Things have usually settled down by this time of year at Cook Moving Systems, a United Van Lines agency in Cheektowaga.

“The $8,000 first-time homebuyers credit has stretched things out well into November,” said Robert Reigstad, Cook’s general manager.

That means a lot of Western New Yorkers are busy planning what many dread—moving day. And most want to do it as economically as possible.

MoneySmart went to the experts to get the lowdown:

DIY vs. Hiring a pro

The first decision is whether you want to move yourself (like 75 percent of the population) or hire professional movers. There are several things to consider.

How much manpower can you muster among friends and family? How much energy, strength and time do you have? Can you get the necessary equipment, such as furniture pads, dollies and hand carts? Are you willing and able to research how to do the job safely and correctly? Is your move local— within 40 miles? How comfortable are you with taking on the risk of injured helpers and damaged belongings? Do you have a homeowner’s policy that will cover those risks? Are you moving less than five rooms of furniture? How much of your belongings are valuable or difficult to move?

If you decide to go the do-it-yourself route, you have several options:

Renting a moving truck and moving yourself can cost 50 percent less than hiring a van line.

You also can save money by renting a truck, driving it yourself and hiring others for specific jobs, such as loading and unloading the truck, or packing and unpacking.

MovingHelp.com puts you in touch with independent contractors who can give estimates based on the time and number of people needed for the job.

Containerized moves can save up to 20 percent over a van line. They’re great for long-distance moves and allow you to pack at your own pace. A company, such as PODS (Portable On-Demand Storage) or SAM (Store and Move), drops a large container at your property. You load it, and when you’re done, the company picks it up and transports it to the new home.

Careful, though — for more than five rooms of furniture or if you need more than one container, using a moving company will probably be more economical.

Even if you do the move yourself, consider calling the pros to handle unwieldy, heavy, valuable and delicate items.

Going with a pro

If you have more than five rooms of furniture, are moving between states or don’t have the time, help, strength or patience necessary to move yourself, you may want to turn to the pros. But with the average professional move costing $800 to $1,500 locally (or $2,000 to $4,000 for an interstate job), you can still save.

Pack yourself. You can save up to $1,110 on an interstate move!

Decide what you can do without. “Look very suspiciously at your garage, basement and attic,” said Reigstad. “Some things cost more to move than they do to replace.”

Your sturdy Buffalo furniture may cost a fortune to haul to an airy Florida condo. Could you replace it with more appropriate subtropical furnishings for the same price?

Firewood and plants can’t be moved across state lines, anyway. And use up or give away certain “non-allowables” such as cleaning products and paint, which are flammable and potentially messy. Don’t forget to use up your food and condiments, too!

Consider having a moving sale and use classified ads to sell larger items.

Decide whether you want a binding or nonbinding estimate. Binding estimates mean you are guaranteed a certain price based on the terms of the contract. But it’s not always the cheapest way to go. If you’re taking care of a relative’s move from afar or otherwise don’t have a clear picture of what and how much you are moving, it might be best to go with a nonbinding estimate. Otherwise, have a “worst-case scenario” estimate done early to get an idea of how much money to set aside, then have another estimate done closer to the move date.

Get three written estimates and do your homework with online reviews and the Better Business Bureau.

Opt for in-home inspections rather than online estimates.

Contact the Department of Transportation to make sure your mover is licensed.

Once you choose a company, go over your visual estimate carefully so there are no surprises. Last-minute items and unforeseen difficulties (such as narrow doorways) can add to the price. Likewise, make sure you’re not getting charged for items that are being left behind.

Choose liability options carefully. Standard insurance covers your cargo for 60 cents per pound. That means you’ll get only about 60 bucks if your mahogany china cabinet crashes to the ground. Consider supplemental coverage for valuable items.

Peak moving season runs May 15 to Sept. 15. If possible, time your move outside that window, when prices will be lower. If you must move during those months, aim for a time other than the first and last weeks of the month — that’s when most people move, so prices rise with the demand.

Time is money. Make things easier (and faster) by clearing pathways in the house, garage and driveway. Ask your neighbors if they can move their cars or garbage cans to leave a little extra space on the street.

Most important, make sure you’ve already had your appliances serviced before the movers show up. You don’t want your hourly paid crew standing around while you figure out how to cap a gas line.

To call attention to fragile items, seal those boxes with a different color of tape. And mark the boxes clearly on each side. Take your most delicate, important or valuable items, such as jewelry, in the car with you.

Make sure the paperwork for your home sale is easily accessible — one family wasn’t able to close on their house on time because the paperwork was packed and buried in the center of the moving truck.

Tools and materials

Whether you decide to go with a professional mover or do it yourself, packing materials present a great opportunity to save. It’s easy to cut back or find cheap substitutes in some areas, but when it comes to certain supplies, it pays to splurge.

Boxes brought in by moving companies to pack your goods are subject to interstate tariff charges. To avoid that cost, buy your own boxes —even if you are going to have someone else pack them. If you’re packing a three-bedroom house, it could save you up to $500.

Plasma TVs are becoming the new pianos of the moving world — difficult and expensive to move. Plasma TV “moving kits” (specially shaped cardboard packaging, supportive foam and a plastic bag) start at about $90, but professional wooden crating can cost upward of $300.

Getting free cardboard boxes used to be as easy as making a quick trip to a grocery or liquor store. But nowadays, stores break down and recycle boxes immediately.

Still, if you can find free boxes, you can save up to $8 a box. See if you can arrange a pickup timed with the store’s deliveries. Liquor boxes are the perfect size for moving books, while banana boxes have lids and handles.

Use packing tape. Merely folding the flaps of your moving boxes closed will leave you with uneven surfaces—and wobbly stacks of boxes that are more likely to tip over.

Don’t skip protective furniture pads, either.

T-shirts, bedding and towels can do double duty to protect packed items, while reducing the weight of extra packing material. Newspapers make great packing material, too, but the pros suggest first using a layer of clean newsprint paper around such items as fine china to prevent ink smears.

Don’t use garbage bags for clothing and other soft objects. They tear, are hard to load and won’t protect the contents.

Just leave dresser contents in the drawers. Movers will carry the drawers individually, slide them back into the dresser and secure them in the truck. Exceptions include antiques or rickety armoires. Pack valuables or small items that might rattle out in separate boxes.

Don’t be a hero: Get the hand truck. You can rent one for $10 or, if you will use it again and have the space to store it, you can buy one starting at $60. You’ll save time — and your back.

Be kind to your movers for their sake and yours.

Providing lunch is not just a nice thing to do for your moving crew, it also saves you time and money. A few pizzas and some cold drinks can mean the difference between a 15- minute chow break and an hour-long disappearance for fast-food.

A pot of coffee does the same trick—keeping everybody happy and on site.

Tipping is customary, with $20 per mover a good starting point. Give the full amount to whoever is in charge and ask that person to divide the tips evenly among the crew.

Fantastic service under difficult conditions—lots of heavy stuff, winding stairs, bad weather— may justify a higher tip.