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Long-Distance Moves on a Budget

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 01:08:14 GMT

Can you move across the country on a budget? Even though a long-distance move might have a higher price tag than the shorter distance option, take a look at what you need to know about saving money.

Should You Hire a Mover?

Yes, a professional moving service can save you money on a long-distance move. Even though you will need to pay the contractor, the professionals can:

Save you money on a truck rental. Do you have enough space in your car, SUV, or minivan to haul everything you own across the country? If not, the cost per day or mile of a rental truck could outweigh the price of a moving service.
Save you money on shopping fees. The cost of packing and shipping fragile or heavy items could also add up to more than what you would pay a mover—and the mover will safely hand-deliver your breakables.
Save you money on additional services. Do you have artwork, a piano, or another specialty item to move? Instead of hiring multiple contractors, save money and consolidate your move with one professional.
Save money on unnecessary overnight stops . Will driving your haul slow down your move significantly? A slower move means more overnight stays. This adds up to extra hotel and restaurant charges that you might not have if you hire a pro.

Before you choose a mover, explore the rates companies in your local area charge for long-distance services. Get two to three quotes from reputable contractors. This can help you to better understand the price range for a cross-country move and will give you the chance to choose the best rate and service combination.

How Can You Save Money on Packing Supplies?

The boxes, bins, bags, labels, tape, and everything else you need to move can increase your budget significantly. A long-distance move takes time and can get bumpy. This makes it important for you to safely and securely pack everything you own in the best moving materials possible. But these moving materials shouldn't take up the bulk of your budget.

To save money on supplies for your cross-country move:

Start with the moving contractor. Does the mover supply boxes and other materials? The mover may have industry-insider rates.
Reuse what you already have at home . Do you have a garage filled with old electronics or appliance boxes? Do you already use plastic bins to store items in your basement or attic? Use, or reuse, the containers you already have to save money.
Skip the fancy labels. You don't need to spend extra cash on fancy moving labels. Instead, use a permanent marker and masking tape or inexpensive address labels from an office supply store.

You can also upcycle old linens and towels, turning them into bubble wrap-like protective material for your move. This strategy makes it unnecessary to buy new wrap or packing paper and reduces the risks to your fragile or breakable items during the move.

How Can You Save Money on a Moving Service?

Have you now decided to use a professional mover and know the best ways to save money on packing supplies? You can still cut your cross-country moving budget. To save money on a professional moving service, declutter first. The less you need to move, the lower the overall price. Recycle, sell, or donate anything that you won't use in your new home.

After you declutter, make sure you have the best type of quote for your long-distance moving needs. The three primary types of moving estimates are the binding, non-binding, and binding not-to-exceed estimate. A binding estimate is a fixed price, regardless of the actual weight of your haul. A non-binding could change, if your truck-load has a lower weight than expected.

The binding not-to-exceed estimate offers the best of the other two quotes. This type of estimate won't go over the stated price if the move-day weight of your items is heavier than projected. But you might pay less if it doesn't weigh as much.

Are you ready to plan your long-distance move? Contact All America Moving for more information.

Moving on a Budget? 7 Ways to Reduce Relocation Expenses

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:28:55 GMT

Moving costs can quickly add up without proper planning. With living expenses rising, you need to save as many dollars as possible when relocating to use them for rent, groceries, and other necessities when settling in your new home. Check out some tips to reduce moving costs below.

1. Set a Moving Checklist

Moving involves a lot of expenses, such as packing materials, storage fees, cleaning, transferring utilities, parking, and food. By listing all your expenses, you identify areas to trim and get control over your finances.

A budget also shows if you have enough money for the move to avoid taking debt at the last minute. The internet has plenty of moving apps and platforms to help you estimate the costs of a move, depending on your location.

2. Hire an Affordable Mover

Hiring a professional mover is a quick and cost-effective way to relocate. Moving expenses vary quite a bit between movers, so get at least three quotes from reputable companies. Compare the quotes carefully, and select the ones that personalize their services within your budget.

3. Avoid the Peak Season

The timing of your move determines how much you pay for moving services. Many people relocate from May to August, and demand for movers is lowest from September to April.

Movers are also busier on weekends, so a weekday move attracts better quotes. Ideally, moving on a weekday in less busy months saves the most money. Once you have identified a few movers, try negotiating with them for better rates, especially if you book weeks before your moving date.

4. Declutter

The more possessions you have to move, the more money you pay for packing, loading, and offloading. If your family has lived in the current home for a long time, odds are that you no longer need some clothes, furniture, toys, electronics, and other items around the house.

Before you pack, go through storage areas, living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens and purge unnecessary and duplicate things. Your efforts may save you hundreds of dollars in moving expenses. If you have many unused items in good condition, place them on eBay and other online marketplaces to make extra money.

5. Find Free Boxes

You need multiple boxes to pack your entire time, and they aren’t always inexpensive. Hit your local big box stores, liquor shops, grocery stores, and recycling drop-off points, or Craigslist, Nextdoor.com, and other online platforms for free or inexpensive boxes. Your friends and neighbors may also have moving supplies lying around their homes.

Your suitcases, baskets, towels, linens, and other household items can serve as packing materials. For instance, suitcases can hold shoes and clothes, while cooking pots can carry spices.

6. Speak With Utility Providers

If you don't cancel your utilities on time, you will likely double pay for internet, electricity, water, and other services. So, notify your old service providers about the move on time to ensure they terminate provisions the day you leave.

Your utilities at the new house should activate on the day you move in to avoid spending a night without water or electricity. Additionally, review different utility companies at your destination, as some have special offers for new or longtime customers.

7. Prepare Meals in Advance

Takeout costs quickly add up in the days before you move and before you settle in your new home. Prepare meals beforehand and keep them in the freezer for the chaotic days before and after your move. You can keep these meals in a cooler and restock food in grocery stores along the way.

Our seasoned movers at All America Moving work with your moving budget to safely get your goods to their destination. Contact us today for fast and friendly relocation services.

Tips to Make Your Move Eco-Friendly

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 06:53:09 GMT

A move can be fun, scary, challenging, and exciting, usually all at once. You can also have a very negative impact on the environment during the moving process. Although you cannot prevent every process in your move from harming the environment, you can make many of them more sustainable.

The following are some ways to reduce your environmental impact during your moving process.

Downsize Before You Move

Moving is often the opportunity for a fresh start. The temptation to pack everything into boxes and get on the road can be strong. However, downsizing before you move has a lot of benefits. By downsizing, you can make a lighter, more organized load that may be more affordable to move.

As you pare down your things, you can sell, gift, or donate usable items. As for the items only suited for discarding, you can contact a recycling center that can recycle them in an environmentally friendly manner.

Use Reusable Bins and Boxes

Consider investing in reusable packing containers instead of single-use boxes and wrapping paper. Utilizing reusable boxes reduces waste and lowers packing costs. After the move, you can use the bins as storage. On the other hand, you can rent the bins from several different companies if you want to avoid buying them.

If you need to use cardboard boxes, you can borrow them from friends who have moved recently and use them during your move. Alternatively, you can prepare ahead by saving the shipping boxes you receive before your move. You can also get free cardboard boxes from your local grocery store, recycling center, or retail store.

When you're done with your move, you can reuse the strongest cardboard boxes for the next one or give them away to someone else who needs them.

You can also use gym and duffel bags, reusable grocery totes, suitcases, or baskets as alternative moving containers. The more you can fit into your existing containers, the less need for purchased boxes.

Avoid Wasteful Packing Materials

Packing materials such as bubble wrap, paper, and styrofoam peanuts can result in waste. Taking the time to look around your home and innovate will help you keep packing material trash at a minimum.

You can add extra cushion to fragile items by wrapping them in padding materials such as blankets, towels, bed sheets, and even socks. You can also use newspapers as space fillers, but be careful not to stain delicate surfaces with newspaper ink.

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

You might want to do a thorough, deep clean before you move if your lease requires it. In some cases, however, you'll only need to remove some cobwebs, wash the windows, and dust the floors. Either way, opt for organic or eco-friendly cleaning materials rather than harsh chemicals.

Consider products that are compliant with the EPA's Safer Choice Standard. All products branded with the EPA's Safer Choice label have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they are non-toxic and safe for the environment. Another option is to use natural products instead of chemical cleaning products.

Make One Trip

When moving, try to make as few trips as possible. Focus on getting all items shipped by your movers on moving day rather than making short trips to and from your new home. Keeping your move to one or two trips will conserve gas and save you time on the road.

If you plan to start some of the moving beforehand, do it in one go rather than in small loads. The fewer trips you can make during your move, the better.

Whether you're looking to move from city to city or state to state, our expert staff can help. For more information about how we can help with your next move, contact us at All America Moving today.

7 Downsizing Tips When Relocating to a Smaller House

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 19:52:54 GMT

Downsizing is common among empty nesters and retirees, but more people are moving to smaller houses to cut living expenses and make lifestyle changes. If you have a home full of stuff, you may be anxious about decluttering and procrastinate for as long as possible. However, the downsizing process is painless if you follow the tips below.

1. Start Early

People often underestimate the time required to sort through all their belongings. Don't assume you can downsize in one weekend. Instead, start several weeks before the moving date and take breaks during the sorting process. Also, create a downsizing schedule beforehand to minimize moving stress.

2. Start Simple

You will quickly get overwhelmed if you start sorting sentimental items in the living area and the bedroom. Conquer areas with little emotional attachment first to get motivated to approach larger rooms.

For instance, dive into the linen closet, laundry room, pantry, medicine cabinet, and junk drawers first. Then, move onto storage areas like the closets, garage, and attic. The accomplishment of cleaning out storage spaces makes you feel pumped up to declutter bedrooms, kitchens, and the living room.

3. Think About Your New Space

When moving to a smaller house, some of your stuff won't have room in the new space. You might lack a dining area, garage, den, or office in the destination, so you must relocate some items to other rooms or get rid of them.

Furniture is especially tricky to move because room shapes and sizes differ between residences. The best strategy here is to get the dimensions of the new rooms and map out the furniture layout. Let go of furniture pieces that don't suit your new home to avoid crowding.

4. Consider Lifestyle Changes

A residence change often means a lifestyle shift, and you should prioritize things that support your new life and declutter those that don't.

If you used to host many parties in your old home but don't plan on entertaining much in the new place, give away some silverware, candles, glasses, and other party items. If you are moving to a retirement community with meal services, you can do without all of your kitchenware.

You probably have a list of activities and hobbies you intend to explore in the new neighborhood. Downsizing creates room for new items that encourage new adventures.

5. Get Rid of Duplicates

You will be amazed at the number of duplicates around your home. The kitchen is particularly prone to having duplicates for common items like spatulas, whisks, mugs, stock pots, and blenders. Go through each drawer and cabinet and minimize washcloths, sheet sets, shoes, children's toys, pens, and other duplicates.

6. Get Creative with Sentimental Possessions

Sorting through sentimental items gets emotional because they remind us of great memories. You don't have to throw away family heirlooms and prized possessions. Rather, get creative with how you keep them to save space.

For instance, digitizing boxes of old photos preserves your memories and frees up space. You can take pictures of other sentimental items like a child's artwork, tickets, and sweet notes.

Also, consider passing down antique furniture, jewelry, military memorabilia, collections of stamps and baseball cards, art pieces, and other family heirlooms to children and grandchildren.

7. Sell Some Items

Facebook marketplaces, Craigslist, and eBay have made it easy for people to sell belongings. You will get good money for high-end clothes, shoes, and furniture, which you can use to facilitate the move. Consider a yard or estate sale for good returns if you have an extensive collection of items in good condition.

Once you finish downsizing your home, contact our expert movers at All America Moving to relocate your household successfully. We specialize in personalized relocation services to relieve the stress associated with moving.

Tips on Preparing for Your Moving Day

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:47:06 GMT

A moving day might present you with many obstacles. However, you have no need to feel overwhelmed by all the activities necessary to make your day successful. Preparation is the key to getting through it without stress. Discover a few ways to prepare before the big day.

Prepare a Moving Essentials Bag

The day before and after your move will make you very busy. You will have to organize how to pack and load your items into the moving truck. Additionally, you must talk with the moving company to ensure they provide enough workers and equipment. Thus, you will likely need a ready suitcase or bag with essential clothes for the day.

A moving essentials bag will ensure you have all the essential supplies ready to go and can pack everything else. If you have school-going children, this bag will have their clothes for the school day. If you move during the work week, your clothes will have work attire already prepared. When you move into your new home and start unpacking, this bag will help you avoid messing up your other clothes.

Rest Well and Wake Up Early

Relocation needs a lot of energy and attention. Even if the moving company will handle most heavy loads, you might help with lighter loads like clothes and dishes. You will have to check everything and ensure all your items arrived safely with no damage. Also, you might either must drive along with or direct the company driver.

A good night's sleep will provide you with enough energy to navigate through all the hard tasks in the moving day. Also, you can wake up early and organize everything before the moving company arrives at your doorstep.

Charge Your Phone

You will need to communicate with the moving company frequently during your move. Additionally, you might have to work with a house agent who will prepare your new house before the move. This back-and-forth communication can drain your battery. A full charge will ensure that you do not have to worry about saving your phone battery when you need it.

Make Arrangements for Pets and Children

Pet and children will need a lot of attention and preparation to ensure they do not become anxious or cause trouble. You can prepare your pets by visiting a vet and updating their vaccines. Also, provide them with their favorite toys to keep them distracted during the move.

You can prepare your children by telling them about the move before the day. Ask them to help you pack light and easy items. Alternatively, you might prefer to have a relative or close friend look after your kids or pets while you focus on your move.

Document Every Item

Create a checklist of everything you must do and pack before the move. This checklist will serve as a countercheck to ensure everything arrives to your new house. Also, take pictures or videos of furniture that might need disassembly. You can use these images and videos to reassemble them with ease later.

Prepare Your House for the Movers

You should ensure that your house is ready for the movers so that they can start loading your things when they arrive. Therefore, put everything in one place where the workers can access it without any issues. You can also reduce clutter by ensuring items that can trip the movers, like ropes and wires, stay in one location.

If you prepare well, you can calm yourself down and focus on the important things, like making your new house ready for your family.

One of the essential decisions you can make that might ease your relocation is hiring a good moving company. Consider hiring All America Moving if you would like help with your moving day.

Tips on How to Chose the Right Moving Company

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 18:30:39 GMT

Moving can be more stressful than divorce. Don't get it wrong; divorce is plenty stressful. But when you pack up all your belongings, entrust them to strangers, and start over in a new place you can get exhausted.

To avoid this stress, you should research the right moving company for you. Read on to learn about a few things to keep in mind when making your decision.

Check Online Reviews

Read online reviews about the company to understand them more. One reason is that online reviews can give you an idea of the quality of the moving company's services. If many people have complained about the company not showing up on time.

Another reason is to get an idea of the company's customer service. If customers have had bad customer service experiences. Finally, online reviews can help you understand how much the company charges. If most customers report overcharging, you'll want to find one that doesn't seem to do that.

You can check online reviews by simply searching for the company's name. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can also be good places to look for reviews.

Confirm Registration

Every long-distance moving company must be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You can confirm a company's registration by going to the FMCSA's website and entering the company's USDOT number.

The DOT number is a unique identifier that every moving company should have. You can usually find it on the company's website or their trucks. Using it, you can check any complaints filed against the company and see how they compare to other moving companies.

You may also want to check for registration with a professional organization such as the Moving and Storage Conference. Such organizations have standards that moving companies must meet, so it's a good indication of a quality company.

Type of Services Offered

The type of services offered by a moving company can be a good indicator of its quality. A full-service moving company, for example, will come to your home, pack up all your belongings, load them onto the truck, transport them to your new home, then unload and unpack them.

A full-service moving company will also typically offer storage services in case your new home isn't ready when you are. This can be a lifesaver if you're moving to a new city and don't have anywhere to stay for a few days or weeks.

On the other hand, a less-than-full-service moving company may only offer to load and transport your belongings. This means you'll have to pack and unpack yourself, which can be a lot of work. Storage services may also be extra with a less-than-full-service company.

Get an In-Home Estimate

Most moving companies will give you an estimate over the phone or online. However, these estimates are often not the same amount you will pay once a proper inspection of your items has been done.

You should always ask for an in-home estimate to get a more accurate estimate. This is where a representative from the company comes to your home and looks at all your belongings. They will then give you a more precise estimate of how much it will cost to move.

In-home estimates are usually free, so you have nothing to lose by getting one.

Hire a Reliable Moving Service Today

Moving does not have to be a stressful experience. The right moving company can ensure that your move goes smoothly and that all your belongings arrive safely at your new home.

Looking for a quality moving company, look no further than All America Moving. We're family owned and operated, and we've been helping people move since 1993. Call us today to schedule a moving service.