A move is an operation that can cost a few hundred euros to several thousand euros depending on customer needs. A significant cost that can be difficult to assume for a household.
However, it is possible to move cheaply by negotiating benefits in terms of services and/or price reductions with moving companies. In this file, discover our 9 tips for negotiating well.
Tip n°1: we anticipate!
As with any project, anticipation is the key to starting on a good basis for reflection and to give yourself every chance of making the best choices. Indeed, when we give ourselves the necessary time, we generally make the right decisions. Negotiating takes time, which is why it is better to start at least two months in advance, or even 45 days before the big day at the latest.
By anticipating events, you can start your search as soon as you are certain of moving and of the target period. Contact several competent moving professionals and ask for quotes. This will give you more time to study the offers and to negotiate certain advantages.
Also, be aware that if you are planning to move during a high demand period – i.e. between June and September, during school holidays or over a weekend – you will face many more requests from customers. . Moving companies will therefore be less available and less inclined to accept your negotiations.
Tip n°2: we sort!
Do you really need to move everything in your house? There must be some objects or pieces of furniture that are unusable, because they are broken or worn out, or are unused. So start by doing a good sorting to get rid of this unnecessary volume. Throw away or recycle what can no longer be used and donate or sell on a classifieds site those that can have a second life elsewhere.
Why make this effort? In addition to the fact that reducing the volume by eliminating the unnecessary will allow you to save a few rounds of loading and unloading, you can also limit the volume to be moved to its strict minimum. However, the volume is precisely one of the main criteria that determine the price of a service. Indeed, the larger the volume to be moved, the more you will need to rent a large vehicle, the more staff you will need to mobilize and the more time you will need to devote to the move. It is therefore preferable to tackle this sorting task beforehand in order to reduce the volume to be moved and thus make some significant savings.
Tip n°3: we precisely define our needs!
Evaluating your needs will be of great use to you. Indeed, you will be able to better prepare for this event, but also optimize your search for the ideal service provider by relying on concrete bases. To define your needs, you will have to study the following points.
The volume to be transported
As we have already indicated, the volume to be transported is one of the main criteria used to determine the price of a move by a professional company. The larger the volume, the higher the overall price will be. It is therefore better to estimate the volume to be moved in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Know that any competent professional will offer you a technical visit on site which will allow him to estimate this volume in order to offer you a detailed estimate. However, to be certain that the offers sent to you are reasonable in terms of price, you can first estimate this volume yourself. To do this, you can embark on a meticulous calculation, help you with simulators specialized in this type of operation or even perform a ladle calculation based on the surface of the accommodation. Take this area in square meters and divide it by 2.5 to arrive at an average volume of goods to be moved in cubic meters. For example, for a dwelling of 50 m2plan an average volume of about 20 m3.
The distance between the old and the new accommodation
A move in the same city and a move across the country will not cost the same. Indeed, the greater the distance between the old accommodation and the new one, the higher the costs will be. For what ? Because a vehicle has to be mobilized over a longer distance, which leads to higher costs in terms of fuel and tolls. In addition, the teams are stressed longer.
The ideal formula
The majority of moving professionals offer at least three categories of formulas. Depending on your expectations and your budget, you can opt for a more or less complete formula.
- The economic formula is a basic service which generally only includes the loading, transport and unloading of goods. This formula is the least expensive, but it requires a greater commitment from the customer.
- The intermediate formulacalled standard, also includes other services, such as the assembly and disassembly of furniture, the supply of equipment, the transport of fragile goods, etc.
- The comfort formula, the most upscale, consists in entrusting the professional mover with almost all of the moving. If it is the most expensive, it considerably lightens the burden of the event on the shoulders of the client.
Take the time to study and compare the formulas offered to you by moving professionals. Indeed, from one company to another, the same formula can include more or less services for the same or almost the same price. Do not hesitate to negotiate advantages in kind or prices based on the competition.
Possible difficulties of access
Not all accommodations are easily accessible. It all depends on the configuration of the premises and the equipment available. A staircase may be too narrow to move certain goods, an elevator may be unusable, parking as close as possible to the accommodation may be impossible… all these constraints are likely to lead to additional costs.
Possible options
Some customers need to subscribe to additional options to benefit from a tailor-made service. This is particularly the case for transporting very bulky furniture, precious objects, very fragile and non-removable goods, works of art, etc. It is necessary to call on specially equipped professionals, which always generates additional costs.
Tip n°4: we pack and we dismantle!
To make real savings on your move, it is best to choose the economic service. However, this mobilizes the customer who must take care of the entire service, except loading, transport and unloading. You must therefore have time, but by packing your belongings yourself and dismantling your furniture, you can save a lot of money.
It is also possible to negotiate other reductions with certain pros in the event of a particularly limited budget. Indeed, some moving companies agree to reduce loading and unloading costs on condition that the boxes and furniture are placed at the foot of the truck, which greatly limits the journeys of the teams. Some even offer to rent only a vehicle with driver. Thus, the customer takes care of all the loading and unloading, but his goods are transported by the driver of the mover in order to reduce the costs while delegating this part of the event (which avoids renting a moving truck to his name).
Tip n°5: choose the right period!
As we have already indicated, the vast majority of moves are concentrated in the summer period, between June and September, as well as weekends and school holidays. Moving professionals are therefore particularly in demand during these periods and apply higher prices.
To negotiate certain price advantages, it is better to bet on a move outside these periods, ideally at the end of autumn, in winter (except during the end-of-year holiday period) and in spring, if possible during the week, even if it means take leave. It is indeed during these off-peak periods that it is possible to negotiate a better price more easily.
Tip n°6: we group!
The grouped move, or groupage, is a solution that is developing. Proposed by the majority of moving companies, this consists of grouping together in the same vehicle the goods of several customers who are moving at the same time, on the same day, between two identical destinations. So certainly, for this type of trip to be optimized and profitable, you have to know how to be flexible in terms of the date and time of the move, but it is a good way to reduce your bill by 20% to 40%.
Tip n°7: we compare!
In any case, comparing offers is essential to make the best deals. If you plan to move, do not jump on the first company that comes along. Take the time to canvass several professionals, ask for personalized quotes, study them and compare them. This will be the best way to make the best choice.
In addition, you will have more concrete offers to negotiate attractive rates.
Tip n°8: use an online comparator!
The online comparator is an ideal tool to compare the offers of several moving companies effortlessly. Indeed, these comparators are free, without obligation, accessible everywhere, easy to use, efficient and effective, but also 100% personalized. All you have to do is fill out a short questionnaire that allows the tool to pinpoint your needs with precision. You then receive a list of proposals that fit your search criteria and budget. You just have to study them quietly and compare them to make your choice with confidence.
Thanks to this online platform, you save precious time. You can also rely on competing offers to negotiate even more attractive advantages in terms of price or services with the professional who has caught your attention.
Tip n°9: contact a company based in the destination city!
In the majority of cases, customers approach professional movers located in the city of their former home, or more precisely in the city of departure. However, getting information from the brands located in the city of arrival, where the new accommodation is located, is often interesting.
On the one hand, the pricing policy of the destination city is perhaps more attractive than that of the departure city, especially if you are leaving a large city for a smaller one. In addition, you can take advantage of the empty return of the mover, in the case of groupage in particular, to negotiate reduced rates.