Moving to a new home can be a huge expense. There are a host of costs related to relocating, so any money you save on the move itself will come in handy. This doesn’t mean that you have to move yourself though; there are several ways to save even if you employ professionals.

Moving costs are usually set by the pound. The company will estimate the weight of everything that you have to transfer to your new location and charge you accordingly, but there is room for negotiation. Get moving quotes from several different companies because the price can vary considerably. For example, if a moving company has another truckload going to the same city you are transferring to they might be able to combine the trips and save you money.

You can also save money when using professionals if you box up your stuff yourself. A large portion of the cost of moving expenses is packing everything for the move. If you complete organizing and packing in advance you could cut the total cost of your move in half. By the same token, if you unpack boxes yourself when they are dropped off at your new location, you can cut the costs.

There are other ways to save money on your move even if you use full service movers. If you are moving to a new city for a job, try and negotiate the cost of the move into the terms of your new employment contract. Many companies will pick up some of the expenses related to moving, and while it may not cover all of the costs it will certainly help. You can also deduct the expenses related to a move from your federal income tax return for the year. There is no limit on the amount of the deduction, which can create considerable tax savings. Use I.R.S. Form 3903 to do so.