5 Tips for Hiring a Moving Company on a Budget
5 Tips for Hiring a Moving Company on a Budget in Garden Grove
Are you preparing for a big move? Whether you’re moving across town or an hour away, hiring a moving company can be a daunting part of the moving process. This is especially true if you’re on a budget. You may hear “moving company” and think you’ll be paying several grand for services. But this is actually not the case. In fact, if you do it right, you can get the services of the best Garden Grove moving company and stick to a tight budget.
Wondering exactly how you can hire a moving company without blowing through your budget? Here are a few tips to land a great moving company without breaking the bank:
1.Use only the services you need
This is the most important tip. Many people assume that when you hire a moving company, you’re automatically hiring the whole dog and pony show. They assume that hiring movers means paying them to provide packing materials, do the packing, provide the truck, load the truck, and unload the truck. But this is simply not the case.
Local moving companies actually offer flexible packages that allow you to purchase only the services that you actually need. So if you have plenty of time to pack and want to do that yourself, leave that out of your quote. But if you need someone to do the packing – but not the unpacking – ask about that. There are plenty of ways to customize the services provided by the moving company so that the package is more affordable for you.
2.Negotiate
As with other service industries, movers are often open to negotiation. You don’t have to sign the first contract you’re offered. Instead, negotiate for a lower price, or for more services at the same price. Movers are often open to haggling, but you have to step up and try them to get their best price.
3.Consider custom crating services
Do you prefer to pack most of the items in your home, but have a few items you’re concerned about? It’s not unusual for homeowners to want to avoid packing things like antiques, artwork, or other valuables. In this case, you can save by considering custom crating – having the moving company to pack just those items that are particularly difficult to pack.
Custom crating will obviously cost more than doing the packing yourself. However, it can save you money in the long run. Professional packers are more likely to get these valuable items packed safely. Plus, if they have packed highly expensive items, they’ll likely offer better, more comprehensive insurance coverage on these items – saving you money if the worst does happen and one of your valuables is damaged during the moving process.
4.Move at an off-peak time
Most moving companies will have certain days and times that are heavier for business. For instance, the end and beginning of the month may tend to be fuller because of people moving out of leased homes and apartments. Ask your Garden Grove movers if you can save by choosing a less-busy day or time for your move, if that fits into your schedule. There are no guarantees that this will save you money, but it doesn’t hurt to ask if you already have the flexibility.
5.Ask for other ways to save
If these tips still don’t get your overall moving costs down to a level you can afford, ask your movers for other potential ways to save. Local movers, especially, are smaller businesses. They understand what it’s like to be on a budget, and they’ll work with potential customers to find a solution that works for everyone. You might find that by switching to a standard package of services, you can actually save. Or maybe cutting out just one service can get your move within your budget.
The key here is to be open and up front with your moving company during the quoting process. If the original in-person quote doesn’t suit your budget, talk about it. Ask for ways to get the move into your budget, and tell the quoting professional what budget you have in mind. You never know whether the movers will be able to work within your budget unless you try!