Homebuyers

How to Save Money on Your Next Move (Without Relying on Family and Friends)

Buying a new home is exciting—until you remember you have to pack up everything you own, cram it into a truck, and haul it into your new space.

Hiring movers can help. But they can be expensive, especially if you’re moving to a new town or have a lot of belongings.

But there are ways you can save money on your next move that doesn’t involve asking your family and friends to help do it for you. Although, that may be an option too.

“It’s so much more fun to move with your friends and family,” said Nashville, Tenn.-based real estate agent Dylan Calvo of The Realty Association. “I’ve saved hundreds this way and had more fun doing so.”

Unfortunately, you can’t always count on the availability and willingness of loved ones. Plus, there are several moving expenses beyond hiring movers, regardless of what help you get.

Below, we’ll look at ways to save money on your next move, plus hidden costs to factor into your budget.

Wait until the off-season to save on professional movers

If you’re moving for a job, because a lease is up, or because you need to get out of a bad situation, you might not have any say in when you relocate.

But if you can move on your own time, you may want to wait until the off-season (late fall, winter, and early spring) when moving companies have more availability and often charge lower rates.

You may also want to consider moving mid-week or mid-month.

“You might be surprised at how great a difference moving at the right time makes,” said Hoboken, N.J.-based real estate agent Jonathan Ayala of Hudson Condos.

“Movers charge top dollar during summer, on weekends, and for the first and last few days of each month,” he said. He noted that’s when leases more commonly end.

Be a smart shopper

It always pays to shop smart—and not only when making an offer on a home or signing an apartment lease. You also need to be a savvy shopper when hiring movers.

Generally, you’ll get a lower rate by booking early. When you hire a mover at the last minute, you have less negotiating power—they know you don’t have a lot of options.

Being a smart shopper also means getting quotes from multiple movers. Just like you (typically) tour multiple homes before making an offer, you should talk to multiple companies get the lowest rate.

Get your moving supplies for free

You don’t need to buy new cardboard boxes from an office supply or hardware store. Plenty of local businesses may give you boxes for free.

Ayala recommends checking grocery stores, liquor stores, bookstores, and even Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

“A visit to a retail store for new boxes could run you about $100 to $200,” he said. “So, this is an easy way to save.”

Just inspect the boxes carefully to ensure you don’t bring any bugs into your home.

The savings don’t stop with boxes, either: Skip the bubble wrap and protect fragile items with towels, blankets, and fluffy clothing.

Purge some of your belongings

Moving multiple bulky items can drive up the cost, even if you’re not hiring movers—you may need to make more trips to move everything or pay for a larger truck.

That’s why you may want to ask yourself if you really want to take certain items with you—or it’s time to purge.

Instead, sell your unwanted belongings online or host a yard sale. Alternatively, you can donate some of your belongings and potentially get a tax deduction for charitable donations.

According to Goodwill, you could write off up to $125 on your tax return when donating a sofa. A TV could get you up to $170.

This depends on the quality of the item being donated. Uncle Sam doesn’t give credit for damaged donations.

Also, if you’re taking the standard deduction instead of itemizing, charitable donations won’t save you any money on taxes.

Rent a moving truck if you’re up for the challenge

Professional movers are great. Depending on the level of service you pay for, they can pack for you, load and unload the truck, and drive everything from point A to point B.

But they’re also expensive.

Doing it yourself, if your back and friends are up for the challenge, can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Try a service like TaskRabbit

Nationally, you’ll pay an average of $80 an hour for each professional mover you hire, according to MoveAdvisor.

TaskRabbit, on the other hand, says its contractors (“Taskers”) charge as little as $40 an hour.

That said, professional movers are more experienced and carry insurance that a gig worker may not. They often know how to pack, wrap, and treat your valuables with care so that they aren’t damaged in the move. Their rate may also include a truck.

Don’t be surprised by hidden costs

Before moving, set your max budget. But don’t blow it all on professional movers, boxes, and a truck rental.

Moving can have many hidden costs you should leave wiggle room for, including lease breaks, utility transfers, and activation fees, plus professional cleaners at your new or old place.

“You may have to take off work,” Calvo added. “And that is lost money, too.”