5 Labor Alternatives to Hiring a Full Service Moving Company:

If you’re thinking of hiring a professional moving company to handle your next move, be aware that it’s going to cost you. In fact, according to the American Moving and Storage Association(AMSA), the average cost of a simple local move is $2,300 for four movers at $200 per hour. And if you’re embarking on an interstate move, it’s going to cost you even more – upwards of $4,300, according to the AMSA.

Fortunately for those looking to save money, there are less expensive alternatives to hiring a moving company. In fact, all you need is a rental moving truck and a few assistants to help out with the heavy lifting, and the loading/unloading of your things. From hiring moving labor professionals to recruiting friends, here are five money-saving options to consider next time you move.

HireAHelper

Planning to rent your own truck? Avoid breaking your back (and your friends’) by hiring pros to help with the loading and unloading process. HireAHelper is one of the most reliable online marketplaces for finding and booking these moving labor professionals.

According to HireAHelper, the movers are either labor-only moving companies that specialize in load and unload services, or they’re full-service moving companies willing to send workers out on labor-only moving jobs. Given that these movers do this for a living, you can rest assured that your belongings will be in good hands.

HireAHelper’s perks:

• The website allows customers to see up-front pricing for every labor professional.
• There are over 3,400 companies in the HireAHelper network serving 48 states.
• Its fast and easy to use. Customers can compare providers and book a job in less than 10 minutes.
• Customers can read reviews to help evaluate different labor professionals.

If anything breaks or is damaged, HireAHelper states that the individual moving company should resolve the damage claims on their own. However, if they don’t, you have a backup option. HireAHelper provides complimentary mover’s insurance when you place your order for the mover through HireAHelper. This insurance covers $.60 cents per pound, up to $10K. The company also points out that Full Value coverage is available through MovingInsurance.com as well.

College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving

College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving is a licensed and insured moving and junk removal service. The Tampa-based company offers junk removal services, donation pickups, packing help, residential and commercial moving, and moving labor assistance nationwide. The company points out that many of their customers actually combine these services when moving. However, if you’re only looking for someone to assist with heavy lifting and single item moves, College Hunks also offers a simple hourly labor option. These moving labor professionals are described as “seasoned veterans” that will ensure every belonging is properly packed, sealed and loaded. To receive a quick quote for hourly labor, check here.

Moving Help

Similar to HireAHelper, Moving Help provides customers with an online marketplace to search and locate local moving services in their area. These services include packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, cleaning and driving assistance. The website also ranks all Moving Helpers based on the company’s star rating. Customers can read unedited customer comments and assess ratings about each and every Moving Helper before making their selection. This way you can easily find the most reliable and well-reviewed labor service at the touch of a button.

To use Moving Help, simply enter the date of the move and the zip code or city/state of the moving locations. You can also choose what time of day you’re moving and the size of your move. Then click “Find available Moving Helpers” on the company’s website to see the list of potential moving professionals in your area.

Truck rental add-ons

If you’re planning to hire the help of moving labor professionals, you’re most likely renting a moving truck as well. Fortunately, most rental truck companies also offer loading and unloading services directly through their websites. For instance, U-Haul partners with Moving Help (mentioned above) to find local laborers in the area and Budget Truck Rental partners with HireAHelper. Make sure to check with your specific rental truck company to see what labor options are available for your next move. These services are usually included in the “add-ons” section of your rental truck’s website and can be purchased while reserving the moving truck.

Enlisting friends

Of course, there’s always the old-fashioned do-it-yourself move with friends. For those looking to save big bucks on their next relocation, this may be the best option – especially if you have some pretty strong buddies.

Besides saving plenty of cash, a DIY move grants you total control (and flexibility) over the move. That means you get to choose the timing of your move and the way in which you pack and protect your belongings. You also get to decide how exactly to load and unload the moving truck. Bottomline: the move will go according to your plan.

Additionally, when it comes to boxing up all of your precious belongings, you won’t have to worry about packing everything according to your mover’s guidelines. After all, professional moving companies will most likely want all of your boxes sealed up and ready to go when they arrive. Without these constraints, you can box up those odd-shaped items – such as lamps, plants and pillows – however you see fit. 

Need to hire labor assistance?

Moving.com has partnered with HireAHelper to find the best local moving labor professionals to move all of your stuff onto and off of the moving truck. All you have to do is enter your zip code and your moving date. From there, the moving labor website allows customers to compare and book available labor professionals in the area. To find discounts and information on various rental truck companies, check out Moving.com’s truck rental center.

Still prefer to go the full-service route? To find the best moving company to handle your upcoming move, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!

10 Things to Know About Moving During the Winter:

Winter is coming soon and many people prefer to stay huddled up under the covers when it’s cold outside. This means that a move during the middle of the winter can seem like a nightmare. However, in some cases, you have to move when you have to move, so you might not have much choice.

Luckily, moving during the winter can actually be a good thing in some ways. Since so many more families choose to move during the summer, your moving company might not be as busy as it is during other times of the year. The truth is that many people choose to move when it’s warmer outside; plus, some families prefer to move during the summer, when their kids are out of school. This means that you may be able to enjoy more flexible scheduling, more personalized attention and even lower rates for services. However, there are a few things that you should know when packing up and moving during the winter time. You might even find that it’s not as bad as you thought it would be at all.

1. Get Started Early

Since it gets dark so much earlier in the winter, you might be lacking in daylight hours during your move. To take the most advantage of the daytime hours, get started with packing early in the day so that you can call it a night fairly early, before it gets too dark. This will allow you to stay safer, since you won’t have to worry about taking loads outside when it’s slippery and dark. Plus, the temperatures are sure to be more comfortable during the daytime hours as well.

2. Keep Your Walkways Free of Snow and Ice

The last thing that you want to worry about is slipping and falling while carrying a box full of your best China. Even if you tend to slack off on it the rest of the time, it is imperative for you to keep your walkways free of snow and ice. Walking on slippery walkways is dangerous enough as it is, and it becomes even more dangerous when you’re carrying heavy boxes. Along with keeping the walkways free and clear at your old home while you’re packing, consider hiring someone to scrape at your new home so that you won’t arrive to dangerous conditions.

3. Dress in Layers

While you’re packing and transporting items from your home to the moving truck, consider wearing layers of clothing. You’ll want to stay warm, but you probably won’t want to wear a big and bulky coat when you’ve got so much work to do. Dressing in layers will help you stay warm without being as bulky. Plus, you can take off a layer or two if you get hot while you’re packing.

4. Make Sure Your Car is Ready

You don’t just have to worry about the moving truck; you presumably also have to worry about your car making the trip to your new destination. Make sure that it’s ready for the trip by checking the tread and air pressure in the tires and scraping away any ice and snow so that you have better visibility. Stock your car with an emergency kit and plenty of blankets so that you and your loved ones will be safe in the event of an emergency.

5. Keep Your Winter Supplies in the Car

You might need your various winter supplies, such as your windshield scraper or your mittens, so don’t pack them away in boxes. Instead, consider tossing all of your winter supplies into one storage container or laundry basket and keeping them in your car. Keep them in a place where they can be easily accessed if you need them.

6. Keep an Eye on the Weather

In the weeks and days before your move, keep an eye on the weather reports. You’ll want to know about any incoming winter storms that you might have to worry about. You may need to be flexible about changing your plans if there is particularly bad weather coming your way; in particularly bad weather, it could be dangerous to continue your move as planned.

7. Keep Something Warm to Drink

You, your family members and your moving crew will probably be craving something nice and warm to drink while packing, moving and unpacking in the winter weather. Consider packing your coffee maker and supplies last so that you can make coffee, or use your slow cooker to keep a batch of hot cocoa or apple cider on hand. You can always use disposable coffee cups if you have already packed all of your mugs away.

8. Hire a Professional

Hiring a professional to assist you with moving is always a smart plan, but it can be especially smart when you’re moving during the winter months. If you have never driven a moving truck before, driving one might turn out to be more challenging than you think. This is especially true if you’re going to be driving in snowy and icy conditions. A professional mover, however, will be better able to drive the truck in the winter weather conditions while staying safe and keeping your packed possessions safe as well.

9. Take Precautions in the House

You will probably be tracking ice and snow in and out of your old house and your new one while moving. Consider investing in carpet remnants to throw down in a path through each house. If you have extra cardboard boxes lying around, you can also bust them open and lay them flat on the floor. This will help keep some of the melted mess under control and will provide some traction for you, your family and your moving crew.

10. Protect Your Possessions

The winter weather can lead to damage to your possessions if you aren’t careful. Snow can cover your boxes and melt, causing them to be soaking wet. Extreme temperatures can damage more items than you probably think. For example, even your plates and glasses can crack when they are exposed to extreme temperatures, and the last thing that you probably want to arrive to your new home with are a bunch of broken or otherwise damaged items.

The idea of moving during the cold winter months can be a pretty miserable one. However, if you and your family need to relocate now, you might not have much choice. Luckily, you can help your winter move go a lot more smoothly if you follow these helpful wintertime moving tips. In no time, you’ll be able to snuggle up in the warmth and coziness of your new home.

Make sure to head over to our blog where you can find more moving tips on how to make your winter move as smooth as possible. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow Andrey Grehov on Twitter: www.twitter.com/andreygrehov

PACKING AND MOVING SERVICE:

Agarwal Xpress Packers and Movers provides professional packing services in Lucknow, and all local areas in Uttar Pradesh at affordable price with excellent services. For all types of residential packing and moving, commercial moves, local business or industry shifts and moving, interstate moves, home or house shifting as well as international long distance shifting.

As a full service Lucknow moving company, we will not only pack and move your items carefully & professionally, but also we can provide you a full inventory list of your objects, but unpack them at your target destination.

We use specialized packing and moving materials and technique to keep your objects safe and efficient so that unpacking them and put them away at the other finish is quick and straightforward. You can be confident that all the goods and items packed from your home handled safely and carefully and deliver in the same situation as you last saw them at home.

Our packing and moving services will not only keep you time and irritation, but we can provide you quiet of mind that easily broken objects will be handle and shift safely. Our clients have told us that breakage and harm are among their major concerns while shifting.

COMMERCIAL MOVERS IN SAN JOSE & PALO ALTO, CA:

Moving your business to a new location? Call us!

Is your business expanding or relocating? With the amount of tasks you’ll need to accomplish for your move, the last thing you need to worry about is moving your inventory, equipment and furniture. That's why you should call Speedee Movers, the best commercial movers in San Jose or Palo Alto, CA. Our movers will take great care in the transport of all of your valuable equipment and supplies. We’ll safely pack up and move your assets to your new location. We make every commercial move efficient and stress-free, so you can get back to work with no worries.

The cost of a commercial move will depend upon the time it takes to load and unload your inventory, the time it takes to drive to your new location, and the number of commercial movers needed. Please fill out an online estimate form and we’ll be happy to respond to you as soon as possible with a quote. If you're worried about packing your equipment safely, ask about our ‘Full Packing’ service. We can also store your belongings at a reasonable rate.

Our experienced commercial movers will get you up and running in your new location in no time.

With our commercial moving service, you receive:

• Location to location service
• Loading and unloading
• FREE - Industrial strength blankets, wrapping paper and tape
• FREE - Basic insurance of 60 cents per pound
• Disassembling and reassembling of your office furniture
• No Booking fee or deposit required
• FREE - Taxes, tolls and mileage
• NO EXTRA CHARGE for using any stairs and/or elevator
• Guaranteed move dates
• Time starts at your door

When you're looking for a commercial mover in San Jose or Palo Alto, CA, look no further than Speedee Movers. Our commercial movers will make sure everything makes it to your new location safely and quickly. Just tell us where you need to go and we'll take care of the rest!

Call now to find out why we're the best commercial movers in San Jose & Palo Alto, CA!
(408) 209-3297

How to prepare for moving day?

The preparation for moving day is notorious for its palpable stress, hectic activities and somewhat characteristic moving day mistakes. Ideally, the relocation preparation should start the moment the residential move is confirmed and, under ideal conditions, it should end just before moving day itself knocks on your door.

Now here comes the key element that often proves to be the difference between a problem-free move to another home and a chaotic one where money, time and nerves are put to the test. And of course, that key element is organization. In fact, proper organization when moving house can save you a world of troubles and should make things go as smoothly as they ever can go.

To help you prepare for moving day in the best possible way, here are the 8 most important jobs you are strongly recommended to complete in order to have the perfect move you want.

#1: Decision time: professional movers or DIY?
The preparation for moving day checklist starts with arguably the most important decision you need to make in the very beginning: should you hire the professional services of a top rated moving company or should you try to move on your own? You should know that this essential decision of yours will ultimately determine how the entire residential move will play out. Therefore, you must know how to recognize the specific indicators that will give you a hint which way is best for you in terms of money, time, safety, and peace of mind.

SEE ALSO: Why should I hire professional movers?


#2: Set your own moving calendar
While getting ready for moving day, it’s important to follow a good schedule where the tasks you are expected to do are presented in a logical and sensible manner. With the help of your personal moving calendar, you will be able to organize your pre-move time in a way so that you don’t waste a single day. Now that you know whether you will move by yourself or use an experienced moving company, you are ready to start filling up your calendar with 1) personalized and 2) prioritized move related jobs that make perfect sense for you and you alone.

MUST READ: How to create a personal moving calendar?

#3: Inventory your entire home
To best prepare for moving out, one of the first tasks in your moving checklist should be to inventory your house or apartment. Now, before you ask why you should even consider doing that potentially time-consuming task, let’s quickly point out its benefits for you. A detailed inventory list will help you 1) sort out your possessions before the packing marathon starts, 2) create a packing list to know what each moving box contains, 3) keep constant track of your belongings throughout the move, 4) have your moving costs estimated by sending the ready inventory over to a cross country moving company.

READ ALSO: How to make a moving inventory?

#4: Get rid of unwanted stuff
While preparing for moving day, one thing should be perfectly clear to you – the weight of the overall shipment will have a great impact on the final relocation bill. In other words, the fewer items you decide to move to your new residence, the less money you will have to pay in the end. Which is not a bad thing, is it? Mark down in your inventory sheet all the household items that are not worth moving for one reason or another, and then just get rid of them. You have good options here – sell some of them online or at a pre-move sale, gift them to friends or family, donate them to charity, or simply throw them for recycling.

GOOD TO KNOW: How to organize a moving sale?

#5: Initiate the packing process
Here comes the most important pre-move task ahead of you – packing up your home for a move. If you don’t realize its tremendous important for the success of your own move, you will soon do so. The three most essential things to remember before you roll up your sleeves are 1) start thinking about packing as early in your preparation for moving day as possible, 2) the rooms you take care of first should be the hardest ones to pack, and 3) packing an entire household is not a job for a single person, so get help at all costs – from your good friends or from professional packers.

MUST READ: How to start packing to move out?

#6: Take care of your kids and pets
If you’re moving house with a child (baby, toddler, school-aged child, or teenager), things can suddenly get more complicated than you need them to be. In addition to worrying about their safety, you want to make sure than they are your allies and will cooperate with the tough preparation for moving day. And although there are many things to keep in mind when moving with children, their safety and well-being remains your number one priority. And of course, the same goes for any pets you might own – dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, etc. After all, they are part of your family as well. The number one safety rule on Moving day is to keep both small kids and pets away from the relocation action.

#7: Get the friendly help you need
If you have reached the conclusion that the best course of action for you will be to organize and execute a self-move, then you’re going to need some assistance from your good pals – moving assistance either during the packing marathon, or on moving day itself, or even on both occasions. You might forget the most fundamental principle when asking friends to help you move in your attempt to prepare for moving day on time. And that principle states that your buddies are probably juggling busy schedules themselves, so 1) you need to reach out to them early enough, and 2) they are under no obligation to give you a hand, so treat the whole matter as delicately as you can.

ESSENTIAL: How to get friends to help me move?

#8: Prepare for moving day itself
Still not sure how to prepare for moving day? There are so many things to do on moving day that you will probably soon find yourself overwhelmed and partly confused. Make sure you familiarize yourself with this detailed moving day checklist to help you organize your time and guide your actions during the Big day. Also, you are strongly recommend to take a look at our extensive list of things you will need on moving day so that everything goes smoothly from start to finish.

What You Should Be Doing One Week Before Moving Day:

After months of planning, preparation and tough decisions, moving day is less than a week away! The few days before your move are often some of the busiest days, as you finish getting everything in order.  By tying up the final few loose ends the week before moving day, you can quell any feelings of uncertainty you may be having.

We hope you’ve been following our past posts on what to do throughout the moving process – if not, you can catch up by following the links below:

• What You Should Be Doing on Moving Day
• What You Should Be Doing One Week Before Moving Day
• What You Should Be Doing 2-4 Weeks Before Moving Day
• What You Should Be Doing 4-6 Weeks Before Moving Day
• What You Should Be Doing 6-8 Weeks Before Moving Day

Prepare your belongings for the move

With moving day right around the corner, now is the time to make sure all your belongings are ready to be transported.  Make sure your refrigerator and freezer are disconnected and defrosted in advance, so no water leaks onto your other possessions.  Washers and driers need to be disconnected from the walls, and things such as grandfather clocks need to be serviced before they can be safely transported.  Your mover can likely work with you to arrange a third party to handle many of these tasks for you.

Also, remember to take anything permanently mounted to your walls down before the movers arrive.  Things such as drapery rods, towel bars, or mounted paintings should be removed and placed on the floor.  It is also a good idea to unplug and pack the cables from your TVs, computers, and electronics in advance.

Finish up your packing

If you are packing yourself you will need to have all of your small items boxed up before the movers arrive.  Hopefully, you already have packed many of your non-essential belongings.  Now is the time to focus on getting everything remaining in order.

Go through your drawers one last time to remove anything that could spill or break. Leaving soft items such as clothing or blankets is fine—your mover can move your furniture with these things inside.

Remember to check all the closets, cabinets,  storage lockers, and the attic for any overlooked belongings.  Also, remember to bring home anything you are planning on moving from your work office, and gather any belongings you may have loaned out to friends.

Create an “Instant Aid” box

It is a good idea to put together a box of things that you might need immediately upon arrival at your new home. Unpacking can sometimes take a little while, so you will want to have some items set aside for easy access.  We suggest packing bathroom supplies including toilet paper, kitchen items such as paper towels and paper plates, cleaning supplies, a basic tool kit, and of course some snacks and easy to prepare food items.

It is often helpful to have your “Instant Aid” box in a clear plastic container in order to be able to see its contents and distinguish it from the countless other boxes that will be involved in the move.  If you don’t have room for this box in your car, ask your movers to load it into the van last—and unload it first—so you can get to it as soon as you pull into the driveway.

Once these last tasks are all complete you should be just about all set for the big move. Now the hard part is over and you can sit back relax. On moving day the movers will handle all the heavy lifting for you.

Packing Pays Off:

Entering any sort of endeavor with a well organized approach will always yield a better outcome. In this instance, preparing and packing as much of your belongings as possible before move day will not only save you a headache, but a tremendous amount of money as well.

Considering how stressful moving can be, the prep stage is crucial and, often-times, ill-executed. Generally, reasons for this are that you simply don’t have enough time between work, looking after your kids, and attending other social functions to squeeze in the necessary hours to pack or that the price of packing supplies (boxes, tape, markers, bubble wrap, newspaper, and trash bags) seems far too high to justify the need for it or even that, given the fast pace real estate market, your home sold much faster than you were ever prepared for. While these reasons hold merit for being a valid excuse, let’s first go over how they can severely penalize your wallet once the movers arrive.

For the sake of running numbers, we’ll assume that you, the paying customer, are moving full contents from a single story, 1,500sqft house with no major obstacles to the same nearby. A job of this magnitude would require three movers who can prepare, load, transport, and unload your well packed and organized items at an approximate speed of 1Hr and 30min per 500sqft. As the majority of reputable moving companies charge hourly for most local residential moves, the rate for the given manpower would be $135.00 per hour. This means that in 4.5-5Hrs, you will be comfortably situated in your new home for a reasonable price of $605-675.00. So what if you didn’t have everything as packed and organized as you had hoped come move day?

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“So what if you didn’t have everything as packed and organized as you had hoped come move day?”

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Any professional moving team is going to come equipped with heavy duty aluminum dollies that can move anything from a large dresser to a stack of 5-6 boxes at a time. These tools come in handy as they allow your movers to maximize the amount of items they can transport to and from the moving truck in the fastest time. However, if you neglect to pack all of your belongings and, as a result, have several small and awkwardly shaped miscellaneous items strewn about that your movers are then forced to individually carry by hand to and from the truck, the number of trips your movers have to take significantly increases. Now, if the number of trips to and from the truck increases, it is safe to say that the speed at which the movers are able to move 500sqft would conversely increase to approximately 2Hrs. At this rate, it would take closer to 6-6.5Hrs to get you comfortably situated in your new home at a price of $810.00-$875.00. Now that’s a pretty BIG difference!

So, in the end, it truly pays off to pack as much as possible prior to move day. If you are needing an affordable packing service to take care of this task for you, then I highly recommend that you give the lovely ladies over at Get Organized a call (more information under the ‘Packing’ tab on our website). They are far more efficient than most packing crews from full service moving companies and will take care of all of your packing/organization needs at far superior price point. If you would rather take care of the packing yourself, however, I recommend that you start as early as possible, give yourself a deadline/agenda to stick to, check your local schools, liquor stores, and/or recycled box stores (TreeHuggers in North Dallas) for free/cheap boxes and packing supplies, and label everything accordingly so that you know exactly where to direct your movers as they unload your belongings in your new home.