Ways to Save that Really Work
Posted on July 27, 2011
No matter which way you cut it, moving can be expensive. If you’re using professional movers to help you get the job done, it can seem as if every little thing hikes up your moving bill. Fortunately for you, there are a few key ways you can save, even if you know you’ll be racking up additional charges. The moving experts at American Van Lines will let you in on how to plan a move for less.
Rule Number One: Time It Right
Like most other businesses, moving companies experience a peak season when business is at its highest during the year. It’s little surprise that summer is the peak time for moving. In summer, the weather is warm, your kids are out of school and you can probably score some time off from work, which all make the season seem like the best possible time for moving. However, if you want to keep your bill as low as possible, avoid moving from mid-May to mid-September. Half of the year’s moves take place during this span, which means movers are stretched thin. Remember, high demand means high prices!
A Matter of Days
Now that you’ve eliminated the possibility of a summertime move, it’s also important to remember that there are off-season variations in demand. Half of annual moves take place during the summer, which means that the other half is still stretched out over the rest of the year. (That’s some 20 million moves!)
Keep in mind that most leases are structured around the beginning or the end of the month. That means most moves (on or off-season) take place around the same times. While it may make sense to you to move as soon as your lease is up, moving a week before the lease expires means you’ll save a pretty penny. Whatever you do, try to avoid moving on the first or last day of a month.
Moving during the middle of the week will also help you trim down your moving bill. Naturally, most people schedule moves for the weekend so that they don’t have to take time off from work. Believe it or not, most movers work regular nine to five hours. That means fewer movers are available for weekend moves, which drives up prices. If you want to save the most money during your move, take a few days off from work in the middle of the week – Tuesday and Wednesday are best – and move then.
Recap: The most affordable time to move is the middle of the month on a Tuesday or Wednesday in spring, autumn or winter.
If All Else Fails
If you know for sure that you’ll have to move during the summer, the first or last of the month or on a weekend, reserve your movers as soon as possible. Booking your move early can result in a slightly discounted rate. If you wait until the last minute during any of these time spans, you may not find available movers at all!
