Given the current bummer of the economy right now, those who are in the market for movers are looking for the least expensive way to make it happen. This can be difficult because no matter how you slice it, dice it or puree it, hiring movers is going to cost you a bit. For those who are on a budget, there are definite things you can do in preparation and during your move that will help save time. Because most movers work on an hourly rate, cutting down on the move time is going to save you money. Not that you would really would want to hire anyone EXCEPT the REAL RocknRoll Movers but whether you use us or those "other guys", here's some tips to help cut down on your moving cost by making the move go faster.

Before the Big day...

KEEP IT SIMPLE- One thing that slows a move down substantially is when we have to figure out whats' staying and what's going. You can greatly expedite your move by making a nice organized pile of what is going into the truck. If possible, getting everything in to the main room closest to the door is even better. The more you can keep the items that are staying behind out of our site the better. Take things out of the closets if you want them moved. When we can walk in to your pad and just grab from an obvious stack it cuts down on the thinking...and it's better when movers don't have to think too much.

BOXES NOT BAGS- Trash bags are not a movers friend. They break, they're hard to carry and they don't stack well (of course). Especially in a situation where there are no stairs and we can make use of our dollies, stacking up boxes is much faster than carrying lumpy cumbersome bags out to the truck. Not to mention it's much easier to tetris something into the truck when it's a nice clean geometrical shape, rather than an oddly shaped lumpy trash bag. If you can afford it new boxes are the best. The newer the box the easier to work with. If you're counting your dollars however, there's always the shipping boxes you can find in recycling bins behind you're local grocery store, Starbucks, etc. Also, many Uhaul locations now have used boxes available for free as a "take a box, leave a box" concept. Then, when you're move is finished, you can always pay if forward by dropping the boxes back at the Uhaul. Sharing is caring.

SOME "Dis"ASSEMBLY REQUIRED- If you have the tools and the talent, taking apart any furniture that may need it or disconnecting your electronics and appliances always helps cut down on time. Many people don't realize that the 15 minutes it takes to take your canopy bed apart plus the twenty minutes to disconnect that stubborn washing machine hose plus the 10 minutes to remove the top from your over sized kitchen table so it can fit through the door, plus the 20 minutes disconnecting you're entire entertainment center and unknotting the mess of cables that connect it together all adds up. Movers are generally happy to take care of that stuff for you, but if you're looking to keep our time with you short and sweet, then it's always a good idea to have all that taken care of ahead of time. Also remember that the clock is still running when you're at the new place and you want it all put back together again. Have some buddies over for a "house warming" and have a reassembly party. A 12 pack of beer is cheaper than the hour you paid for your mover to fight with a stripped screw on that canopy bed.

OBJECTS MAY BE LARGER THAN THEY APPEAR- There are times where some of that over sized furniture may need some finessing to get it out of your place. If you know that when the last guys moved your 9 foot sleeper sofa in to your place, they had to take all the doors off the hinges, unscrew the legs off the bottom of the couch, and strap that heavy mattress down so it didn't pop out while loading it into through the front door, taking care of all that yourself will put some money back in your pocket. Also, securing the doors on that Ardmoir so they don't come flying open half way down the stairs or emptying and removing the drawers from Grandma's old, extra heavy, solid oak dresser will make the moving of that family heirloom, easier faster and safer. Afterall, we want Grandma to be happy right?

On the Big Day...

HELP US, HELP YOU, HELP US- Some moving companies may not be down with this but we here at REAL RocknRoll Movers never mind if a customer wants to help out on a move. Obviously we're here to work for you so you're welcome to kick back with a cold Corona and watch us sweat (just as long as you save a beer for us for when the move is done), but if you're looking to save a buck and don't mind lending a hand, it's usually a good idea to grab any of the smaller items you can handle on your own and take them out to the truck. One thing to remember though is to be sure to keep those items out of the movers way so they don't end up with an obstacle course in front them. Also, leave the packing to the “tetris” professionals. There's always a packing order so that your stuff is safe during the ride and placing random things into the truck before their time will make more work for your movers and means more time for your move.

DISTANCE=TIME=$$$- There is just no way around the fact that a long distance between the truck and your pad is going to take up time and therefore cost money. Sometimes it's hard for a customer to understand why their simple 1 bedroom apartment is taking hours to load into the truck, while their friend up the street had their entire 1 bedroom apartment moved out of the old place and in to the new one in no time. When you are living in an apartment complex where the path from the truck to your apartment includes, a long walk up a driveway, then up a flight of stairs to the front of the building, then through a parking garage, then up to the 4th floor in the worlds slowest elevator, then down a maze of a hallway with lots of little twists and turns, then finally arriving at your apartment, you figure each trip takes ten minutes. Multiply that times 30 trips and you’re looking at 5 hours. Meanwhile, your friend up the street lives in a house with a driveway where the truck is backed up to the front door and each trip takes 1 minute. Multiply that by 30 trips and you get a nice cool half hour. Just something to consider when planning out how long you anticipate your move is going to take.

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF (SO WE DON'T HAVE TO)- The best way to get the most out of your movers is to use them for what you can’t do yourself. The more time you have them loading all of the odds and ends the longer your move is going to take. If you’re really on a shoe string budget, don’t have them loading all your bags of groceries from the cupboard, your little desk lamp and 50 shoeboxes into the truck. Make the most of it and have them working on that big screen TV, the couch and that gigantic piece of artwork. Focus on the things that you truly can’t move in your car. You’re paying us an hourly rate to make trip after trip up and down the stairs, all of which you could take care of yourself and get a nice little workout at the same time. Who needs a stair climber or “Buns of Steel” when you’ve got a 4th floor walk up and the contents of you’re kitchen to be moved.


So there you have it. The difference these little tips will make in your move will most likely end up knocking off a substantial amount of cash from the total. If you are in a position to kick back and let the movers do it all and don’t mind paying for it, then that service is there for you. For those of you in Los Angeles who are in the position where every dollar gets you closer to comfortably persuing your art, your career or whatever it is we all do here, then we hope this helps you make it happen.

That’s our time…Be sure to tip your waiter…er…Mover.

Rock On!

RRnR Movers