Moving house is sure to be an exciting time in your life. But the costs associated with moving can soon mount up. Therefore, it is a good idea to actively look at ways in which you can reduce your expenses long before the move date.
The more prepared you are, the more affordable you can make your move and the smoother the moving process will be. To help you get started, check out the following seven key ways to keep costs down when you are moving house.
1. Get Rid of Items You No Longer Need
We all accumulate more and more stuff over the years, which means we probably all have items that we no longer actually need. So, when preparing to move house, it is a good opportunity for you to identify items you do not need or want. You can then get rid of them by recycling them, giving them away, or selling them.
If you do the latter, you will gain additional cash to spend on your move. By getting rid of belongings you no longer need or want, you can also significantly cut down the costs associated with moving.
After all, with fewer items to move, you will not need to hire such a large truck and the packing and transportation process will be sped up. You will need to purchase fewer packing materials, too.
2. Choose a Budget-Friendly Moving Company
While you can save costs by handling the move yourself, you will still need to rent a truck, buy packing materials, and spend valuable time packing and moving all of your belongings.
So, it could be worthwhile hiring a moving company to take care of everything for you. And by choosing a budget-friendly moving company, you can keep your costs down.
Thankfully, by using an online platform for comparing different companies, you can easily find an affordable moving company.
3. Move Mid-Week
You can further reduce the cost of hiring a moving company by being savvy with your move date. Typically, moving services cost less to hire during the week than at weekends.
So, if you can, plan your move for a weekday. If you have even more flexibility with your move date, you could move during off-peak times of the year, such as in the winter rather than in the summer, to further reduce the costs associated with hiring professional movers.
4. Book Early
Following on from the last suggestions, you can reduce the cost of hiring a moving company even more by booking early. Typically, the earlier you book a move, the cheaper the cost will be.
On the other hand, if you leave things until the last minute, the cost of booking a moving company is sure to be higher.
5. Obtain Free Packing Materials
The cost of packing materials can soon mount up, so look at ways of getting your packing materials for free. Ask friends, family members, work colleagues, and neighbours if they have boxes and materials like bubble wrap that you could use.
You can also use sites like Freecycle to get free packing materials. Another option is to go into your local stores and ask if they have empty boxes you can take for free.
6. Use Items You Already Have to Pack Your Belongings Safely
You can further reduce the cost of having to buy packaging materials like bubble wrap to keep breakables safe during the move by using things you already have. For instance, wrapping glassware and fragile items in clothing and bedding can provide them with just as much protection as bubble wrap.
You will need to pack and move clothes, bedding, and soft furnishings anyway, so it makes sense to use such items to wrap and protect your fragile belongings.
7. Enlist the Help of Loved Ones
Time is money. If you have to take time off work to do things in preparation for the move date, you will not be able to earn as much. On the other hand, if you can keep working during the moving preparation stage, you will have more money to spend on things like hiring an affordable moving company.
One way of reducing the amount of time you need to spend on preparation work, such as sorting out your belongings, packing items, and cleaning your home, is to enlist the help of family members and friends.
