There are a few things in life that are as stressful as moving, especially in New York City. And the everlasting question – are there any affordable movers in New York that are not a scam? You should be ever vigilant when it comes to fraudulent moving companies, but it actually is a mistake to consider that every cheap one is a scam. Being suspicious is one thing, but considering that they are all scammers is wrong. There can be a repertoire of reasons why they are cheap, one of which being the fact that they might be trying to start their business against the tremendous competition.
The NYC movers market is extremely competitive and large, hence some of the cheaper moving companies might be just the ones you need. So, keep an open mind, for not all cheap ones are scammers. The best way to know who you’re dealing with is if you could get a recommendation from someone who’s been moving recently. If you have nobody, reading online reviews of people that were customers will mean a lot. Whichever moving company you select, make sure to investigate them as much as you can. In the era of the internet, that should be hardly a challenge. Ultimately, the choice you make will decide the outcome of the move, so be careful! The article will provide you with a few tips you can use when deciding on a moving company for your move.
Tips to Find Affordable Movers in New York
Gathering all information about cheap movers is key. Through the power of the internet, you can go to numerous forums and chat rooms where people are willing to share their positive and negative experiences with various moving companies. Sometimes the experiences shared are quite biased, but still, if you hear only good stuff about a moving company – you should be on the right track.
Research on time
Don’t wait for two days before the move – start on time. That way you will have more than enough time to explore your options. Why is it important to start planning your move about two or even three months before the moving date? The reason is that you’ll have time to read reviews, get quotes, find the best services, talk to selected movers, and also get a lower moving rate. Plus, you’ll have more options to choose from – most reliable movers are fully booked or very pricey for last-minute moves. To avoid high rates and limited options make sure you research on time and book your moving company way ahead.
Comparing movers prices
If you think a mover is too expensive, or too cheap, do take NYC moving quotes from three or four more and make a comparison. This is where your “on-time” game comes in handy – you have two months to compare and choose the best quote. Pay attention to how it’s the “best” quote and not the “cheapest” quote. That’s because the lowest rate is not necessarily the best for your specific situation. Sometimes, you’ll have to get the best service possible to save money in the long run. Maybe you will think that the movers you’ve selected are affordable, however, when you compare them to their competitors you might learn that perhaps there are cheaper ones. This is why you should look at the NYC moving cost estimations.
The super cheap ones can tend to be rogue movers, and you should avoid those. The super expensive ones are just super expensive and you should avoid those too. Finding the perfect balance between quality and price is the key. One thing we can recommend is – don’t go for the lowest price. It’s usually that low for a reason!
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Learn about what’s included in your moving package
There are certain hidden fees and costs that might blindside you. The best way to deal with such hidden costs is to explore everything that the moving package includes. There are several ‘hidden’ costs that you need to be aware of and they include – appliance servicing, carrying heavy and bulky items, carrying belongings up and down the stairs, the availability of an elevator, temporary storage, etc. The scenarios are limited, but every moving company should have such info available. Investigate before you start, don’t get surprised. Investing time in learning more about NYC moving services might save you a lot of money and time in the future.
Try to find movers that support a transparent charging system so you’d be able to understand exactly what you’re paying for. Another option is to go for a binding estimate, which allows you to sign a contract with the exact amount of money you should pay for your relocation. Keep in mind that these types of estimates are not free but may be well worth it depending on a specific situation.
Learn what you need to do on your own – moving on a budget
Given that you’re looking for affordable movers in New York you have to understand that there will be things you’ll have to do on your own. On another note, if all you do is rent a moving truck – you will have to do everything else on your own. So call the guys from the gym, and start loading! To save money when moving, your first step would be to discard all unnecessary items. The less you have to pack, the less you will pay. Make sure to drown that inner hoarder. Say farewell to all the unnecessary household items, and organize a garage sale – or give them away to charity.
Next, you’ll want to pack DIY instead of hiring professional packing services or full-service movers. It will take some time but packing is easy and it will help you cut moving costs significantly. To save money when packing, read the following tip.
Moving boxes
It is imperative and almost mandatory to find cheap or free moving boxes since you are moving on a very tight budget. Be creative! There are restaurants, bookstores, drug stores, convenience stores, petrol stations… All of them will have some extra boxes around that they will like to get rid of, so help them and help yourself! You should only use sturdy boxes in good shape but that doesn’t mean you should spend a fortune on getting them – just visit your local shops and you’ll definitely find suitable ones for free.
Chose the time of the move wisely
If you don’t have a date set in stone as to when you must move, try to use that flexibility to choose a date yourself. By going in for the off-season you will get some major discounts and good offers from the moving companies. So, if you’re trying to do it on a budget, time it right! Generally, mid-month and mid-week off-season moves are the most affordable ones, but of course, it’s best if you consult your movers and ask if they recommend the most budget-friendly date for your move. Avoid weekend moves because they will certainly set you back more than working-day ones. This is getting affordable movers in New York 101.
Getting the right estimation
The best way to know for sure what type of costs await you is to organize an on-site moving inspection. This way, the mover professionals will arrive at your apartment and make estimations on the spot. That way you will know for sure that you’ve covered every aspect, and thus every cost.
Moving companies that refuse to show up on-site for the estimate, and would rather advise over the phone or email are not reliable and should be avoided. Also, super low moving estimates should be avoided, too. These are your early marks of a fraudulent mover. It’s worth noting that most movers offer online “visit” to your home, which comes super handy, especially during an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They’ll call you via video chat so you’ll be able to show them around and do a walkthrough of your home over the phone. However, keep in mind that they’ll still have to see your home in order to provide a quote, so don’t confuse online estimates with suspicious over-the-phone quotes.
Make sure your moving company is registered with the US department of transportation
When you start researching potential candidates for your move, make sure you figure out whether they are registered with the USDOT. Every professional moving agency should be licensed and insured. Checking license numbers is super easy − just visit the website of the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and type in the name of the company you’re eying to hire. If you hit a ‘no’ that should be enough of a reason to keep looking. This works for both affordable movers in New York, as well as for the more expensive ones. Even though this method will not save you money directly, it will help you avoid fraudulent movers and all the expenses of dealing with them, eventually leading you to the most affordable movers in NYC.