A lot goes into the moving process. From finding a moving company to determining which tasks you can do yourself to deciding what belongings will go with you, moving can be overwhelming and expensive. If you take time to come up with a plan, you can tell your money where to go and save yourself a significant amount of money and stress. If you’re planning to move in the near future, consider these tips:
Scout professional moving companies.
In most cases, it will serve you well to hire a professional moving company. However, you need to make sure you choose the right movers or it could end up causing you more trouble than it’s worth. Do your research, get familiar with common scams, and get estimates from several companies so that you know your options.
Downsizing your belongings and hiring movers on a weekday, among other things, can bring your expenses down. Also, depending on your details, Mortgage101 says you might be able to negotiate a lower price—all the more reason to shop around.
Determine your necessities.
While you can cut corners to save money on moving expenses, you need to decide what your non-negotiables are. These are any services that you need the moving company to perform in order for you to have a successful move with minimal stress. They are also the services you should allocate the bulk of your budget towards.
For instance, will it be difficult for you to pack everything yourself or find friends to help you? Do you have a piano or large appliances that need moved? Are you moving hundreds or thousands of miles away? Do you have belongings that are invaluable to you? Each of these instances can be solved by a service or insurance plan, so determine exactly what you need and invest accordingly.
Downsize your belongings.
As Reader’s Digest points out, you can save on moving expenses by paring down your belongings. This will not only cut down on the hourly work required by the movers, but if you’re moving by yourself, it will reduce the amount of time you need to rent a moving truck or container. Plus, you might have some items that you can sell to bring in a little cash.
Get a moving container.
Moving containers are a great option if you want to load and unload your belongings with no time constraints. You simply rent a container, fill it up at your own pace, and call the container company, which will then pick the container up and deliver it to your new address. This can save you from paying high hourly expenses from professional movers.
Drive yourself.
If you have great volunteers and you aren’t moving too far, this moving method can sometimes save you money. You’ll likely need to rent a moving truck, there is gas and time involved, and of course, it’s hard work—just be sure to pick up some good eats to reward your workers! And in order to make the process as efficient as possible, have everything boxed up and ready to go so that you can pick the truck up from the company, load it up, unload it, and take it back.
Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. If you need to hire a professional moving company, choose a reputable company and budget for the services that are an absolute necessity. If you’re able to DIY your move, consider renting a moving container or moving truck to save significantly on expenses. Most importantly, focus on saving yourself money and stress with each decision you make.
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