There are several effective ways to save money when hiring a moving company, primarily by handling some tasks yourself and being strategic with scheduling. Consider these methods:

• Pack Your Own Belongings: You can significantly reduce costs by packing and protecting your items yourself. This includes wrapping delicate items, organizing them into boxes, and taping the boxes closed. You can use towels, clothes, and suitcases to pack belongings and protect breakables.

• Provide Your Own Materials: Source free packing materials from friends and family, or reuse boxes and bubble wrap from a previous move.

• Schedule Strategically: Book your move well in advance. Rates are often lower if you schedule your move on a weekday during the off-season, which typically runs from October through April.

• Compare Quotes: Get moving quotes from at least three professional movers in your area. This allows you to compare services and choose the best value.

• Ask for Discounts: Inquire if the moving company offers any special coupons or deals.

• Purchase Moving Insurance: Protect your investment by purchasing moving insurance, especially for expensive or antique belongings.

• Divide the Labor: While you can save money by packing, it's wise to leave the more dangerous and physically demanding work—like loading, unloading, and moving heavy furniture—to the professionals.

Choosing a reliable moving company is critical because you’re entrusting all of your belongings to the professional movers, so you’ll want to make sure you consider the following:

• The experience of the movers and the number of years in the industry

• The add-on services provided, like packing and storage

• The warranty or insurance coverage to protect your belongings 

We also recommend confirming that the movers are properly licensed using Angi’s state licensing tool. You can check for certification from organizations like the American Moving and Storage Association.

The first step to choosing a relocation company is determining the distance of your move, types of services needed, and how many professional movers you need to hire. Once you set the parameter of your move, get price quotes from at least three local moving companies to compare pricing. Then, choose a relocation company that fits within your budget, supplies the necessary services, and has positive reviews from previous moving customers.

It takes professional movers longer to load a moving truck than unload it. However, it depends on the specifics of your move. It takes some time to strategize the most efficient way to load the moving truck with your furniture, boxes, and belongings. That’s why it’s important to rent the right size moving truck to ensure everything fits and makes the loading process move faster.