What to Pack in Your First Night Box
Easy ways to reduce costs from your Cincinnati Moving Company
We all know moving is a big expense. Between putting a down payment on a house, getting a mortgage, and new utility bills, you might feel strapped for cash. Sometimes the cost of the actual move can get overlooked.
Don’t worry. If you haven’t planned for the expense of moving or just want to save a little money, we have these tips for you.
Beware of Movers that Charge Hidden Fees
Before you book a mover, you want to make sure the cost won’t go up after you move. Ask your moving company about hidden charges. A few examples are mileage costs, travel fees, fuel fees, long walks, extra carries, or stair fees. These can add up. As a guaranteed price mover, all our costs are included in the price we give. Also, make sure you get a binding estimate, so you know your costs upfront and they won’t change after the move. Leaders Moving & Storage only gives binding estimates. You also want to be aware of what is charged for valuation coverage for items if they are damaged. We carry a higher depreciated coverage than the standard 60 cents per pound because this is usually not enough. We also offer a higher replacement coverage. Be aware of your options and fees.
Reduce the Clutter
The less items you have to move, the less money it costs to move them. Start getting rid of items in your home at least a month ahead of time. Throw away items that you haven’t used or are broken. Give away items that could be usable to someone else. Not only does decluttering save you money, it will save you time in packing your possessions.
Start Packing Early
You may be thinking that packing will be easy. You can knock it out in one weekend. Well, it might not be that easy. Amid all the pre-packing tasks, you may have overlooked the time it takes to pack. This can lead to the unexpected expense of purchasing packing services from your moving company. Typically for local moves, packing services can almost double the cost of the move.
To avoid this, start packing as soon as possible. You can start by packing away seasonal items that you won’t be using up until the move. Set a plan for yourself to pack, like 20 minutes a day, or 2 hours on the weekend. Just make sure to use lots of paper and fill the box well. This will prevent costly damage.
Pack Most Items Yourself, Leave the Rest to the Movers
Maybe you still want packing services. That’s okay, because you can still save money. Packing the kitchen or dining rooms can be daunting with all the glassware and cookware hidden in the cabinets. At Leaders, these are the most popular rooms we pack because of the time it takes to do it properly. So, leave the kitchen and dining for the movers and to professionally pack, and do the other rooms yourself. Packing your bedrooms and family rooms can be much easier, so save yourself some money by packing them yourself.
Move Smaller Items Yourself
If you hired a moving company, then you probably don’t want to move large pieces of furniture yourself. However, you might consider moving smaller items yourself to save a little money. Maybe you have a small side table or folding chairs that you can put in the back of your car. You could also take the boxes in your car to save room on the truck for furniture. Also, consider moving fragile items yourself, like lampshades that could easily be damaged in a moving truck. No matter whether you hire a guaranteed price mover or hourly mover, this will save on the cost and time of moving the items.
Save Money on Packing Materials
One thing you might be forgetting is the cost of boxes, paper, and tape to pack your items. You could ask for used boxes from your local grocery, but these aren’t always the best. At Leaders Moving, we have a Box Loan program, where you can buy boxes from us and we will give you an 80% refund if you bring them back in good condition.
Choose a Reputable Cincinnati Moving Company
The best way to make sure your move doesn’t cost more than it should, is to hire a reputable mover. Leaders Moving & Storage has over 21 years of experience. You will feel safe knowing your possessions are handled by professional Master Movers. If you are still looking for a mover, get your online quote now or call your Cincinnati Movers at (513) 268-4315.
photo credit: via photopin (license)
About the author
LEADERS Moving & Storage was founded in 1994 in Ohio with a pickup truck and a handshake. Since then, we’ve become one of the largest moving companies in the Midwest and have set the standard for others to follow.
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