etc. 

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      6.      Movers are Not Babysitters – The last thing you want your movers to have to deal with are children and pets.  Either of them can throw a big monkey wrench into the works by slowing the crew down and presenting a safety hazard.  Prior to the move, you need to send both kids and pets packing to your friends, relatives or neighbors.  This way the kids won’t be underfoot and you won’t run the risk of stopping a move to run down a stray pet.

      7.      Heirloom Alert – Anything you consider priceless or at least precious should either be moved or packed by you.  This includes everything from artwork and jewelry to collectibles and memorabilia.  If you do choose to pack these keepsakes on your own, make sure you wrap them in bubblewrap before packing them in a reinforced box.  Be sure to prominently label these items and point them out to the movers so they will be handled with extra care.  Also make sure to have your mover insure these treasures so if they are damaged during the move you will be appropriately compensated.

     

      8.      Expensive Electronics – With the exception of your 65-inch plasma TV, the best way to move expensive electronics including computers, sound system and camera equipment is to take these items by car and not by truck.  Why take the chance of having these items damaged or crushed by stuffing them into a truck laden with heavy furniture.  It’s not worth the risk.

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      9.      Something Fishy – Moving a fish tank can be tricky, especially large tanks of 50 gallons or more.  They’re both heavy and fragile, which is never a good combination when it comes to moving them.  The best way to get both fish and tank to your new location in one piece is to remove the fish into small containers or bags that you will transport yourself.  Then you should drain the tank 90%. Leaving enough water in the bottom to keep the gravel and plants wet. This will also allow the aerobic bacteria that lives in the sediment to arrive alive.  Once you get to your new home you can refill the tank, float your fish in their travel bags for an hour, then release them into the tank none the worse for wear.

      10.  Going Green – If you have a green thumb and plan on moving your plants from one location to the next, you need to either move the plants yourself, or you need to tell the movers in advance.  Plants don’t like extreme temperature variations that can occur in a sealed truck.  If you are only moving across town, your plants still need to be packed into the truck last and unpacked first if they are going to have a good chance of surviving the move. 

By following the abovementioned pointers, you and your belongings will be able to better weather a move while saving both time and money. Don’t forget to thank and tip your crew.  Just think of the time they saved you.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers  has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.