Moving from New York City to San Francisco is a long-distance move that will require plenty of scheduling and planning. If you are operating on a strict budget, you will have to be even more careful with how you are spending your time and money. Spend wisely and do not hesitate to remove things you no longer have any use for. In this article, we will talk about 6 ways to keep costs low during a long-distance move.
1. Get Free Packaging Supplies
If you want to save money, the easiest way to do it will be by gathering free packaging supplies. You will have to be creative with your collection of repackaging supplies which will include contacting the local stores for cardboard boxes. You can save a lot of money on small packaging details if you are resourceful with their procurement.
You would have to spend on the moving company and the cardboard box sealing supplies. Being frugal with packing supplies does not mean that you will pack your stuff in poor-quality boxes. You will just have to be hands-on while selecting the appropriate packaging supplies that are pocket friendly. If you are moving from NYC to San Francisco, MoveEast can help you out.
2. Just Begin On Your Own
Beginning the packing process on your own without hiring professionals is another way to save money. If you are operating on a strict budget, you might have to consider spending time before you move to your home, sorting everything out. Doing it yourself does not mean that you have to overburden yourself with responsibilities. Try to compartmentalize the needs of the move and hire help if required.
The idea behind doing some of it yourself means that you will not have to spend as much as you would have on professional help. If you are investing your time into the process, you will be spending less money and getting the packing done more efficiently. Another advantage of being hands-on with packing is that you can make executive decisions on what to leave behind and what to take with you.
3. Remove Obsolete Stuff
When we are living at a place for a long time, a bad habit starts to form. We start to collect things just for the purpose of using them someday. This only creates a lot of obsolete things stored in the garage, basement, or storeroom. This not only takes up a lot of unnecessary space but also makes the problem of too much clutter to take with you when you are planning a long-distance move.
Clearing the clutter or removing obsolete things from your home is important and should be a periodic behavior. Before moving out and starting packing, you should look at the things you have accumulated. Most of it would be redundant or broken, which means that it needs to go. Keeping a broken thing with no use only because of emotional connection is not a voice decision, especially because you will have to pay for it to be moved.
4. Try to Pick the Off-Season
Believe it or not, there is an off-season for moving when you will get reduced prices for the moving services. Typically, the peak seasons for long-distance moves are from April to September. If you have the choice of delaying or preponing the move to the off-season, make sure you do it to save some extra money.
October to March is the ideal time for or shifting long distances without burning a hole in your pocket. Off-seasons are technically also favorable because you will not have any competition in terms of people who want the same services as you. Additionally, you will also get the chance to negotiate for a better price because the business during that time is typically slow.
5. Promotional Codes and Discounts
Promotional codes in discounts are extremely helpful if you would like to save some costs during a long-distance move. The reason why most people do not use promotional offers is that they do not know about them. Promotional codes tend to be given out during the off-season to boost the business of the moving company.
If you are resourceful enough, you can make good use of discounts, especially if you are going to need multiple trucks. Sometimes the moving company has the option of a referral, so contacting your friends or family members who have used a moving company will also be a good idea to save up on moving services. If you feel unsure about promotional quotes, take some time and do some research to find viable offers and the time period for which they would be valid.
6. Ship Some Stuff
Since you have already cleared out the obsolete stuff, the things to be moved will be diminished. This is where shipping services come in. Typically, if you do not require an entire moving truck, you will be better off with roadways or railways shipping. The order will be considered bulk, and you will get reduced prices for the shipping services, especially in a long-distance move.
As compared to hiring multiple drops, you will be better off with shipping if you do not have enough things to pack the truck to the brim. If you compare the prices of using a truck and a shipping service, the latter would be cheaper if the number of things you are transporting is less. Try not to use the air roots for shipping because it will cost you more than a moving truck. Express shipping will defeat the purpose of saving money.
The Takeaway
Saving money on a long-distance move is easy if you know how to plan ahead. Choosing the right moving companies will help you out in the move from NYC to San Francisco. Try to be as frugal as possible with your purchases so that you do not have to overspend on packing supplies. Understand your needs, be hands-on and make decisions practically.
