Moving to a new house is an exciting time, it could be a fresh start for you, in a new city, it could mean that you have a new job or are even that you are moving in with a partner.
It can sometimes seem that there are unexpected costs that keep popping up from every corner while moving. You no doubt want to keep these costs as low as possible, which is why we have written this article, to help you keep your moving costs down. The first step toward understanding how to keep the costs down on your move is to understand where the costs are being generated.
Generally speaking, the cost of your move will be calculated based on volume of your move, distance between your current home and your new home, ease of access, and whether or not you will need packing materials.
Choose your moving day strategically
The date that you choose as your moving day will affect the final cost of your move. Moving mid-week is less expensive than moving on the weekend and moving in the winter months is more cost effective than moving in the summer months. Plan your move so that it falls mid-week in winter, and you will be getting much better rates than on the weekend in summer.
Get a move consultant to come to your home for the quote
When getting a quote for your move, organise for a consultant to come to your home. Over the phone or online quotes are great because they are faster and more convenient, but you are more likely to get an accurate quote for your move if you have a consultant come to asses your home in person. You might not be aware, but the quote that you receive over the phone is not a firm price and can change depending on the actual size of the move on the day, or things like ease of access to your property. A consultant will be able to take note of things like this and is experienced in calculating the volume of your home, so you are less likely to come out with unexpected costs at the end.
Packing materials
Packing materials can add up and become expensive. It is important that you use quality packing materials when moving home. Taking the time to source your packing boxes, bubble wrap and other bits and pieces second hand can save you money on your move. Ask around and see if any of your colleagues, family or friends have any boxes left over from previous moves. A good moving company will have a range of new or second-hand packing materials available for purchase should you require.
Use a good labelling system when packing
During the packing process, it can be tempting to become frustrated and begin throwing things into boxes without any order. Avoid doing this, as once you arrive in your new home and begin the unpacking process it can become impossible to find things. When you are desperate to find your hair dryer, but it has been shoved into a box labelling Garage, you may find yourself purchasing a new one. You want to avoid doing this as much as possible as lost items can end up costing you a fortune. Maintain a good labelling system and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Decluttering pre-move
De-cluttering is one of the best ways of reducing the cost of your move. Volume is one of the biggest factors that come into play when calculating the cost of a home move. If you can, in the months before your move date, start to go around your home and throw things out that you do not use. Host a garage sale or post things on Facebook marketplace. These are great ways of recouping a little bit of the cost of your move. You can donate any items that do not sell.
Here are a few places that are always happy to accept donations:
Meal prep
This one might be a bit of a surprise, but during a move, people find they often don’t have time to cook meals and that they end up eating out or ordering takeaway a lot around the time of a move. This can end up costing hundreds of dollars over the course of the week. You can avoid this by spending some time doing meal prep in the lead up. Meal prep will mean that you already have your ready-made dinners and will not need to spend money on Uber Eats or eating out.
Insurance
Whilst insurance is an added expense on top of your move cost, it can end up saving you money in the long run. Furniture is not made to be moved and sometimes circumstances outside of anyone’s control mean that furniture becomes damaged during transit. Getting insurance means that you are covered if this does happen and can save you hundreds of dollars in the case of a ruined sofa or table.
Allied are New Zealand’s premier moving company. We offer a range of additional moving services such as house cleaning, packing and unpacking, pet relocation and vehicle transportation. Call us on 0800 255 433 today for a quote or fill out an online quote form.