Relocating to a new city and state can be expensive. Regardless of whether you’re coming to the Windy City for work, to be closer to family and friends, or are embarking on a new adventure in your life, chances are you’re looking for tips on how to save money on a long-distance move to Chicago.
Read on to learn some pro tips on planning a smooth and wallet-friendly move to our hometown.
Only Move What You Really Need
Estimates for interstate moves are usually calculated based on the cubic footage your inventory will take up in the moving truck. If you’re looking to save money on a long-distance move to Chicago, it might be a good idea to sell, donate, or dispose of large furniture pieces rather than paying to move them.
Getting rid of that frayed couch or your grandmother’s old coffee table is an easy decision if you’re moving to a smaller place in Illinois. However, even if you’re upsizing to a larger home in Chicago, leaving some big furniture behind and buying brand-new items as you settle in can both keep some moving cash in your wallet and let you start the new chapter in your life with clean and fresh furnishings.
Declutter Your Home Before Moving
One common practice that’ll help you save money on any move is to purge unwanted or unneeded items before you even start packing. Sure, you could fill boxes and boxes of your junk drawer contents and clothing you haven’t worn in years, but remember: the less you move, the less you’ll pay.
Instead of filling up trash cans with the items you’re purging, though, get creative with your decluttering process:
- Invite friends and family over to go through the items you’re not bringing to Chicago, and let them have their pick.
- Find a local charity to donate to. In some cases, the organization will come to your home and haul away your donations.
- Hold a yard or garage sale to make some extra cash before you move.
Just like leaving some old furniture in your old digs, decluttering your home before you move to Chicago will help you have a fresh start in your new city.
Find the Right Packing Supplies
Packing supplies don’t have to break the bank. When you put a little time into finding the right materials, you can actually save money on a long-distance move to Chicago.
First, grab all of your suitcases, duffel bags, and large plastic bins. You can pack these full of just about anything…and soft items like blankets and sweatshirts make great wrapping and padding material! Then, scour your neighborhood’s social media pages for free moving supplies. It’s common for bars, restaurants, and people who’ve recently moved to give away used boxes.
Free or inexpensive packing supplies are great for a lot of items in your home, but you might want to splurge a little when you pack your valuables. Fragile items like jewelry, antiques, and electronics deserve higher-end materials and a little extra attention to make sure they arrive at your Chicago home safely and damage-free.
Get to Know Your Options
Researching your moving options helps you understand what costs you can expect during your move. For the most part, you have three possibilities, and each one has pros and cons.
DIY Move
In this scenario, you rent the moving truck and handle the loading labor at your old home, transportation to Illinois, and the unloading labor when you get to Chicago.
This is often the least expensive long-distance moving method, but keep in mind that you’re 100% responsible for everything. Although you might be able to assemble a team of your local buddies to help you schlep your home’s inventory to and from the moving truck, you’ll have to pay out of pocket to fix or replace any damaged or lost items.
Additionally, take into account how far you’ll be driving the rental truck. Most rental vehicle companies charge by the mile, and you could face even more fees to take the truck across state lines.
Container Move
A second option you can research to save money on a long-distance move to Chicago is hiring a transportation company to bring your belongings from your old home to your new one.
Basically, you rent a container (such as PODS), and you’re responsible for the loading and unloading labor. If you have a little extra in your moving budget, you can hire professional loading and unloading services so you don’t have to handle the manual labor by yourself.
Full-Service Long-Distance Move
Some people shy away from hiring full-service long-distance movers because of the cost. While it might be more expensive than the first two options, it can often save you money—and backaches—in the long run.
Partnering with a full-service mover means you don’t have to carry heavy furniture and boxes or secure them on the moving truck. It also means you don’t have to source a rental truck, a storage container, or professional loading and unloading services. Time is money, and finding a reliable long-distance mover saves you a ton of time.
One of the best ways to manage your costs and save money on a long-distance move to Chicago if you choose to hire a full-service moving company is to provide an accurate and detailed inventory of the items in your home. Remember: long-distance moves are generally estimated based on cubic footage, and you can avoid unpleasant surprises on your moving day if you’ve told your mover exactly what they’ll be loading, transporting, and unloading.
This option also helps you save money after the move. Just in case anything is damaged or lost, your moving company’s insurance and coverage options will alleviate at least some of the financial burden of repairing or replacing those items.
Obtain Multiple Moving Estimates
Because a long-distance move can be a high-priced event, the best practice is to contact at least three reliable movers for estimates. Once you have their pricing, compare the most important line items, such as:
- Cost per cubic foot
- Total estimated cubic feet
- Fuel surcharges
- Material fees
You’ll also need to read every word of the fine print in each moving contract. Some long-distance moving companies might hide additional fees in their terms, so spending some extra time going over all of the details in each estimate can help you avoid surprises come moving day. In other words, the cheapest estimate isn’t always the cheapest option in the long run.
Choose an Off-Peak Moving Date
You might be able to save money on a long-distance move to Chicago if you have some flexibility on your moving date. Most movers charge more on weekends and at the beginning and end of each month—and since the peak moving season runs from the end of March through the beginning of October, rates during those months tend to be higher.
Budget is a concern for many people who plan interstate moves, and the best moving companies in Chicago will help you save money wherever you can. Just contact your movers and ask them if certain dates will cost less than others. Their customer service team should be willing and eager to schedule your relocation on a date that will keep some cash in your pocket.
We’re Here to Help You Save Money on a Long-Distance Move to Chicago
We absolutely love helping people move to our fair town. In our humble opinion, Chicago is the greatest city in the world, and we’ll do everything we can to help you have a smooth and wallet-friendly moving experience.
Contact us today to tell us about your upcoming long-distance move, and we’ll create a custom estimate for you!