At some point in our lives, we all have to move at least a couple of times. It’s a complicated and frustrating process, and most of us don’t enjoy it. Whether it’s just a change of subdivisions or a retreat from the city to the country, everything we own has to be loaded up and taken to the new location.
While it can be emotionally tough to pull up our roots and go somewhere new, it’s much easier when the move itself is organized, efficient, and affordable. The real cost of a move is far higher than simply the difference between the sale prices of your old home and your new home. Getting to that fresh zip code creates lots of other costs. Watching those carefully can take a lot of the trauma out of moving. Here are a few ideas for saving money during a move.
Move Professionally
Many people have the wrong idea of how moving works. They figure that as long as they have enough pickup trucks and maybe a rental moving van, they can complete the move themselves with a few gullible friends.
That is really not the case. Hiring an expert moving company will more than pay for itself. To begin with, you’ll avoid ruining some good friendships, but there are financial benefits as well. Professional movers have the physical ability and the skills to move your items safely. That means no broken possessions and no damaged walls or doorways–or at worst, a claim on the mover’s insurance to cover the damages.
You may also avoid injuries to yourself or your friends that lead to doctor bills and lost wages. Your belongings will all be carried in an enclosed vehicle, with no risk of damage from rainfall or flying road debris. Professional movers will properly pack, load, and transport your belongings, then properly unload, unpack, and place them in your new home.
If You Don’t Want It, Don’t Move It
The more things you pack, the more it costs. That’s true whether you’re using a moving company or not. One great way to reduce this cost is to get rid of things you don’t want or need anymore before you move them to your new home.
Kids have riding toys they no longer use. Don’t spend a bunch of money hauling them 300 miles, just to leave them parked again. Outgrown clothes, incomplete repair projects, a snowblower you won’t need at your address in Florida…the list goes on and on.
Don’t spend money and time moving these things! As your relocation date approaches, have a moving sale. Put things in online auctions or on social media. Unload the unneeded, and pocket the cash to help cover the cost of moving things you do want.
Think Of The Details
A move is just like any other trip. You’ll need gas money, fuel money, and maybe even a night in a hotel along the way. It’s important that you don’t shrug off these incidentals, because they can quickly turn into a big expenditure that you aren’t ready for.
There are lots of apps to help in this area. You can find cheap gas, great hotel room rates, and all the other necessities for a long trip right in the palm of your hand.
And be realistic. It’s not a trip for a luxurious dinner at a steak restaurant. Pack picnic lunches or drive through. Get the miles behind you in the cheapest, fastest way possible, and if all goes well with the move, you can celebrate with a nice dinner once everything is unpacked.
Moving means leaving jobs, schools, friends, and familiar surroundings. It’s tough on everybody. While you can’t do much to avoid the heartache of leaving your old home in the rearview mirror, you can certainly take some steps to keep it from costing more than it has to.
