Relocating can be an expensive undertaking, causing many people to look for ways to cut costs and save money. Some will even go so far as to consider shipping items to their new address.

What are the Options for Large Shipments?

The United States Post Office will generally direct heavy shipments to either Fedex or UPS. While these are reliable shipping companies with years of experience, they typically don’t handle boxes of more than 150 pounds. Consider what you are shipping, how many 150 pound boxes will your house or apartment take up?

The next option is LTL –or less than truckload. This type of shipping is used normally by individuals who make large purchases online and then need to figure out a way to get it to their house. The catch is that not only do you need to give dimensions for all of the items you plan on shipping, you have to factor in the weight. Oversized items such as big screen TVs and even mattresses will cause a problem as an extra charge may be added for taking up more space in the truck. Once you start adding up all of those boxes, furniture and odds and ends like your kids trampoline, you are looking at thousands of dollars to get your stuff from point A to point B.

What is the Difference With a Moving Company?

Moving companies don’t charge by the pound, or even the item, their experience in making big moves allows them to charge by the size of the truck you will need. With a few questions or quick walk through of your home, they can tell how big of a truck you are going to need and charge accordingly.

Just like with the other types of companies, things such as gas and tolls are already figured into the price. And you get the added bonus of having moving professionals to pack up your belongings and look after them with care.

So Back to Cutting Costs

When it comes to moving, the best way to cut costs is on choosing the right moving company to entrust with your belongings. Using a freight company is not cutting out the middle man. Instead, it is exposing you to the risk of extra charges and fees for services that a moving company provides automatically.

Let’s not forget the cost of valuable time. Freight companies are not going to box your items for you, and in some cases will even make you list the contents of every box. How much money are you losing buying the boxes and packing material, packing them up, and making detailed lists?

There is no option for moving that is less expensive than a professional moving company once you factor in all of the variables. And for most, having your items in the care of a trusted and reliable moving care is an invaluable service.