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Save Enough on Moving to Hire the Pros

Sep 3, 2023 | Moving Tips

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Home » Moving Blog » 5 Money-Saving Tips for the Savvy Mover

Five practical ways to save money on a move include selling unused items before packing, staying flexible on dates, checking whether relocation qualifies as a tax deduction, asking about bundled full-service packages, and counting personal time as a real cost before deciding to go it alone.

Moving costs more than most people expect, and it costs less than it has to if you plan ahead. Here are five concrete ways to keep more money in your pocket on moving day, including how to make hiring professional movers a realistic option.

How Do You Save Enough to Hire Professional Movers?

Tip 1: Sell What You No Longer Need

Every box you move costs you time and money. Before you pack a single thing, walk through your home and pull out what you have not used in a year. A yard sale turns unwanted furniture and household items into cash you can put directly toward moving costs. Fewer items also means fewer hours on the clock if you are paying an hourly rate.

Tip 2: Know Your Dates and Your Needs Before You Call

If your move date is flexible, say so. Ask about every service level and every available discount. Get estimates for different levels of service so you can compare apples to apples. A few phone calls to different companies takes an hour and can save you a meaningful amount. Knowing exactly what you need before you call puts you in a much stronger position.

Tip 3: Check Whether Your Move Is Tax Deductible

If you are relocating for work, your moving expenses may be deductible. That is not money in your pocket today, but it adds up on your tax return at the end of the year. Keep receipts for supplies, mileage, and services. Talk to your tax preparer about what qualifies.

Tip 4: Ask About Full-Service Packages

Many moving companies offer better value when you bundle services together. If your budget allows it, ask what a full-service package includes and what it costs compared to booking services separately. You may get more for your money than you expect.

Tip 5: Count Your Own Time as a Real Cost

Moving yourself is not free. Add up packing time, time away from work, gas, truck rental, and supplies before you decide. You may find that doing it yourself is still the right call. Or you may find that hiring a crew is closer in cost than you assumed, once your own time is on the table.

What helped you save money on a past move? Share your tips in the comments below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

It can, depending on the time of month and day of the week. End-of-month dates are the busiest in Tampa Bay because most leases turn over then, which means crews are in higher demand. Mid-month weekday moves tend to have more scheduling flexibility.

Call us at (813) 505-2560 and tell us your window. We will give you an honest read on what dates work best for your situation rather than just filling a slot.

Fewer items means fewer trips between rooms and the truck, which directly shortens the time the crew is working. On an hourly local move, every half hour saved is real money back in your pocket. A three-bedroom house that gets pared down to two bedrooms worth of furniture can shave an hour or more off the job.

We quote you one honest hourly rate before booking, crew and truck included, so you can do that math yourself before moving day.

The rules changed significantly after 2017. Under current federal law, the moving expense deduction is suspended for most people through at least 2025. Active-duty military members relocating under orders are a notable exception.

We are not tax advisors, and this is exactly the kind of tip that sounds helpful but needs verification before you count on it. Talk to a CPA about your specific situation before building that deduction into your moving budget.

Full service typically means the crew handles packing, loading, transport, unloading, and unpacking. Whether it is worth it depends on how much time you realistically have and how much you value that time. A family moving from Riverview to St. Petersburg on a weekend with two working adults and kids in school often finds the math favors full service once you account for packing supplies and days off work.

Ask us to quote both options side by side so you can compare them honestly before deciding.

Even if the tax deduction does not apply to you, tracking costs helps you budget accurately for your next move or dispute a charge if something goes wrong. Save your moving contract, any receipts for boxes and packing materials, mileage logs if you made supply runs, and your final invoice from the moving company.

With Brothers Easy Moving of Tampa you will have a written quote before booking and a clear invoice after the job, so the paper trail on our end is straightforward from the start.

Want a straight answer for your own move? Call or text (813) 505-2560, request a free estimate, or send us a note. A Brothers estimator replies, not a bot.

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