Moving for even short distances, is enough of a hassle for most people. Therefore, moving over long distances can be potentially headache-inducing, partly because it calls for a significant time investment and also because substantially higher costs are required to haul your belongings over across country. Oftentimes, when you need to move, you are usually strapped for cash since you probably just paid for a new house, or spent copious amounts of money paying rent and security deposit, or worse. This is why it is important to find interstate moving options that allow you to save costs. Here are 10 tips for lowering long distance moving costs.

Tips For Lowering Long Distance Moving Costs

1. Find A Company That Specializes In Long Distance Moving

Your typical moving companies concentrates most of its business within the local area, and any requests for moving services extending several miles from its usual area of operation will attract very high costs. This is why you should get a moving company that specializes This way, you do not have to pay high rates at a time when you need lower costs the most. Most cross country moving companies are equipped to deal with demands of long distance moving, and some will even provide a driver for the trailer at a price you can afford if you are not up to the arduous task of driving a truck for hours on end.

2. Sell Off Or Donate The Stuff You Don’t Need
The amount of money you will spend moving will directly be affected by the amount of stuff you need to move. Having to rent a ten foot truck could cost around a couple of a thousand dollars, but if you could dispose of the stuff you do not need and get a smaller truck, you could end up paying just a couple hundred dollars, obviously making substantial savings during your move. In fact, selling the things you no longer need will leave you with more cash at your disposal. The money can even help fund the moving costs of the remaining stuff if you did not have enough for the exercise to begin with.

3. Drive The Truck Yourself
If you are up to it, driving the truck you rent from the moving company yourself can make you significant cost savings. This is especially effective if you have prior experience with moving trucks. The journey might take hours, but you will appreciate the cost savings this will bring if you are working with a very restrictive budget.

4. Do Some Shopping
Various moving companies will give different quotes on what your particular moving project will take. Don’t go with the first moving company you get, at least not before seeing what other companies have to offer. Even when getting cost estimates, try to narrow down on what your particular move will cost. Also make sure you negotiate to get a discount. These simple steps will help you find a good deal and get a discount, both of which will make you significant savings as you move your stuff over long distances.

5. Recycle Packing Materials
Moving materials such as boxes and bubble wrap can increase your moving costs, which is why it is critical to find cheaper alternatives. If you have any packing materials in your home, do not go buying new ones. You can even get old boxes from friends, shops, and so forth just to save on the costs you will need before executing your move. In place of bubble wrap, you can even use old newspapers to pad your things and protect them from damage.

6. Consider Disassembling Your Furniture
Assembled furniture generally takes up more space than disassembled furniture. Therefore, moving furniture while it is in its disassembled form is a good idea to save space, and by extension, the costs you will incur paying the moving costs. Some state to state movers are considerable enough to charge moving costs based purely on the space your stuff takes and nothing else. In such cases, disassembling your furniture allows you to pay for less space and save costs.

7. Avoid Moving During Peak Season
Moving during peak season can be hectic. Even though most movers won’t simply increase their prices overnight in order to advantage from the increased business, you will have trouble getting the services of an affordable moving company as they will be swamped by customers at this time, leaving you to choose from costlier companies, which will raise your moving budget. Even if you have little control over when you will move, you can always book a truck or a trailer several weeks in advance to ensure that affordable moving services are available to you when you finally move during the high season.

8. Seek Tax Write Offs On Moving Costs
Money spent on moving can be written off when filing for taxes. IRS has provisions for such deductions, so you should document them carefully during your move. The write offs can help you save money during your move by allowing you to pay less taxes than would otherwise be the case. Even the things you give away can be depreciated and the values used to reduce your tax obligation, which, though indirect, helps lower the moving costs.

9. Do Your Own Packing, Loading And Unloading
Movers provide a host of services, including packing your belonging, loading them to the trucks, and unloading them once you reach your destination. However, this also translates into higher costs, which is something worth avoiding when moving on a budget. You can have your family and friends help you with the packing, loading, and unloading, and make significant monetary savings in the process.

10. Consider Other Transport Modes
Most people will only think of moving companies and give little thought to other transportation modes when they need to move. However, other modes of transport can prove much cheaper in some cases. For instance, you can use the US Postal Service to send luggage through its parcel delivery service, which costs about a dollar a pound, which may prove to be cheaper than what some movers may charge.

Moving over long distances can be very stressful, especially for someone working with a limited budget. Long-distance moves can be made more affordable by disposing of unnecessary stuff, shopping for good deals, undertaking to do some of the tasks yourself or with the help of friends, seeking tax write offs, and even using moving alternatives like the postal service and so on. All these techniques can help make interstate moves more pocket-friendly.