Moving can be a daunting task, whether your new home is across town or across the country. Advanced planning is important. Besides devoting time to organize and pack your belongings, be sure to put aside time to financially prepare for your move. Following are money saving moving tips:
1. Create a budget and stick to it. It is crucial to maintain a budget of expenses when you move. Develop a list of expected expenses including boxes, packing materials, movers, restaurant meals, hotels, gas, etc. Add a buffer to your budget to account for unexpected expenses.
2. Hire a mover. Get quotes from several moving companies. Moving costs are typically determined by weight or the number of rooms, the distance between homes, packing and unpacking efforts, and the time of year. Expect to pay more during peak moving times like during the summer, on weekends, or on holidays. Keep in mind that the lowest estimate received may not yield the best deal. Review each moving company’s policy thoroughly for coverage of items that are damaged or broken during the move.
3. Pack affordably. Even if you opt to hire a professional mover, you can reduce some of the cost by packing and unpacking yourself. Shop around for the best deal on packing materials and tape. Collect boxes at work, your local grocery store, and from family and friends.
4. Limit travel weight. Since movers often charge by weight, be sure to eliminate unnecessarily heavy items such as jars of change. Hold a garage sale to get rid of unused items. Or, sell household items to your local second-hand store, online or donate them to a charity. Reducing the overall amount and weight of items will reduce your moving cost.
5. Turn off the utilities. Call your cable provider ahead of time to have your service terminated the day you move. Turn off the water heater and lower the thermostat. Make sure all lights are turned off. Ensure doors and windows are locked and sealed so that the area is protected while empty.
Use these money saving moving tips to reduce your moving costs.
