Now that you've purchased a new home or a business location, you're likely interested in finding the cheapest way to move. After all, both local and long-distance moving services can quickly add up. From packing supplies to finding a moving container or rental truck to hiring professional movers, things can get expensive. Thankfully, our team at Alliance Moving & Storage has outlined helpful tips on how you can save money during this process.

#1. CONSIDER A DIY MOVE

professional movers

Whether you have a local move or a cross-country move, handling everything yourself can make moving expenses more affordable. The biggest cost savings is eliminating the cost of labor, so you'll only have to pay for things such as the truck rental, the cost of gas, and supplies. Even though opting for a DIY move is more affordable and might better align with your moving budget, you'll want to factor in your personal labor and time. For example, a long-distance move could take significantly longer and more effort when you opt to do it yourself. 

#2. CONSIDER A HYBRID MOVE

As the name suggests, a hybrid move is a combination of some DIY moving aspects combined with hiring professionals. This is an ideal moving process if you are hoping to save some money on moving costs but still take advantage of professional help to make the process less stressful. You might hire a professional moving company to help load and unload the boxes from the truck while you take care of the packing supplies and process. You can pick and choose the aspects of the moving services that you want to hire a company to execute and which you want to take on yourself. 

#3. RENT A MOVING TRUCK

cross country

Whether you're moving cross country or down the street, you'll need a way to transport your items and your moving boxes. Consider looking into rental truck companies that assist with cross-country moves. These costs typically include fuel costs, an overall flat rate, and the cost of insurance. Keep in mind that these trucks usually only get around 10 miles per gallon, so if you're moving across the country, you'll likely need to spend money on 7-8 tanks of gas depending on your destination. A local move, on the other hand, won't be as expensive. 

#4. RENT A MOVING CONTAINER

If full-service movers aren't in the cards and you aren't interested in driving a truck yourself, you can opt to rent a moving container instead. Moving container companies will drop off the empty container at your home, giving you time to pack your belongings inside it. When you're finished, the moving container company will transport the container to your new destination. This option is usually more expensive than renting a moving truck as the company will do the transportation for you, however, it is still one of the most affordable options for a long-distance move. On average, you can expect to pay around $700 if your move is local and around $3,500 for long-distance moves.

#5. DECLUTTER YOUR HOUSE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

packing supplies

How much stuff are you planning to transport? The more items that you have, the higher the cost of moving. Use moving as an opportunity to go through all your belongings to determine what you want to keep and what you can get rid of. This process of going through your items, however, can be tedious and long, so make sure that you start doing so well ahead of your move. Start by going through one room at a time and examining each item to see if you think it's worth transporting to your new address. Alternatively, many people move across the country with the bare minimum and instead choose to purchase new items on the other side of the move. 

#6. LOOK FOR FREE PACKING SUPPLIES

Packing materials such as bubble wrap aren't expensive, but the cost of them adds up over time. Save some money by checking on sites like Craigslist for free moving boxes in your area. People tend to sell leftover boxes after a move, so with luck, you might find some nearby for free or for cheap. Another great way to find free boxes and free packing materials is to call your local grocer or a retail store to see if they have any excess items that you can take. Retail and grocery stores receive a lot of boxes that they recycle or toss. They may give these away if you ask for them, which makes your move even cheaper. You can also look on sites such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to find supplies such as packing paper or boxes.

#7. CALL ALLIANCE MOVING & STORAGE!

Finding cheap ways to move starts with Alliance Moving & Storage. Our experienced team has everything you need to ensure a cheap, simple, and streamlined move. Unlike other professional moving companies, we provide all of our customers with a moving coordinator who helps you pick the most affordable rates and options available. Our helpful movers are ready to perform any service you need and we're always happy to provide you with a free quote. Whether you need a truck, packing and unpacking help, assembly and disassembly services, labor-only movers, or storage, we have you covered. When hiring movers, contact our team today to see how our affordable moving company can help.