How to Choose Local Movers and Save Money on Your Move in 2024

People are always excited when they make a move since it represents a new chapter in their lives, but packing and moving is a nightmare and expensive. Whether you’re moving locally from one house on the same block to another, the most important thing is to find the best local movers in Oakland for you and your budget. 

Fortunately, in 2024, it is becoming easier than ever to locate economical local moving services without sacrificing quality. In this blog post, we will walk you through the essential steps of selecting the right local moving company and offer tips on how to save money during your local move.

Step 1: Start with Research For Local Movers

Hiring movers is a vital step that should not be rushed. It is critical to conduct some basic research to discover reputable organizations and avoid the following moving blunders.

Get Recommendations

Ask friends and family:

Friends or family recommendations are some of the most reliable sources in recommending local moving companies. Talk to friends or relatives who have recently relocated or better still ask colleagues at the workplace about recent relocations.

Check online communities:

It is always advisable to seek recommendations from actual clients in your region, using sites such as Nextdoor or local Facebook groups to discuss recommendations for reliable local movers.

Read Online Reviews of Local Movers

Google, Yelp, and BBB: It is another important aspect that requires one to look at locally moving companies with high ratings and well-explained reviews. Try to focus on the services that have been provided in the recent past to be able to understand the present service quality of the center.

Consider Reviews from Similar Local Moves:

Search for reviews that describe local moves similar to yours like apartment moves, single-family homes, or any special local move like moving a piano or fragile items.

Verify Credentials of Local Movers

Check Local Movers licensing:

When selecting the moving company to work with be sure to check if the local movers have the necessary license and insurance cover. Local movers in the U.S.. are governed by state laws and some of them may require a license. This information is often located on the company’s website.

Look for industry affiliations:

Being a member of certain organizations such as the American Moving & Storage Association AMSA can be an indication of professionalism and efficiency.

Get Multiple Quotes

Request at least three quotes:

Contact a few local moving companies and ask for their prices. Reputable moving companies will come and evaluate your house physically so that they can come up with a better estimate.

Avoid too-good-to-be-true deals:

Pay attention to the prices that are way lower than their counterparts. These could be an indication that there are additional fees that consumers are charged or they are going to receive a raw deal.

Step 2: Evaluate Moving Services and Costs

Once you find a couple of companies of interest, it’s time to compare the service or the offer they make and the price that they are ready to offer for the local move. Never focus on the mere price but look at the additional features that are provided in the price.

Know What is Covered in the Quote

Breakdown of Local Movers services:

It is important to inquire if packing, loading, offloading, or disassembling and assembling furniture is part of the service. It’s good to note that some services may attract an additional charge hence the need to inquire more.

Hidden Fees of Local Movers:

Be wary of other hidden costs like the fuel charges, the extended lift distances, or if the company charges for climbing up and down stairs.

Look for Discounts

Special discounts of Local Movers:

Some local moving companies may provide student, military, senior, or AAA membership discounts. Never fail to ask if you are eligible for any discounts.

Off-peak rates: Sometimes it is cheaper to move during weekdays or mid of the month because weekends and month start/end are considered high season.

Select the level of service you require of Local Movers

Full-service movers: They are solely responsible for packing, transporting, and unpacking goods. While this option is quite flexible, it is slightly more expensive compared to the other two options.

Partial services: If you want to cut on the cost then you can opt for a low-cost moving service in which the movers only transport your goods and you do the packing as well as the unpacking on your own.

Step 3: Reduce Costs with DIY Options

There are several options however to still save money, by managing some of the work yourself even with a professional’s assistance.

Declutter Before You Move

Lighten the load: The general rule of thumb here is for services like these, the less you have to transport, the cheaper it will be. This is a good time to get rid of things you no longer use or need by selling, donating, or disposing of them. You can even sell some old shoes during a yard sale or through online sale platforms and make a few dollars.

Pack Your Belongings

Save on packing services: Packing can be pricey. This way, you are aware of how your items are packed while also saving money by packing yourself.

Affordable packing materials: The materials, boxes, and supplies can be purchased at very affordable prices at stores or from online shops. It is possible some stores will allow you to take boxes without charging you for them.

Move Some Items Yourself

Transport smaller items: If you own a car or truck, It is wise to move your small and easy-to-handle items such as clothes, electronics, or personal effects yourself. This will decrease the volume that the movers are going to have to move.

Avoid Peak Moving Times

Choose an off-peak time: Movers typically work more during weekends, summertime, and at the start or end of a month. To obtain the best rates, it will be wise to plan your move during business off-peak hours.

Step 4: Understand Insurance Options of Local Movers

The vulnerable aspects that are important to be protected are the belongings. These are the considerations that can be helpful when deciding how much coverage one needs without having to spend a lot of money on it.

Basic Coverage

Included coverage: Many moving companies offer some level of liability insurance for free, but it is not very much, about sixty cents per pound for the item. This may not be enough for valuable items.

Full Value Protection

Higher coverage: However, if you intend to have valuable items with you, you should have full 

Value protection: This will also help in making sure that in the course of the moving process if any of the items get lost or damaged the movers will have to compensate you this value.

Weigh the cost: This is an extra cost but if you’re moving valuable items then it may be worth it.

Check Your Insurance Policy of Local Movers

Homeowners/renters insurance: Moving locally costs can be reduced since some homeowner’s or renters’ insurance policies cater to the belongings during the move process. It would be wise to consult with your provider to find out if you are still with the program or not.

Step 5: Confirm the Details Before Moving Day

It is wise to clear up all the moving procedures with your local moving company before finalizing all the moving procedures.

Get Everything in Writing

Written estimate: The estimate must also be in written form and highly detailed so that the organizations understand the work to be done and the cost involved. Ensure that the given terms are not ambiguous.

Payment terms: Be clear on when payment needs to be made, as well as the forms of payments that are acceptable for the product. Many companies ask for a deposit so you have to know if, when, and how much they take.

Confirm Your Moving Date

Double-check dates: Notify the moving company about the exact day and time you expect them to arrive. To make sure everything has been scheduled, the appointment should be set up roughly seven days before the transfer.

Conclusion

A lot of people believe that moving locally is a stressful and expensive affair, but this is not always true. If you are selective when choosing the local movers, know what services you require, and do some tasks by yourself, then you will have a favorable, affordable, and seamless relocation process. Thus, with the proper planning and these tips on how to save money, you can fully embrace the feel of the new home excitement as you keep on checking your budget.

At Movers 80 LLC, we are professional local movers in Oakland, dedicated to fulfilling the true potential of moving services within your means. If you require a complete moving package or a more individualized moving plan, our team will ensure that you have a smooth move. 

Book Your Appointment Now!