There are a range of services and options that you can add to a basic move that may make your experience more pleasant but more expensive.

Tips to save money:

■ Consider packing yourself. This may have insurance implications, so check with your mover.
■ Buy your moving supplies online. Boxes, tape, markers, and bubble-wrap can be much cheaper when bought well in advance and online.
■ Improvise with supplies. Newspaper makes fine packing cushions, as do towels and clothes. Just be prepared to wash everything when it arrives at your new place.
■ Don't buy tools, borrow them. Why buy a tape dispenser that you'll use once? Borrow one from a friend.
■ If you don't need it, don't pay to move it. A little planning can go a long way--it's much cheaper to sell it (or dump it) now than it is to sell it (or dump it) when it arrives at the destination.
■ Ask your mover how they'll be packing your stuff. We've found that some movers try to upsell you to fancy packing materials where a plain moving blanket will work just fine.
■ Ask yourself if you really need extra insurance, or raise the deductible. Remember that all 400N Tariff moving companies must offer 60 cents of insurance per pound per item as part of the basic package.
■ Don't forget about moving yourself! Many hidden costs of a move often involve YOU! How are YOU getting to your new location? Where will you spend the night? What will you eat until your things arrive? If you plan this well, you'll save a lot of money.