How to Save Money When You’re Moving: 9 Tips from Twin Cities Movers

Last Updated: April 28, 2026

Moving costs add up faster than most people expect — but a little preparation goes a long way. We’ve been helping people move across the Twin Cities for over 17 years, and the customers who get the most out of their move are almost always the ones who came prepared. Whether you’re hiring movers or doing it yourself, these nine tips will help you save money, reduce stress, and avoid the surprises that catch people off guard on moving day.

1.  Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need

A big way to save money on moving day is to  purge your home of unwanted items. There’s no sense in spending the time or energy to move things you don’t need to your new home. Closets, basements, and garages often contain items you may not want to clutter up our new space.Pack up clothes you no longer wear and books you’re no longer interested in and bring them to a donation center like Goodwill. If you’re considering buying new furniture, don’t spend the additional cost of having your movers transport it — try listing it for free or a reasonable price on Facebook Marketplace. If you can’t find another home for unwanted furniture, we offer furniture disposal services that can easily be added to your move.Decluttering is also the single most effective way to reduce your move time. Fewer items means a faster job — and since local moves are billed by the hour, that savings shows up directly on your bill.

2.  Pack All Items Securely Into Boxes

Muscle Boxes are weatherproof and easy to carry.

3.  Disassemble Your Furniture

While this can be a tedious task, doing it yourself can save you real money. The alternative is having your movers disassemble furniture on the clock when they could be busy carrying the heavy stuff to the truck — which is what you’re really paying them to do.If the furniture breaks down into boards or slats, make it even easier on your movers by wrapping the pieces together with plastic shrink wrap. Keep the hardware in a labeled plastic bag so nothing gets lost.

4.  Plan to Move Certain Items Yourself

The reality is that certain items either can’t (for legal or safety reasons) or shouldn’t (because they don’t do well in a full truck) be transported by your movers. Plan to move the following items in your personal vehicle

• Plants
• Perishable food
• Valuable electronics
• Medicine
• Firearms
• Propane tanks

5.  Stage Boxes and Loose Items

This is one of the easiest ways to cut time off your move. If possible, stack your boxes neatly near your front door so your movers have a shorter carry path. Even staging them near the door of each room makes a difference. Do the same for vacuums, fans, and dining chairs.

Having to retrieve items from every corner of your home adds time — and since you’re paying by the hour, every minute of staging you do beforehand is a minute you’re not paying for.

6.  Pad and Wrap Your Furniture

7.  Reserve Elevators and a Space to Park the Truck

If you live in an apartment with an elevator, reach out to your building management to reserve it for moving day. Many buildings have a dedicated freight elevator they’ll hold for you. Ask where moving trucks are authorized to park — loading dock, parking lot, or street.

On streets with parking meters, you may need to contact the city to reserve one or two spaces. In Minneapolis, the city offers an online obstruction permit application. St. Paul has a similar process through the city’s public works department. Although there’s a fee, the alternative — a truck parked far from your building — results in a longer carry and a higher bill.

If you’re moving into or out of a house, parking still needs a plan. Steep driveways may not be accessible to a large truck, so it may need to park at the bottom. For street parking, saving a convenient spot with your personal vehicle until the truck arrives is a simple but effective move.

8.  Understand What Happens in the Case of Damage

No matter how many precautions you take, there’s always some risk of damage when moving. Knowing your moving company’s policies upfront — before anything goes wrong — is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself.

In Minnesota, state law requires all licensed moving companies to offer a minimum compensation of $0.60 per pound for each damaged item. For most items, this falls far short of actual value. Most electronics cost hundreds of dollars, but weight-based compensation typically amounts to $20 or less. Even a damaged sofa weighing 100 lbs would only be compensated at $60.

At College Muscle Movers, we offer additional coverage plans ranging in cost from $15 to $150 that significantly increase the payout in the event of damages. Make sure you talk to your moving company about their damage policies before booking so you can make an informed decision.

9.  Leave Time to Clean and Repair Your Home

Don’t forget about inspections and security deposits. In addition to moving, you’ll need to leave your old home move-in ready for the next occupant — that means deep cleaning and addressing minor repairs like wall patching.

The final stages of a move are always busier than people expect. Leaving adequate time for cleaning and repairs reduces stress significantly and protects your deposit.

If cleaning feels like one too many things to manage, our partners at Keepsake PCO specialize in move-in and move-out cleaning across the Twin Cities. A professional clean takes the guesswork out of what landlords and property managers actually inspect — and gives you one less thing to worry about during an already busy week.