jacksoncho
- May 23
- 3 min read

Moving Tips

With summer just a few months away, the real estate market will likely pick up again (at least compared to the winter market). Many people will be buying and selling homes, preparing to move. Today, I’d like to share some useful moving tips.

1. Choose Your Moving Date Wisely

Moving is expensive no matter how you do it. This is especially true during the peak moving season when prices go up due to the laws of supply and demand. To save on moving costs, avoid moving during the peak season.

In the U.S., the peak moving season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Therefore, it’s best to avoid this period. Moving between October and April can help you save on costs.

2. Compare Service Plans

If you’ve lived in the U.S. for a while, you know that moving services here are quite different from those in Korea. Don’t expect the same level of service as Korean full-service moving.

Even with expensive moving service packages, the homeowner often has to do some work. The extent of this work can help you save money.

The most expensive option is full-service moving. This is similar to the concept of full-service moving in Korea, but typically includes packing your belongings into boxes, loading them onto the truck, transporting them, and unloading them into your new home.

Another option is self-service moving, such as with PODS. A company delivers an empty container to your home. You load your belongings into the container, and on a specified date, the company picks up the loaded container and delivers it to your new home. You then unload the container yourself.

Consider using specialty companies if you have expensive items like pianos. After deciding how you’ll move, get estimates from at least three companies before proceeding.

3. Plan How to Pack

More belongings mean more boxes, which increases moving costs. Therefore, you should minimize your belongings by disposing of, selling, or donating items you don’t need before moving.

Experts recommend packing the “must-have” items first and gradually reducing the amount you pack.

4. Budget Carefully

The biggest part of moving costs is usually the payment to the moving company. If this expense exceeds your expectations, it can severely impact your moving plans.

Estimates are usually given after an in-person assessment by the moving company, but unforeseen problems can arise. When this happens, moving costs can increase during the process.

To avoid this, consider getting a binding estimate or a not-to-exceed estimate. A binding estimate means you pay exactly the amount quoted, regardless of any difficulties or additional items. This helps you plan accurately for moving costs. However, even if you move fewer items than estimated, you still pay the quoted amount.

The not-to-exceed estimate is a more flexible option. It guarantees that the cost will not exceed the quoted amount. If you move fewer items than estimated, you can pay less than the quoted amount.

5. Consider Moving Insurance

It’s always best to work with a company that has insurance. This way, you’re more likely to be compensated if your belongings are damaged or lost during the move. If the company doesn’t have insurance, consider purchasing moving insurance yourself. It usually costs about $0.50 per pound. While this might seem like a significant expense, it’s a valuable tool to ensure compensation if your belongings are damaged or lost.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I’ll be back with more helpful posts in the future.