Person standing in front of moving boxes holding cash

Long distance moves can require a lot of time and resources, both financially and otherwise. It's almost always necessary to hire the help of a moving company in order to assure that your belongings are transported safely, and many relocations end with homeowners shopping for furniture and appliances for their new abode. With all these costs in mind, many individuals look for corners to cut in order to save on unneeded expenses.

Behrens Moving Company has just shy of a century of experience in the moving and storage industry, and has become the trusted mover in Southeast Wisconsin. We've assisted with just about every kind of move under the sun, from studio apartments to large corporate offices. Our customers have asked us about ways to save money during a cross-country relocation, and we've put together the following tips for anyone looking to do the same.

Start Planning Your Move ASAP

Giving yourself ample time to prepare for moving day is one of the best ways to cut down on expenses. Begin gearing up for the whole process at least eight weeks ahead of time for homeowners, even more for businesses. This will allow you to call around to multiple moving companies for quotes and guarantee you're getting a good rate for your area, along with avoid higher rates due to last minute requests. 

Downsize Ahead of Time

Most moving companies charge based on volume, weight, and quantity of items, so get rid of anything you don't actually want or use anymore ahead of moving day. This can easily be done while packing, just make sure to start a pile of things to donate or sell rather than pack. There's a number of things to do with unwanted items, such as:

  • Garage Sale
  • Donate to Thrift Shops
  • Make a "Free" Box

Another area to downsize is any filing cabinets you may have. Do you have stacks and stacks of documents that could be scanned into a computer or other device? Switching over to a digitized organization system can save you the headache of moving those heavy filing cabinets full of paperwork.

Get Creative with Packing Supplies

Another corner to cut during a long distance move is where you source your packing supplies. Instead of buying new materials, look for slightly used supplies through online marketplaces, which will cut down significantly on the overall cost. You can also get creative with things you already have for packing materials, such as:

  • Use Linens as Padding
  • Wrap Fragile Items in Newspaper
  • Suitcases Can Act as Boxes
  • Pack Drawers As-Is Instead of Emptying Contents

Move During the Week or Offseason

Most homeowners prefer to save their long distance moves for the summers and weekends, when kids are out of school and weather is nicer for the event. With May to September as the busy season for most moving companies, you may get a lower rate if you carry out your relocation on a weekday during the fall, winter or spring. The only exception to this would be holidays—moving right around major holidays such as Christmas may lead to higher rates due to companies being shorthanded.

As an agent of Allied Van Lines, Behrens Moving Company can assist with your long distance move to anywhere in the world. Our moving and storage solutions are customizable to fit the unique needs you'll have come moving day, and take the stress out of the whole process for you.

Contact Behrens Moving Company today for a free quote on our long distance moving services, and find out more about how we can help make moving day as seamless as possible!