Let’s face it, moving furniture is going to cost you, one way or another, but there are many ways to keep the costs down if need be. Following are some tips and ideas for saving money when moving furniture specifically.

Sell It!

Have you had that couch since college? Was that Ikea dining set only supposed to be temporary until you got “grown-up” furniture? Before a move, it’s worth taking an objective look at your belongings and determining what absolutely, positively must stay and what you can happily release to a new owner. Anything you can easily part with can be sold on Craigslist, OfferUp, LetGo or a similar platform, potentially raising more money for your move!

Take the Write-Off!

Another great option is donating your unwanted furniture to a charity, preferably one that’s meaningful to you. That way you’re getting rid of stuff, rather than paying to move it to a new house, you’re doing good, and you’re getting a tax write-off—all in one fell swoop. What could be better than that?

Do It Yourself

You can often save money on the move by doing it yourself. You could potentially borrow a truck or trailer for short distance move or rent a U-Haul and drive for a long-distance move. But be realistic. What you might save in money, you’re potentially losing in time, back pain (especially if you’re moving a gun safe), and exhaustion. And there are hidden costs to consider, like equipment rentals, gas, lodging, and food. So, take the time to think through your priorities, and determine what makes the most sense for you.

Rent a Pod

Renting a portable moving container is one of the most popular alternatives to using full-service movers. It’s usually cheaper (almost by half) and can act as storage, should you need it (if this is the case, just be sure to prep your furniture for storage). You pack the container; then the company picks it up, stores it (if necessary), and delivers it to your destination. This method of moving can be very convenient if you’re on a budget. Just remember that you will be doing all the packing and unpacking, so the money you’re saving is primarily on the labor.

Hire by The Hour

Another option is to hire a local mover by the hour to help you. This method could be cheaper than DIY considering you won’t have to pay to rent dollies, furniture pads, and other equipment—the mover should already have all those items. But if you’re going a long distance, this may not work for you.

LTL Furniture Shipping

If you don’t need your furniture right away, then you could consider shipping furniture via LTL shipping (Less Than Truckload). In addition to moving entire households of furniture, many moving companies will consolidate small load shipments if customers only have a few items to move. Your furniture may make many stops and even change trucks, so you may not get a guaranteed delivery date, but the savings can be substantial. If you use this method, make sure that your items are wrapped extremely well to withstand the wear and tear.

Move During the Off-Season

One thing you might not know is that moving, like most things, has a busy season. If you can plan your move between October and April, you could potentially save quite a bit over other times of the year. During the late spring, summer and early fall (when kids are out of school), moving companies keep their prices high because their services and products are in high demand. After those seasons, demand falls, so many moving services drop prices to drum up business.

Find out how much your move costs!