Planning a move to your new home is exciting, but also stressful. One of the stresses most people deal with is expenses, which they try to contain within their budget. Moving costs vary based on where you are relocating, whether you are going across town or interstate.
A key concern for most people is saving money while on the move. Although you cannot avoid some costs, you can cut spending in other areas. Here are 12 key tips to save when moving:
- Consider Moving During Non-peak Season
Timing is key because it determines how much money you spend on the move. Moving during the off-season can help you significantly reduce spending. Movers increase their operation rates during the busiest times of the year – May to August. During the rest of the year, rates are considerably low since movers are less busy.
Less busy periods are convenient for the movers, so they help you save. Some of these periods include:
- During winter
- On weekdays
- Mid months
- Find Free or Cheap Packing Supplies
Packing supplies are a common expense that takes up a huge chunk of the moving costs. The right packing supplies protect your items, but you should not spend exorbitantly on them.
Start planning the move early enough for adequate time to source the cheapest packing supplies. Such options are easily available in stores that offer deals, helping you save money. You can also opt for recycled boxes instead of buying new ones. Accumulating free boxes before your move ensures you do not spend a lot of resources on packing supplies.
- Organize a Garage Sale or Donate Items
Most items you don’t use become clutter and cause disorganization when you move into a new home. Moving clutter adds to the load, forcing movers to increase their rates. The best solution is disposing of items you no longer want to make rates cheaper. There are many ways to dispose of clutter, including tossing, donating, and selling items.
Organizing a garage or estate sale helps you exchange junk items for cash. Most of this "junk" might still be in good condition and fetch a decent price. You can then channel the money to finance the move.
It is also advisable to sell or donate furniture and bulky home items when moving long distances. It will be cheaper to purchase furniture at your new destination. Donating also helps repurpose the items you are about to get rid of.
- Find the Right Moving Company
There are many moving companies, but selecting the right one helps cut costs. Research local options and determine which moving company you can work with. Reviews and testimonials from past clients help describe how efficiently the movers can get the job done.
While choosing, request a complete estimate from the company of what the job might cost. You can negotiate the rates and settle for affordable options. Ensure their rates are fixed and pre-agreed to avoid conflicts in the future.
Beware of cheap movers. You run the risk of damaging your items or ending up with hidden costs.
- Consider a Portable Moving Container
You may require some time to load and unload your items without much help. In such cases, getting a portable moving container can be a good idea. Portable moving containers are a common service most moving companies offer. They provide you with a large container to fill with your items on the days leading up to the move. Once you are done, they move it to your new home so you can unload it at your convenience.
Using the moving container makes relocating less abrupt and more affordable. You don’t need to pay for help to load or unload your stuff, as you can do it at your own pace. It is a great low-cost option that allows you to save money.
- Purchase Mover’s Insurance
So much could go wrong when moving. Wrongly packed items or mishandling of valuable stuff can result in losses. While you can usually beat this by trusting the experts to pack, accidents happen, so it is important to plan ahead.
Getting mover’s insurance is a viable strategy to prevent losses. Insurance companies require you to pay a small, upfront amount to insure your items. If any valuables are lost or broken during the move, they can fully compensate you for the loss.
During
- Have a Moving Checklist
Moving is often tasking, so it is possible to forget some of your essential items. Misplacing personal property can make the move a lot more costly, so you need a moving checklist to remain organized.
A detailed moving checklist allows you to pack everything in the right manner. You are less likely to lose or break stuff, meaning there is no need to incur replacement or new purchase costs.
- Use Flat Rate Options to Mail Books
Moving books is stressful for most book lovers with well-stocked libraries at home. Books and bulky home office documents add weight. Movers see them as a way to increase their rates.
The best alternative is to mail the books and documents to your new destination. Mailing services offer flat rates for shipping, reducing the need to incur extra costs by using movers for the job.
- Ask Friends and Family Members for Help
Labor is a common need when dealing with lifting heavy stuff and packing. Moving companies charge extra if more workforce is required. Alternatively, they can switch to an hourly billing rate to match the amount of work your home offers.
To save on moving costs, you can try putting in some effort to minimize the need for extra personnel or moving hours. Asking family members and friends to lend a helping hand is a great way to help you save money.
- Pack Yourself
The key to saving is planning the whole move in advance. Packing is one of the moving processes that take up the most time and can increase moving costs. Packing the items yourself will mean the movers will take less time loading and transporting things. As a result, you get to save on the moving costs.
After
- Cancel Subscriptions and Opt for New Ones
A common expense most people lose money with during a move is subscriptions. If you are moving during the end month, forgetting to cancel subscriptions will result in you paying for services you barely use. Canceling subscriptions beforehand can help save you money. Most cable companies or internet providers offer great deals to new members. You will likely enjoy a month or two for free by signing up fresh in your new home.
- Use Stocked Foods While You Settle In
Food is among the essentials you need to survive when settling into your new home. Most people opt to eat out for several days or even weeks before settling in fully, but this is a mistake. You end up spending more money on essentials, literally eating up a huge chunk of your savings.
Stocked foods are always best for feeding your household as you settle in. Making food in-house helps you save money and is also a healthier alternative.
Moving is often stressful, but working with the best movers can help. Expert movers handle everything to ensure the move to your new home is stress-free. They have all the necessary resources at their disposal to make the relocation process fast and efficient.