When it comes to finding a long distance moving company, keep in mind that pricing is not necessarily proportional. In other words, you may pay more per pound for a small move than for a large move – a lot more in some cases.

This is because cross country moving companies and other long distance movers usually have minimum load requirements. Even if your load weighs less than the minimum, you’ll be charged for the minimum. Different long distance movers have different minimum weights, and in some cases it can be as low as 1,000 pounds, but it may be much higher. Whatever the minimum, if your move weighs less, you’re out of luck – you’ll pay for pounds that don’t exist.

And what are the alternatives to a cross country mover or long distance mover who charges a minimum? There are several, each with its pluses and minuses. You can rent a truck and do it yourself, although that’s not always feasible for a long distance move. You can rent a moving container or space on a long haul freight truck. (In the latter case, your belongings will be locked behind a bulkhead and sealed off from other people’s items.) But that’s a rough way to travel and your furniture will inevitably suffer damage.

Your best option is usually a small move specialist. Your furniture and other belongings will go on a truck with the contents of other small moves, and there’ll be no minimum charge. Your items will be handled and transported by professional movers rather than a freight carrier, so they’ll be safer and better protected.

Who should look into using a small move specialist in place of a cross country moving company or long distance moving company? Any move smaller than a 3-bedroom home might warrant a small move specialist. Young, single professionals often need to move only a few furniture items and some boxes. On the other end of the age spectrum, seniors needing to move often find themselves downsizing, leaving a house for an apartment or independent living situation closer to their grown offspring.

Perhaps the most common small move isn’t a move at all. People ship small loads of furniture all the time. Sometimes it’s an eBay purchase, sometimes simply a gift from one family member to another in a distant state. Whatever the situation, you’ll achieve maximum savings by avoiding minimum requirements.