Moving to your new home is definitely exciting, but also stressful for many reasons.
From finding the time and energy to pack your belongings, to choosing a reliable moving service to safely transport your items and belongings, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the process.
Add this to the financial burden that comes with changing locations, the process can be overwhelming.
To make the process of moving a lighter burden to bear, here are some tips you can use.
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1. Estimate moving costs.
Having an idea of how much it costs keeps you mentally and financially stress-free.
Using online tools for calculating moving costs is a great way of estimating how much your move should cost. It also prevents you from paying above the average price tag.
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2. Start early.
Starting early gives you enough time to plan, make changes and reduce the hassles that come with moving.
This entails booking for moving vans and boxing your items. With time on your side, you can decide which items to move, dispose or give away.
Starting early also gives you time to review possible moving companies to choose from, rather than going with whoever has availability.
3. Choose your move day carefully.
The vast majority of house moves take place on a Friday and Monday. This is because movers believe that it gives them time to unpack or finish packing.
However, because moving companies tend to be booked up, getting one for yourself may be challenging.
You can consider moving mid-week as this gives you a better chance of having your pick of moving companies. It also puts you in a better position to haggle over the price and potentially reduce your moving costs.
4. Check for discounts.
Some moving companies offer discounts that can help you cut the cost of moving home.
You could qualify for a discount if you are an old-age pensioner, student, key worker, or in the armed forces. If you are unemployed or have a membership, you could also qualify for discounts.
5. Don’t pick the lowest bidding movers.
Though you are trying to cut moving costs, this should not come at the cost of damaging your items or the house!
A cheap bid could be an indication of poor workmanship, which could result in your possessions arriving late or even broken, costing you additional money to fix or replace. By selecting an initial contractor with a more reasonable bid who has a better reputation, you can save money.
6. Haggle.
You might be able to reach an agreement with the removal company if you can be flexible about your moving day and the time of day you move.
Your chances of obtaining a reduced price increase with how simple it is for them to accommodate you.
Additionally, see if you can lower the cost by minimizing the tasks the removal company will need to perform.
If you can pack yourself, for instance, don’t pay someone else to do it. Asking whether moving everything to the bottom floor of your house would be more affordable is another question to think about.
7. Do it yourself.
If you don’t have much stuff, you could consider moving yourself.
All it takes is hiring a van and enlisting friends and family to help. However, you have to exercise more caution so that things do not get damaged. (Including yourself!)
8. Declutter.
The less stuff you have the less moving costs you incur.
So it’s usually advisable to reduce the items you would move with. You can do this by organizing a yard sale, donating to charities, or giving them out to family and friends.
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9. Be resourceful in getting moving supplies.
Purchasing boxes, paper, and bubble wrap can rack up moving costs.
However, you can choose to be resourceful by the way you go about it. Try asking neighbors and friends who have recently moved to save their boxes and any extra moving supplies for you.
Alternatively, you can also stop by select retail stores (like grocery, furniture, or appliance stores) and ask if they have any boxes left over from their recent deliveries.
If you have some cash to spare, you can consider purchasing second-hand removal boxes online on eBay, Gumtree, Facebook, and Marketplace.
10. Pack in a creative manner.
Take the time to pack your items carefully and creatively so they are safe during the move.
Make sure you label items appropriately and avoid overloading boxes.
You can also use clothing like socks, T-shirts, and sweaters to wrap glassware and other valuables. Try using Tupperware to pack small items. Combine heavy items like books with cushions in boxes so the space is filled but the box isn’t impossible to lift.
11. Get insurance.
When considering moving companies, verify what insurance they provide for your possessions throughout the relocation.
Make it abundantly clear what is and is not covered as well as the scope of their insurance. Make sure your content’s insurance at your previous address is still in effect when you move out and that your new home is covered beginning the day you move in.
12. Disassemble things.
To ensure the moving process is swift and smooth, try to disassemble anything you can.
Try to recall the time you moved into your house and ordered significant stuff.
- How did all of this enter your house?
- Did anything need to be disassembled or did doors need to be unhinged?
- Remove the feet from couches and armchairs, disassemble beds, etc.
Removal workers won’t have to struggle to squeeze everything out of your house, which will speed up your move.
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13. Time is money.
If you’ve rented a van, you’re on the clock.
Anything that delays the removal men could add to your moving costs. As such, you have to be prepared and as organized as possible. Therefore, finish packing everything before the van shows up, and tape all of your boxes.
Verify that there is parking accessible right in front of your house and that you have the required parking permits. The more speedy and smooth your move is, the greater your likelihood of minimizing costs.
14. Cancel your utilities.
Consider canceling your present services and starting over rather than stressing about timing your utility shut-off precisely or, worse, being forced to pay the cable and internet charges for two locations at once.
Some cable and internet service providers will give new customers promotions and discounts. This is an opportunity to compare prices and check what services the providers in your new location have to offer.
Even offering to waive your activation fees or providing free installs is something some businesses might do.
15. Clean up.
When moving homes, make an effort to appoint just one person to be in charge of cleanup.
If you leave a rental home in a bad condition when you move out, it might have an impact on your security deposit. In a similar vein, leaving anything behind could result in complaints from future owners.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Oct 29, 2022 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
Photo by RDNE Stock project
