--- title: Moving on a Budget in Reno Without Cutting Corners url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-on-a-budget/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving guides](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/) - Moving on a budget (without cutting corners) # Moving on a budget There are three ways to get a price from O'Brien's, a phone ballpark, an online request or a free in-home estimate, and trying them in that order lets you set a budget before you commit. Spend where a mistake is costly, such as furniture and fragile items, and save on box packing and sorting. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) A tight budget is a reason to plan, not a reason to guess. Most overruns in a move come from what was left off the list, not from the first number. This guide shows where effort saves money, where it does not, and which questions keep the final bill close to the estimate. ## Get the number before you decide A phone ballpark takes a few minutes and tells you whether a move is in range. An online request takes a little longer and goes to the office. The in-home estimate is free and no-obligation: an O'Brien's estimator walks the home, lists what moves and writes an itemized written estimate. Read how it works at [how our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/). Ask for the estimate in writing, with the services listed. The FMCSA rules in 49 CFR Part 375 spell out how interstate estimates are written, and the consumer booklet Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move explains them in plain language. ## Cut the load, not the care Every item you sell, donate or leave behind is one you do not pay to move. Go room by room and ask whether each piece is worth moving to a new home. Old mattresses, broken equipment and boxes you never opened in the last move are the first to go. A smaller load can change the size of the truck and the length of the job. The [Load Planner](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/tools/load-planner/) helps you see what a move looks like before the estimator arrives, with no prices attached. ## Do the work that is safe to do yourself Packing books, linens, clothing and decor into sturdy boxes is a good job for you and a few helpers. Take the 10 free heavy-duty boxes that come with the in-home estimate, then buy the rest at the Sparks office rather than collecting thin boxes that crush in a stack. Hand the crew the jobs where a mistake costs more than the time saved: the couch, the piano, the glass top, the big TV and the heavy appliances. The [partial packing](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/partial-packing/) service is built for this split, where the crew packs the fragile rooms and you pack the rest. - Do yourself: sort, donate, pack soft goods, label every box, clean. - Hand to a crew: heavy furniture, appliances, fragile and awkward pieces. - Use free boxes first, then buy the rest of the supplies in one trip. ## Keep the estimate from growing Estimates grow when the list changes. Show the estimator the garage, the attic, the shed and anything you plan to buy before the move, and tell them about stairs, long carries and tight driveways. Late additions change the work, and the paperwork has to show that. Pick a move date with some room, since a fixed deadline narrows your options. The [best time to move](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/best-time-to-move/) guide covers the seasons in Northern Nevada, and [how far ahead to book](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-far-ahead-to-book-movers/) covers the calendar. ## Watch the extras Storage, packing materials and valuation coverage are the add-ons people forget to price. Vault storage starts from $40 per month if you need a place for part of the load, and the [valuation coverage](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/valuation-coverage/) page explains the protection choices. Ask which extras are in the estimate before you compare two bids. ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [eCFR, 49 CFR Part 375, Transportation of Household Goods in Interstate Commerce](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-375) - [FMCSA, Protect Your Move](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move) - [USAGov, How to change your address](https://www.usa.gov/change-address) ### Free in-home estimate - An O'Brien's estimator walks through your home - A written, itemized estimate - 10 free heavy-duty boxes, yours to keep [How our estimates work](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [How our estimates work: phone ballpark, online request, in-home estimate](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/how-our-estimates-work/) - [Load Planner: estimate your move size (no prices)](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/tools/load-planner/) - [How much do movers cost? What drives the price](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/how-much-do-movers-cost/) - [Partial packing and box-packing-only service](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/packing/partial-packing/) Moving guides ## Read next - [Moving by yourself: what to hand off](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-alone/) - [Moving to a new state checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-to-a-new-state-checklist/) - [Packing checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/packing-checklist/) - [Moving-day checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-day-checklist/) - [First-week-in-your-new-home checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/new-home-checklist/) - [Apartment moving checklist](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/apartment-moving-checklist/) - [Hiring movers vs renting a truck](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/hiring-movers-vs-renting-a-truck/) - [Moving container vs moving truck](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/moving-container-vs-moving-truck/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### How do I get a price without committing? Ask for a phone ballpark first, then an online request, then the free in-home estimate. None of them obligates you to book. ### Is a cheaper estimate always better? Not by itself. Compare what is included, how packing and valuation are handled, and whether the estimate is in writing. ### Can I save money by packing myself? Packing soft goods yourself reduces the crew's time. Leave fragile and heavy items to the crew. ### Where do I find boxes for less? The estimate visit comes with 10 free heavy-duty boxes. The Sparks office sells more. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) M Michelle C. August 28, 2024 Extremely happy with the moving experience. The moving team showed up on time, friendly and polite. They did a wonderful job moving our boxes and furniture to the new location. We moved a three bedroom home and I could not be more pleased with the employees who assisted with the move. Highly recommend O'Brien moving for your move. ### Owner's reply Michelle, thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. We are so happy to hear about the move experience you had with our company and glad to know we met your expectations! It means a lot to us to know that. Thank you for choosing us as your moving partner. S Sonia P. August 4, 2023 Talk about organized people. I peeked in the truck about an hour into the job and was amazed at how well organized it was and how many of my things had protective coverings. Our bed is a mechanical one and a nightmare to us, but these guys had no issue with it at all. Although I have no desire to ever move again--but if I did, I would be calling these guys for sure!!! J Jennifer C. August 3, 2023 Customer service, packers, and loaders were very responsive, professional, and did an overall great job. ## Get your free, in-home moving estimate An estimator visits, walks through everything and gives you a written, itemized estimate. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070