Interest rates remain high, and costs associated with buying a home have risen significantly. Prices for residential moves, as well as commercial relocations, are also increasing. However, there are steps to take that will reduce expenses associated with moving, as well as limiting downtime for businesses. Moving is one of life’s greatest stressors, but it doesn’t have to be. The solution for reducing costs and anxiety is through advanced planning and working with the right moving team.
Planning should commence the moment the house goes on the market or following a signed lease. Six or more months in advance, address concerns and get answers to questions from movers before they become problems. Use a calendar and task list to stay on course. Working in advance also reduces pressure and anxiety as moving day approaches.
For a business, it is critical to identify what will be moved, donated or recycled, and when the move will occur. Landlords might also require the move to be scheduled on a weekend, as well as other constraints. It is best to find this out in advance and inform movers; there may be different labor costs for evening or weekend projects.
We recommend ensuring the location a business is moving to is up and running with technology, telephones and basics before the actual move begins. Also, expect to have at least some minor technology issues. It’s recommended to include several buffer days to adjust; this will help with a seamless business operation, prevent customer inconvenience and lost revenue-generating opportunities.
To save money on a movewhether residential or commercialdo as much advanced preparation as possible. This includes taking furniture apart, and also packing and boxing items. This is important because moving fees are heavily connected to labor costs. The faster the crews can move items into a new location, the lower the cost. Taking apart furniture will reduce labor time by hours, saving hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
Efficient moves also include a system for identifying where items will be placed once they arrive at a new home or office. Color-coding boxes and clearly labeling them make this task easy for movers. Boxes and items will be placed in rooms that are clearly marked by the color specified. A diagram of the room with locations of where items such as dressers or file cabinets will be placed helps with the process.
Time is money, as the saying goes. The same is true for moving; however, when there is flexibility related to delivery times and dates, a new homeowner can benefit. Moving a full truck is more efficient and cost-effective than moving a half-filled truck to the same area. For out-of-state moves, if there is flexibility, movers can put items from multiple clients on one truck and make several stops. This eliminates single truck moves and reduces overall costs.
Also, the more items to be moved, the more expensive a move will be. For this reason, it is critical to downsize or eliminate items to be moved. Only move items, furniture or equipment that will be used. For everything else, think sell, recycle or trash. Garage sales, online auctions and liquidations should be considered. Everything that is not sold should be donated or recycled. These additional funds can also be applied toward moving costs.
Look for movers who will be partners and provide information that will reduce costs and ensure a smooth process. While some companies are “cheap” and some claim to be “fast,” often these movers underestimate time and labor costs. The result is higher anxiety levels, unnecessary conflict and “the cheap and fast” ends up being more expensive.
Robert Esposito is founder of Relocators, Inc., a multi-dimensional, end-to-end moving company based in Hauppauge.
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