4 Ways to Save Money When Moving

When preparing to move, you might feel the rising tide of worry creeping up as the move date gets closer. Let’s face facts: if you’re relocating, many of those worries are probably about the mounting costs associated with the move.

Fortunately, there are ways you can cut some of those costs. We are here to help with a handy list of tips to help keep the price of moving as low as it can be.

Going with the Lowest Price Isn’t Always the Most Economical

Finding the right company for your relocating needs can be a tedious task, but don’t settle for less than the best. There are many charlatans out there who just got involved in the moving business because they are looking for a quick payout.

These movers might offer a lower upfront price, but you might pay in the long run as they don’t take the necessary care of your goods. Getting the move right is cheaper than buying new furniture!

Select a company with a solid reputation, and this will ensure you avoid any hidden costs further down the line.

Don’t Need It? Let It Go

We all find it hard to get rid of things sometimes, even when we really don’t need them.

However, if you’re moving, it makes sense to get rid of all the stuff that is no longer useful.

Because some movers charge by the size of the load and others by the hour, the more things you have, the costlier it will be. Thus you can save by not being over sentimental and get rid of stuff you don’t need.

Also, if it is more expensive to move the goods than it is to buy a new version, then donate it before the move. This is an important consideration when it comes to things like weights and books.

Save your receipts for any items you donate as you might be able to deduct those from your taxes.

Be Smart About Your Services and Utilities

Most utility providers require you to pay for a full month of service at a time, so try to time your move around this. Discontinue cable and internet before you go, so you won’t be paying bills for services you will never use.

Save Money Packing

If you are packing your own goods, then be wise about it. Become a cardboard box hoarder for a few weeks before the move – this will ensure that you don’t have to spend unnecessary cash on boxes that you might get for free.

Moving doesn’t have to be complicated, and neither does saving money. It just takes a bit of planning.

6 Tips for Renting Portable Storage in Orlando

Have you heard of one of hottest moving and storage trends sweeping the industry? Portable storage units have become extremely popular for moving household of all sizes, safekeeping belongings during home remodeling projects, and even for business storage. The process is quite simple and convenient: An Orlando storage unit is delivered to your home or office and you load your belongings into the unit at your own pace. You can then schedule a pickup date to have the storage unit delivered to a new location, or request to have it picked up when you no longer need it for storing your items.

Easy, right? Well, that’s just a brief overview of the process. In order to find the perfect portable storage in Orlando for you, the experts at AAA Insta-Move have complied some helpful tips to ensure a hassle-free storage experience—particularly if you’ve never used a portable storage unit before.

1.  Request a Free Consultation and Estimate

Portable storage units are available for residential and business moves of various sizes, but determining the correct size of unit that you will need can be difficult for inexperienced movers. A professional Orlando moving company should provide a free consultation at your home or business to discuss your needs, create a storage plan that works for your unique situation, and provide a detailed estimate of all costs involved.

2. Ask About Flexible Storage Options

As in daily life, moving doesn’t always go as planned. If your move date is postponed because your new home or office isn’t ready as scheduled—or for any other reason—it’s good to know that the moving and storage company you’ve selected has flexible storage options. This could include moving the entire unit to the company’s secure facility for short- or long-term storage until you’re ready to receive your belongings or changing the pickup and delivery date of the unit to accommodate your new move date.

3. Consider Taking Advantage of Additional Services

Moving can be a daunting experience with filled with seemingly endless tasks and concerns. While one of the major benefits of portable storage units is the ability to pack at your own pace, you might find that you’d prefer to have assistance with some or all of your packing needs. Many moving and storage companies offer full-service packing and specialized packing services for fragile items, appliances, furniture, and more. You might find that you time is better served working on aspects of your move while professional movers handle the packing for you!

4. Inquire About Insurance/Valuation Options

Insuring your belongings is an important consideration. Check with your home or business insurance policy to determine if your belongings are covered while the unit is on your property. When the storage unit is being moved to your new location or held at the moving and storage company’s facility, additional insurance or valuation coverage may be needed to protect your items if they are lost or damaged.

5. Check for Industry Affiliations

A reputable Orlando moving company will have affiliations within the moving and storage industry. On a national level, ProMover certification with the American Moving & Storage Association is a highly coveted affiliation, as is an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Many states also have industry organizations, such as the Florida Movers and Warehousemen’s Association.

6. Read Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can give you a good idea of the level of customer service a moving and storage company provides its customers. While you can find reviews on numerous websites, try to stick to legitimate sources, such as the BBB or the company’s own website.

Are you ready to have a hassle-free moving and storage experience? For trustworthy portable storage in Orlando, AAA Insta-Move is a certified ProMover with AMSA and has earned an A+ rating from the BBB! Give us a call today to discuss your portable storage needs or fill out our simple online form now to request a free, no-obligation estimate.

9 Reasons to Move to Charlotte, North Carolina

Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by Derek Dawson from Dawson Property Management, Inc. about reasons to move to Charlotte, North Carolina.  

A major city and commercial hub in North Carolina, the charms of Charlotte, NC are plentiful. The city offers its residents an awesome social scene, gorgeous parks, outdoor venues, great school systems and much more.

The Charlotte region of North Carolina hosts 850 foreign companies and eight Fortune 500 corporate headquarters. It is also the third fastest-growing major city in the United States.

Intrigued? Here are 12 reasons to move to Charlotte:

1.      Charlotte has great outdoor activities.

Multiple greenway biking paths in Charlotte have something for every cyclist’s level. The U.S. National Whitewater Center has the best single-track mountain biking in the region. Besides biking, you can also try zip lining, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing and more.

You can enjoy great outdoor activities at the Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

2.      It’s never dull in Charlotte.

Sports enthusiasts will certainly love it here. The city is home to the Charlotte Checkers, the Charlotte Knights, the Charlotte Hornets and the Carolina Panthers.

The Queen City also regularly hosts large sporting events annually. These include the Wells Fargo Golf Tournament, the NBA All-Star Game, the Belk Bowl Game and the PGA Golf Championship.

3.      Charlotte has a great quality of life.

You are sure to live comfortably and enjoy all the amenities of the city right at your fingertips. The cost of living is just below the national average, and the housing cost is four percent below the national average.

4.      The job market is exciting.

Charlotte is becoming a young and enterprising city. It is the home to exciting and fast-growing startups like Boxman Studios and Cloud Castle Group. Bank of America and Wells Fargo also have strong roots in the local economy. The city ranks fourteenth on Forbes list of Best Places for Business and Careers.

5.      Its economy is bustling.

From 2010-2013, an impressive 150,000 people moved to Charlotte to call the Queen City their new home, making it the second fastest-growing large U.S. city. It was ranked ninth among the nation’s metropolitan areas for predicted growth for 2014-2015.

6.      Experience big city living, mixed with a little Southern charm.

If you’re looking for a quiet neighborhood or park to spend your time, you have plenty of options. If you’re craving the hustle and bustle of the city, you can get your fix with a day in Uptown.

The people are friendly, the weather is envious and the food is fried. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll more than likely find it in Queen’s City.

7.      It has fantastic schools.

Charlotte has fantastic schools, from elementary through university. The city boasts an 85% high school graduation rate, which is an impressive four percent higher than the national average. Parents have plenty of public, private or religious schools to choose from.

When it comes to college education, the Queen City couldn’t be a better location. There are plenty of top-tier options such as Queens University, Appalachian State University, UNC Charlotte, Meredith College, North Carolina State University, Duke University, Wake Forest and more.

8.      The music scene is epic.

Whether you enjoy big concerts at amphitheaters or small standing-room only venues, Charlotte has it all. Venues include Charlotte Uptown Amphitheatre, the Evening Muse, the Fillmore and the PNC Music Pavilion.

9.      The Queen City is a foodie haven.

Foodies will love it here! There are countless award-winning restaurants to choose from. Check out these favorites: Bistro La Bon, 300 East, Basil, Carpe Diem, Upstream and Barrington’s.

This article was provided by Derek Dawson. Derek is a resident of Charlotte, NC and currently operates Dawson Property Management, Inc.

Learn more about our Charlotte moving services.