Bay Area Moving Company - How to Save Money When Moving

You simply need to combine two facts to get a clear understanding of the concept behind sorting out your belongings before moving and determining which items to get rid of and which ones to bring to your new abode. Those two, small facts that are going to help you save considerable sums of cash both now and in the future are:

Total Weight

There are several, vital factors that are accounted for when calculating the cost of the move and the most important of these is the total weight of the goods being transported.

This should make it clear enough why countless people are diligently searching for ways to lower their moving costs and, understanding the facts that are presented above, this is something that you should attempt to do as well.

This is quite simple in theory - you just have to pack and take a whole lot less stuff when moving. However, in practice, this simple task can become one of the most challenging endeavors you ever take on right up until you reach the comfort and security of your new home.

But why exactly should you opt to get rid of household items that you no longer need?

Save cash. When you hire professional moving companies to help you transport your furnishings and other belongings to your new abode, the best of these professionals will actually come to your property to visually inspect the items that you want them to move.

This in-house review of your goods will additionally include a danger evaluation and a risk assessment, but the primary purpose of this initial visit will to provide a fair and feasible estimate of the total moving costs. And this is actually quite straightforward: the fewer belongings that you choose to bring with you, the lower the overall shipment weight will invariably be and thus, the lower the quoted price.

Once your moving day arrives, when the weight is officially measured and each of your items has been loaded on to your provider's truck, your costs may be even lower if the weight of your items has been kept as low as possible. And that is how getting rid of unwanted items can help you save a considerable amount of cash.

Some of your household goods may have been around far longer than they were meant to be.

Earn money. To keep some of the money that you have earned in the bank throughout these times of transition is good, but what is even better is the notion of generating additional cash to actually expand your moving budget. Your decision to get rid of any unnecessary or unwanted items before moving is going to help you generate this additional cash. How's this possible? Because you can sell items that you don't want or need easily online or in a garage/moving sale. 

Save space and time.

As one of the most effective techniques for cutting your costs when moving, repurposing, selling, recycling, donating or even throwing your unwanted things away will help you save a lot. Moreover, moving into a new home with fewer goods in tow will also save you a significant amount of time given that you aren't going to have to inventory, sort, pack and prepare these things - and you can also save a ton of space - thing about all the extra room that you'll be using up by carting along things that have lost their usefulness.

Final thought: Moving in general can be very costly. As per the American Moving and Storage Association, an intrastate move costs over $2k on average, while the average interstate move is over $4k.

7 questions for a potential mover

Do you want to facilitate your relocation to the utmost? If yes, you have already thought about the relocation company you should turn to for the assistance. Naturally, there hundreds of different offers on the market and not all of them are liable partners.

If you want to come across a proper offer on the market, you need to keep in mind 7 questions to ask your potential movers. The issues cover the packing, delivery and payment details and can disclose the specific of the removal company and its customer policy.

Ask about the documents company has and the period they are in business.

There are different kinds of organizations, the membership in which shows that the company is trustful and can handle your property carefully. These organizations include American Mover and Storage Association (AMSA), Better Business Bureau (BBB) or US Department of Transportation (USDOT). The last one is considered the most significant. You only need to ask the company for its DOT number, and if the representative cannot provide one, it must be an illegal company, working from somebody’s garage.

Ask about the pre-estimation of the moving costs.

Most of the companies estimate the price of the moving before you place a firm order. If they don’t provide free estimation, it is a warning sign. But the possibility of free estimation isn’t everything. First, you need to get the estimation in a written form and then ask if it is binding or not. The non-binding estimation means that the final price quote can differ from the previous estimation. It is not always bad, just know that the price can change slightly.

Ask about extra service and their price.

You have to learn what the company consider an extra service as some of them charge for the extra stops, parking, fuel or have extra quote for oversized furniture handling. Also ask, if these movers take extra for the time they drive to and from your place.

Ask about the kind of their rate (is it hourly or flat-rate).

Most people like to move with the flat rate. In that case there are no surprises about the final quote. But most companies charge hourly. Learn exactly when the count of the time begins and when it ends, also, specify the information about the lunch break: is it included in the price or not. Try to know where you stand before the agreement is made and the relocation process begins.

Ask about the packing details.

Is the packing is entirely on you or are they going to pack everything? Are there any limitations on the type of packaging material, boxes and the size of bags? Ask whether the movers can provide you with packaging material and other necessary tools for the move. Also specify if you need to seal the boxes or the movers would like to check their contents.

Ask about the policy of broken or damaged items.

Ask the company what liabilities it assumes and how it handles the deal in case of broken or damaged items. Sometimes even the most liable company faces unlucky accidents. Most of cases the damage doesn’t depend on the movers, however, you need to know whether the company gives any compensation or it’s all on you.

Ask about the delivery schedule.

For most moving companies it is hard to deliver the items too soon. So don’t be surprised if they will ask for a week or two. And don’t trust the company that gives you more than attractive dates of the delivery.

If you want to move safely, move with California Movers Local & Long Distance Moving Company. We provide a full service, including packing and cargo handling. Just ask for a free estimation of the price and get one of the most affordable quotes in San Diego and other Bay cities. We deal with both local move and long-distance relocation and charge no hidden fees.

WHY DOWNSIZING IS GOOD FOR YOU

If your kids have moved out and you no longer want or need a big house, chances are you’re going to downsize at some point in your life – maybe more than once. The good news is this: Going smaller is good for you! Here are five reasons bigger isn’t always better:

1. You’ll save money

This one’s obvious: In general, smaller spaces are less expensive. Downsizing to a smaller house or apartment is good for your wallet:

• Cheaper monthly payments for mortgage or rent
• Lower heating and cooling costs
• Less space to fill means less money spent on furniture and decorations
• Fewer things to fix around the home
• Lower property taxes (or none at all, if you rent)

Housing costs take up most of our income. Lowering your monthly expenses leaves you more money for saving, investing or spending on things you enjoy.

Lowering your overhead gives you more time for pleasure, plus downsizing can be very invigorating.

2. It’ll re-energize you

Downsizing forces you to start a new chapter in your life – one that’s simpler and less cluttered. You could think of yourself as a potted plant: If you leave it in the same pot for a long time, it becomes root-bound and stops growing. A smaller living space means a change in lifestyle, which keeps life from getting stagnant and reduces your stress level. And think of the peace of mind you’ll gain from not having to worry about monthly bills.

3. You’ll have more time for fun stuff

According to IKEA data, Americans spend an average of 55 minutes per day looking for things. If your home is smaller and less cluttered, imagine what you could do with all that extra time! Taking care of a big home occupies a big chunk of your life, but if you move to a smaller abode, all that time spent cleaning and fixing things can be spent on hobbies, spending time with loved ones, getting creative with DIY storage projects, or curling up with a good book.

Wondering what to do with a small closet? Check out our Pinterest board: Small Closet? No Problem

4. Purging unwanted stuff will remind you of what’s really important

It’s no secret that we spend a lot of our lives accumulating possessions. How many of these things do you really want or need anymore? It can be therapeutic to go through your mountains of things – it’ll remind you of where you’ve been and where you want to go from here. And once you get rid of the things that aren’t useful or sentimental to you, you’ll feel as though a giant weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Wondering what kind of housewarming present a small-space friend would enjoy? We’ve got 10 ideashere.

5. It’s better for the environment

Smaller homes require fewer materials to build and less energy to heat and cool, which puts less stress on our planet. So chalk up some karma points for yourself on that front.

Have you downsized recently? How did it improve your life? Share in the comments below.

8 Tips for Single Female Homebuyers

Don't Push Your Limits

“Just because you are pre-approved to buy a house at the top end of your range, doesn't mean you should,” advises TJ Freeborn of Discover Home Loans, pictured here with her son Jack in front of the Elmhurst, Illinois, home she bought. “Single women have only one income to rely on for household expenses. It's smart to make sure that your monthly mortgage payment is an amount that you are comfortable with. Then, if unexpected expenses arise, your ability to pay your mortgage and maintain your lifestyle isn't compromised.”

15 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease

When you’re finally ready to sign the lease on an apartment, chances are you’ve already gotten answers to most of your major rent-related questions. Cost per month, location, and included utilities are all things you’d want to know before you get down to the paperwork, but what about the less obvious questions? While renting an apartment isn’t quite as big a process as buying a home is, it is legally binding, and there are still some really important questions you’ll want to have answered before putting your name on the dotted line. Here are 15 questions to ask before signing a lease so you can make sure you’re prepared.

#1 What are the lease terms?

Even if you and your prospective landlord have previously discussed that your lease will be a year long or month-to-month, make sure the lease term you’re expecting is the one that’s indicated on the lease itself. Whatever the terms are on the lease are the ones that you’re formally agreeing to, so you’re going to want more than just verbal confirmation.

#2 If the lease doesn’t start on the first of the month, is the rent pro-rated?

Many lease terms dictate the first of the month as the day rent is due, but what if you’re moving in on another date? Most of the time, your rent will be pro-rated for that first month, meaning that you’ll only pay for the days you’re going to be there. The same goes for the end of the term if your lease ends on any day other than the first. It’s pretty standard to offer pro-rated rent for the first and last month in these circumstances, so make sure it’s spelled out on the lease. If it’s not, request that your rent is pro-rated for these periods.

#3 What are the policies around breaking the lease early?

Obviously you’re not renting an apartment with the expectation that you’ll need to break your lease early, but life doesn’t always go exactly as planned and it’s possible that you will need to move out before the end of your lease term. Just in case, make sure you know what the policies around breaking a lease early are before you sign, particularly whether it is allowed and what the penalties are. While many landlords do allow early release of the lease if necessary, there may be a fine attached or you may be required to forfeit your security deposit.

#4 What are the rules for non-tenant access?

Sometimes your landlord or a maintenance professional will need to access your unit, but that doesn’t mean they should be able to come and go as they please. Verify that your lease dictates that a certain amount of notice is required before they may access your apartment (for example, 24 hours). Most states have specific laws about how much notice is required, so check the laws in your state and make sure the lease has the correct terms.

#5 Are there any rules about guests?

Speaking of non-tenants, check the lease to see if it has any specific rules around guests. Some leases don’t allow guests to stay overnight or for more than a set amount of time. Instead of risking possible penalties for breaking what may not be an obvious guest policy, read up on any guest rules in the lease before signing.

#6 How is rent payed?

Every landlord or management company has their own way of accepting rent payments. While in an ideal world you’d be able to just easily pay your rent online every month, it’s possible that you’ll need to drop off a check somewhere or mail it to a specific location.

#7 When is rent due?

Most rents are due on the first of every month, but according to what it says in your lease, you may have some flexibility, especially if you have to mail a check somewhere. See if there’s a grace period on rent payments, such as three or five days from the first of the month. While chances are it will just be due on the first, it doesn’t hurt to find out if there’s a little wiggle room.

#8 Is renters insurance required?

Renters insurance is a good thing to have whether your landlord requires it or not, but check to see if the lease states that you absolutely must have it. If it does, you’ll usually have to show proof that you’ve acquired it prior to actually moving in. Fortunately, it’s usually pretty inexpensive.

#9 What are the move-in fees?

In addition to your first month’s rent, you may have other required fees due prior to move-in, including last month’s rent, a security deposit, administrative fees, elevator rental fees, or other specific move-in related costs. Check on what these are so that you can make sure you’re not hit with any surprises when moving day comes around.

#10 To what extent can the unit be personalized?

One of the downfalls of apartment living is that you can’t always personalize the space as much as you’d like to. To cover your bases, check with both the lease and the landlord about the policies regarding tenant decorating and personalization to find out what you can and cannot do in regards to things like painting and hanging art or shelving. Some policies are stricter than others and there may be penalties for breaking them, so you’ll want to know this before hammering any nails into the walls. When in doubt, check with your landlord or management company before making any changes to the unit.

#11 Is the security deposit refundable?

Most of the time, security deposits are returned to tenants upon move out, provided there isn’t any major damage or mess left behind. See what the terms are so that you can be sure you maintain the apartment in such a way that you can get your security deposit back when the lease is over. To be safe, you may want to specifically ask about specific situations that would result in you not getting the deposit back. Read up on the general rules of security deposits so you know what you can expect regarding how the deposit will be used and how to make sure you get it back.

#12 How are maintenance requests handled?

Whether your building offers maintenance 24/7 or just upon request, find out what the policies are so that you know what to do if any maintenance issues arise. You don’t want to be scrambling to figure out next steps if your sink starts to leak or your central air stops working in the heat of summer. There may be different policies around general repairs and emergency repairs, and it’s important to know both.

#13 Does the unit currently have any damage?

Don’t risk getting penalized for damage to the apartment that was there before you moved in. Make sure to ask the landlord about any existing damage such as worn floors or cracked windows before you move in and do a walk through before bringing in any of your belongings, taking pictures of any damage that you find. That way, if you get blamed for that damage later on you can show that it was there before you were.

#14 What is the pet policy (if applicable)?

If you have a pet, you’ve obviously already made sure they’re allowed to live in the apartment with you. But what about other pet-specific policies, like added fees or rules around where your pet is and isn’t allowed on the general property? Pets can become a point of contention between tenants and landlords, so learn everything you might need to know about your building’s pet policy right from the beginning.

#15 What is the renewal process?

Some landlords have rules regarding how much notice you’ll have to give if you want to renew the lease after your initial term. You can’t always count on them getting in touch and reminding you when it’s time to notify about a possible renewal, so ask about the process early on so you don’t miss out on leasing the unit again if it’s something you’re interested in doing.

The more you know about questions to ask before signing a lease, the better protected you’ll be against any surprises or upsets once the lease starts. You’ll have little recourse to argue against the things you formally signed off on in the lease, so it’s critical that you get all of your questions answered before agreeing to the terms. Hopefully, by asking the questions above you’ll get a good idea of what you’re getting into and will have a stress-free rental experience.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire Movers?

You are about to move to another home and you don’t know what to expect in terms of pricing? This can be really frustrating because when you are unsure about the cost to hire professional movers, then you won’t be able to set up your moving budget accordingly. Even worse, you don’t even know if the money you have saved up will be sufficient to cover the inevitable moving expenses.

There are just too many unanswered questions in your head that won’t let you focus on the myriad of moving tasks ahead of you. How much does it cost to hire movers? What is cheap and what is expensive? What is normal for professional movers?

You do need a good comparison base in order to know what your viable options are when seeking professional moving assistance. Finding and hiring reputable professional movers is not an easy task – most of the moving companies provide free moving quotes, but what does the final amount tell us? Understand how the moving price is formed and you’ll be able to save big on your move as well!

How much do movers charge? In most cases, your house move will fall into one of the two main pricing categories – Local Movers or Interstate Movers. Read on to learn the estimated cost to hire movers so that you are truly prepared for the financial side of your upcoming residential move.

Local Movers Cost

Local movers charge by the hour – this is the very first thing you need to remember if you’re moving locally. But what does that mean for you and your budget? It means that the price estimate you should receive by local moving companies should be based on an hourly cost and estimated hours to complete the move.

How much does it cost to hire movers for a local move?

• The average cost to hire movers for a local move is $40-$50 / hour per mover but the precise hourly charge will depend on your exact location in the country, the season and day of the month you’re moving home, and the local moving company you’ve decided to use.
• For hiring 2 men and a truck, you should expect to be charged from $85-$90 / hour to $95-$100 / hour. As mentioned above, the exact date of your move will have a considerable influence over the professional local movers rates. Busy dates are the more expensive ones – move-out dates that fall at the beginning and end of the month, especially during the summer.
• Sometimes local movers charge additional fees and you should ask in advance about them to make sure the estimate you get is as close to the final movers cost as possible. An example for such an extra charge is the travel fee – the time the movers require to get to your location and back to their base of operation. That fee is often charged as 1 additional hour of labor.
• How much does it cost to hire movers locally? A mini move (for example, moving out of a studio) that takes about 3 hours will cost you approximately 3 hours + 1 hour travel time = 4 hours x $85 comes to a total of $340 in the best case scenario.
• When moving out of a 2-bedroom home, you should be ready to shell out more. Let’s assume that 2 movers work for hours to get the job done, then that’s roughly 6 hours + 1 hour travel time = 7 hours x $85 comes to a total of $595in the best case scenario. Oftentimes, an extra mover will be required for working on 2+ bedroom homes, so the price can go even higher.
• Most local movers will ask for a deposit when scheduling the move so that they can reserve the date for you. Contact your local moving company to learn more about their deposit policy.

Keep in mind that it’s important in advance to know how much local movers charge. Click here to have a free moving cost estimate by professional local movers.

What are the price factors when moving across the country?

If you’re moving to another state, be it a neighboring one, then you’re about to complete an interstate household move. And, because of that, the first thing you should know is that the price of your cross country move will be calculated rather differently than moving locally – it’s all about the price factors and how they will influence that final moving bill.

And more importantly – why should you care? Well, the good news is that once you’re familiar with how your interstate moving cost is formed through the interconnection of the various long distance price factors, then you will be able to find and use good cost-saving techniques to your advantage.

• 
  

  Moving across the country is no joke, and neither is the price.
  Home size + shipment weight. Generally speaking, the larger your home is, the more items it will hold, and therefore – the heavier the shipment will become. In contrast to the local movers price /calculated on an hour basis/, the cost of all interstate moves /state to state moves/ are determined by the weight of the items to be shipped.
• Special items. The general cost to hire movers will suddenly go up if you own an upright piano, for example, and you decide to take it with you. The same is true for other types of specialty items as well – a pool table, a hot tub, a big metal safe, antique furniture, and so on. Make sure you show to your moving company everything that you plan to move to the new house or apartment.
• Extra services. In order to have your price calculated with any good degree of accuracy, you will need to inform beforehand your cross country mover whether you will require any additional moving services – packing, unpacking, temporary storage, disassembly and reassembly of furniture, custom crating for extremely valuable items, and so on. Only then will your long distance moving company be able to give you an accurate price estimate. And only then will you have the peace of mind that you won’t run into any bad surprises when it’s time to pay the company at the end of the move itself.
• Move distance. Of course, the actual distance between the two homes will affect the cross country moving cost. However, that factor is not something you should really worry about because you don’t have any direct control over it.

Interstate Movers Cost

As already mentioned above, the cost to hire movers in town and the cost to hire movers out of state will be rather different. And because of the numerous price factors that influence a house move across the country, it’s virtually impossible to calculate on your own the cost to hire movers for an interstate move.

Request cost estimates from various cross country movers and have the company representatives visit your home so that they can provide you with accurate moving quotes that will reflect the amount you will pay after your household items are delivered to the new home.

---

Use the moving cost estimator at the top of the page to get accurate price quotes from top-rated cross country movers.

---

How much does it cost to hire movers across country?

Use the following average costs to hire movers for cross country only for referential purposes.  Do yourself a favor and ask reputable cross country moving companies for in-house surveys, followed by the issuance of precise quotes.

• If you are moving out of a 1-bedroom apartment, your household items will most likely weigh around 3500 pounds. Expect to pay approximately $2500 for a move distance of 1000 miles with no extra services included.
• If you are moving out of a 2-bedroom home (plus a garage and a basement), your stuff will usually weigh about 5000-6000 pounds. If you move it to about 1000 miles away, the cross country move will cost you about $3500-$4000 for the complete move.

Should you happen to receive a moving quote for a lot less than those amounts, you may be dealing with non-professionals have deliberately lowered the costs just to book your move. And if that is the case, then you could be asked for more money once they have picked your stuff, right before the delivery.

Click here for a complete Interstate move estimate to know how much it costs to hire movers cross country.

How much does it cost to hire movers? The extra charges explained.

As you can see from the example moving company costs above, this question can have very different answers depending on your move locations, type of move (local or interstate), and the professional moving company itself.

Here are some additional and often unexpected fees and charges that come into play when calculating the average cost to hire movers:

• 
  

  Expect to be charged extra if the professional movers are unable to use an elevator on moving day.
  Charges for handling bulky items – this category includes pianos, organs, canoes and other items with either extraordinary proportions that take a lot of space or very heavy items (that weigh more than most items for the same volume. Some companies have a flat fee for moving pianos and organs. It is very important that the company knows about these items in advance as the movers may be unable to move them if they come unprepared on moving day.
• Long carry fee usually applies due to the impossibility to park near the door to your building or because the walking distance from your apartment to the moving truck is very long. Having too much distance will prolong the move significantly and movers may change more. If possible, try to reserve a parking spot or to arrange a parking permit and reserve the best parking spot prior your move.
• Cancellation fees might be charged if you cancel your move after previously booking it. Sometimes that could apply also when you want to change the moving date and the mover cannot accommodate you on that new date. This fee is usually equal or less than the deposit amount you have with your mover to book the date.
• Storage fees usually apply when you request delayed delivery of your items. In those cases moving companies will have to store your belongings. Depending on the moving company, this fee could be a significant charge.

There are also some uncommon charges that you should be aware of. Best practice would be to ask your moving company about these and try to negotiate better terms in advance.

• Express delivery charge or Exact delivery date charge – this usually applies when you want a fast delivery with a state to state move or when you request an exact delivery date for your cross country move.
• Disposal fees (environmental charges) usually apply when you request unpacking of your belongings and the moving company will have to dispose of the used moving boxes and additional packing materials left from the relocation.
• Extra stop charge usually occurs with local moves, when you pick up or drop off furniture from multiple locations. This will cause the movers to drive additional distance and spend more time.

This is why you are strongly advised to get estimates from multiple moving companies as every company has its own set of parameters when estimating the move cost. Also, negotiating a discount in advance is another option worth exploring.

Comparing Moving Container Companies

Moving containers have become a popular way to move possessions.

How Moving Containers Work

It’s easy to have the container delivered straight to your home and have it placed on the street or driveway outside. With a container, you can take as much time as you need to load your belongings. When you’re done packing, the container company comes out and puts the container on a truck and either takes it to a storage unit or delivers it to your new home.

Different Types of Moving Containers & Companies

However, with many different companies to choose from and each one offering different services, pricing and sizes, it can be difficult to pinpoint the one that’s right for you. Comparing your portable moving options will ensure you choose the company and service best suited to your needs.

U-Haul U-Boxes

U-Boxes from U-Haul come in a single size: 7 feet 6 inches high, 5 feet wide and 8 feet long. Each container holds about a room-and-a-half of your stuff, up to 2,000 pounds. The containers are made out of heavy-duty plywood and covered with a weather-resistant cover to keep your possessions safe from the elements. U-Haul also allows you to transport U-Boxes yourself if you have a vehicle with towing capability.

PODS

PODS containers come in three sizes: The smallest is 7 feet long, 7 feet wide and 8 feet high; the two larger sizes are 8 feet high and wide, and either 12 feet or 16 feet long.

Get Free Moving Quotes!

Where are you moving from?

The smallest container holds about a room’s worth of stuff, while the largest size will hold items from about three or four rooms. Each container has a steel frame with an aluminum skin with a lightweight steel roll-up door. You pack up the container at your place and use your own lock for security.

U-Pack Moving’s ReloCube

The ReloCube measures 8 feet 4 inches high, 7 feet wide and 6 feet 3 inches long and holds about one room’s worth of stuff. The container is weatherproof, with steel framing and aluminum side panels, and fits into a standard parking space. Customers can use their own padlocks on the containers for added security.

1-800-PACK-RAT

1-800-PACK-RAT containers are available in two sizes–12 feet long and 16 feet long, both of which are 8 feet high and wide. The 12-foot container holds between one and two rooms while the 16-foot container can hold between three and four rooms.

PACK-RAT moving containers are made from steel components, including the frame, walls and door. They have embedded metal skids which provide 6 inches of ground clearance to ensure your items remain dry at all times.

Door-To-Door Storage

Door-To-Door Storage offers one size of moving container that is 7 feet high, 5 feet wide and 8 feet long. Each container holds about 40 to 50 medium-sized boxes—enough space to pack a single room.

The moving containers are made of construction-grade wood. The floor is raised 4 inches from ground level for easy loading and to keep your items protected from water damage. While the storage container is located outside, it’s covered by a weather-resistant cover.

United Mayflower

United Mayflower offers a single storage-container size that is 16 feet long and 8 feet high and wide, which the company says provides enough space to fit the entire contents of a 1,500-square-foot home. The container is constructed of an all-steel frame with aluminum side panels and roll-up door. It is waterproof and it comes with tie-down rings for keeping your articles safe and secure.

SmartBox

SmartBox containers are available in one size that is 7 feet high, 5 feet wide and 8 feet long, which are capable of holding about a room to a room-and-a-half of furniture and goods, up to 2,000 pounds.