Moving to a new home is very exciting. You will be turning a new leaf of life and starting somewhere completely fresh. But, soon, you will see that all those things come not only with excitement but also with high price tags. Whether you are moving somewhere across the ocean or somewhere around the corner, moving will take its financial toll on you.
However, there are ways not to break your budget when moving! With proper planning and preparation, you will be able to save hundreds of dollars (maybe even more). And, not only that – with proper planning and preparation you will be able to save your time, energy and nerves too! Thus, do not wait. If your move is approaching, make sure to follow our clever ways to save money when moving house.
Declutter!
Decluttering your home is one of the most important things to do before you move out. Just think about it – you will spend hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars on packing, transporting, shipping, and storing the items that you do not even need. Moreover, you will also clutter your new home for no reason. And, why do all of that when you can simply declutter and pack only what is absolutely necessary?
If you agree, then, start decluttering your home. For that, you have three options – donate, sell, or trash. For instance, if you have a lot of stuff that you do not need anymore, give them to your friends and family members, or to a charitable organization that might need them. If, however, you want to make some money while decluttering, either sell your items online or organize a garage/yard sale. But, if the items you do not need anymore are broken, damaged, or just good-for-nothing, better trash them right away.
Move During the Off-Season
Simply, everything is more expensive when it is in season. The same applies to moving, believe it or not. The peak seasons for moving are late spring and early summer. This is because moving in those months, that is, in that peak season, is easier and more practical for everybody – the weather is nice, children are out of school, adults are on a vacation, etc. It just makes sense to move then. Of course, moving agencies take advantage of that competition and they start charging for their services extra.
So, if you have the freedom to choose the time of your move, choose autumn and winter. That is one of the best ways to save money when moving house. The best time of the year for this, that is, the best time to get cheaper moving services is between October and April. People rarely move then, so the competition game will be weak and thus, the moving prices will be lower.
Find Your Own Packing Supplies
Of course, the easiest way to move to a new place is to hire movers and let them do everything moving-related. But, these movers often come with a hefty price tag and when you are on a budget, they should not be your first option. Do not get us wrong, there are some things that you should always leave to the professionals – heavy lifting, assembling and disassembling, relocating specialty items, etc. But, there are things you can do by yourself and thus save the much-needed money.
One of those things is definitely gathering packing supplies. You do not have to buy ‘professional’ cardboard boxes and duct tapes. Those at the dollar store will work just fine. Or, those at the stationery shop or hardware store, for instance. Be a bit creative with your packing supplies too – use old newspaper instead of packing paper, use towels or clothes instead of bubble or plastic wrap, etc. Saving money is all about being creative and resourceful.
Rent a Moving Truck Yourself
When paying for moving services, you lose a lot of money. Again, do not get us wrong – moving services cost as much as they do because professional movers come to your home and do everything that has to be done, thus saving you time and energy. But, if you are not in a hurry, and if you have the energy to move by yourself, there is no need for hiring them. When DIY-ing, there are even ways to earn money. For instance, if you rent a moving truck yourself instead of letting movers bring their own, you will save between 200$ and 300$.
Moreover, if you call your friends, family members, neighbors, or even colleagues to help you with some heavy lifting and loading the truck, you can save another sum of 200$ – 300$. You can agree that this is a lot of money! So why lose it? Do as much as you can by yourself, but of course, leave the ‘tricky’ stuff for professionals to handle.
Consider a Moving Container
Most people avoid the previous money-saving tip (renting a moving truck) because it comes with a time limit. Namely, if you rent a moving truck, you will have to load it, unload it, and do all those necessary tasks in between, in just a day or two. If you prolong this period a bit, you have to pay a fee. But, if you want to take the stress out of moving a house, why not consider renting a moving container? The price is the same but you do not have any limits.
The way this goes is simple. A company that owns moving containers brings one to your address and then comes to transport it to your new address when you are done packing and loading. There is no pressure to finish everything in 24 hours, you can simply take all the time you need and prepare for your move in peace.
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