Do you feel like it is impossible to pack all of your belongings and transfer them to an entirely different location (that might even be cross-country)? While there are many expenses which are unavoidable when you’re looking to relocate, there are a lot of ways in which you can keep them in the lines of what is considered to be reasonable. Stay tuned and let us reveal you a couple of little secrets only those who have gone through more than a few relocations in their lifetime know.
Avoid moving in the peak season
According to statistics from 2015, June is the busiest month in the moving industry, while the 31st of July holds the title of the most popular moving date. How come? During the summer, when children are out of school, parents somehow feel it is the most practical time for relocation since then their kids will have enough time to accommodate to a new place before the new school year begins.
In college areas, the first and the last days of the month are the most hectic ones, since this is when leases expire and students start looking for new apartments. If, for whatever reason, you are not able to wait for the late fall or winter months to relocate, at least attempt to avoid holidays and weekends.
If you choose to move off-peak season, you are likely to get great deals on and discounts, since the prices of, well, everything, are much higher on the weekends, holidays and during the summer.
Remember to change the address
The moment you know the exact address of your new home, set up mail forwarding. Namely, if you don’t do it instantly, it’s highly likely you will forget to do it all together, and it might result in not getting important mail. If it does not reach you at your old location, the mail will be returned to the sender, or even worse, the new tenants might get the hold of it, not bother to contact you about, but simply throw it in the trash.
Get in touch with the Postal Service which will provide more information and great tips on setting up the forwarding address. Upon changing the address, you will get access to a number of coupons and discounts on their website.
Hire a professional
Although this may not seem like a logical step when you are looking to move on a budget, history is there to convince us otherwise. While relying on your friends and family might sound like a more affordable option, there are several reasons why professionals are definitely a better way to go:
- When time is limited, an experienced pair of hands will help you relocate much faster.
- Once you set the moving date, the entire team will be at your location at the same time. With friends and family, you need to coordinate different schedules and still end up moving in shifts.
- Professional movers will come with a truck which will enable you to transfer all (or at least most) of your belongings at once, thus saving money on gas driving back and forth in your small car.
- They will also provide additional services. For instance, if you have certain belongings that do not fit your new home or are waiting for a room or two to be refurbished, there are numerous self-storage based companies which can provide space where you can keep your valuables until your new home is ready.
Packing techniques
Until you actually start packing, you are not aware of the number of items you actually own. You need to make sure you have enough boxes, tapes and bubble wrap at your disposal, and to save money on these necessities, consider:
- Getting some old boxes from the office or a local supermarket – they always have cardboard boxes piling up in their storage.
- Recycling some old things you don’t really use anymore. Alternatively, you can sort all your items and set aside what you believe could go well on a garage sale. As a result, you will save on space and packing material, while earning a few extra bucks.
Invest in insurance
If you own valuable items, it is smart to get insurance and protect yourself from possible damages done by the moving company. Although they are seasoned professionals, mishaps happen all the time, so you are advised to pay a little extra for full replacement value coverage. This way you ensure that the moving company will pay the cash value of the damaged item.
Get an estimate of the items you own – will it cost you an arm and a leg to replace them? If the answer is yes, then it is definitely worth the splurge.
Final words
While moving into a new home can be an exciting experience, stress and major expenses might just drive you to madness. Careful planning and paying special attention to the financial aspect of relocating might just make the entire process easier and (almost) hassle-free.
Are there any experienced ‘movers’ out there willing to share their experiences and tips?
