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July 29, 2013, 6:01 a.m. EDT

How to save money when you move

Even in the heart of moving season, there are ways to save

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By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch

We’re currently in the heart of moving season, those summer months when families typically prefer to uproot and replant someplace else.

And this season has been noticeably busier, due to the housing market picking up, said John Bisney, spokesman for the American Moving & Storage Association. During the recession, “demand for residential moving services was down by almost a third,” he said.

Despite a growing demand for these services, it’s still possible to save money when hauling your belongings from your current home to the next one. Below are moving tips for budget-conscious consumers.

Move on an ‘off’ day

Doesn’t matter if you do it on June 30 or Jan. 31—if you move at the end of the month, you’ll pay more for it, said Andrea Boccard, vice president of marketing for FlatRate Moving, based in New York. Many leases are up at the end of the month and start at the beginning, so there’s competition then for the trucks and crew to help you pack and shuttle your belongings.

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Also stay away from moves on the 15th of the month, another popular move-in/move-out date. Even shifting to the 13th or 14th, when a mover has more trucks available, opens you up to ask for discounts or extras, such as free packing boxes or an extra mover at no charge, Boccard said.

If you can, schedule the move midweek, since weekends are popular. Check with your moving company: Weekday moving rates can be substantially lower if their employees have to be paid overtime for weekend moves.

Of course, moving in an “off” month will provide more savings. “Once October rolls around, you’re going to get a better rate,” Boccard said.

Book in advance

Even if your exact move date isn’t finalized, try to get penciled in a month in advance—especially if you need to move at a popular time. That will give you a little more power to negotiate.

“If you reach out in advance, they know they will have a customer and will work with you,” Boccard said. You can firm up the date later. Be sure to confirm the date with the mover, and get it in writing.

Booking in advance means you can book with the best companies, too, Bisney pointed out. “It’s not something to put off to the last minute,” he said. “When that happens, you find that people start getting desperate…and that’s when they get hooked up with the wrong people,” including, possibly, firms that aren’t reputable, Bisney said.

Read Jeanette Pavini’s Buyer Beware column: How to avoid getting scammed by movers.

Secure a guaranteed price

A mover may charge by the hour, use a binding estimate or charge a flat rate based on inventory. But to avoid surprises, insist on a guaranteed price in advance, in writing, Boccard said.