Everyone is interested in how to move cheaply. You do, however, have to be careful about saving a dollar and spending five. Many money saving tips can end up costing you in time, broken or damaged goods or even in property damage. Used boxes from a grocery store can seem to save money, but not if they contain bugs that can cause a costly infestation. The point is, choose how to save money carefully.
According to American Moving & Storage Association, the average in-state move costs $1,170 and the average interstate move $5,630. When you consider the average person moves about 12 times in their lives you can see clearly how important moving efficiently is. Here are 8 money-saving tips to help you move cheaply.
1. Plan Ahead: The biggest factor in moving cheaply is having the time to plan ahead and properly organize your move. Planning ahead gives you the appropriate time to pack, organize utilities, and make sure you have enough help. It allows you to get your change of address submitted and cancel any gym memberships. It will help assure you get a rental truck in the most efficient size. Hopefully, you can plan to take advantage of a several day “window” when you can go from place to place. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t want to be paying dual utilities. Planning ahead can help you avoid a busy moving weekend when rental trucks may be more expensive or in limited availability. Moving in the spring or summer for example, may be convenient but it an also be more expensive.
2. Pack Yourself: Along with planning ahead, packing yourself is critical to an efficient and cost-effective move. It is important the vast majority of your items get packed-up prior to moving day. This allows for the day to be used for “moving”, saving a rental truck time and making best use of the “muscle” you recruit. If you are worried about bugs, you may want to avoid getting used boxes from a grocery store. Bubble wrap can be a good investment for glass items. Take your time to pack items securely and be sure to mark boxes with fragile and glass items appropriately. There are plenty of tips available for packing yourself.
3. Label Boxes and Rooms: Clear labeling of boxes along with clear labeling of rooms, in your new home, can greatly improve efficiency. Consider how much time is spent during moves answering the repeated question “where does this go?” Don’t assume your help will know that the space next to your kitchen is the “dining area” or that the big bedroom is the “master bedroom”. Label your rooms clearly. If you want to add a layer of efficiency, color code the boxes and rooms as well as labeling them. Pre-plan where you want boxes stacked in each room to leave room for larger pieces of furniture.
4. Rent Your Own Truck: One of the best ways to save money is by renting a moving truck. Renting the right truck, for the least amount of time, is your goal. Before renting your truck, determine what needs to be moved inside of it. You will be paying for your truck, in part, due to its size. You don’t want to buy more truck than you need. If the move is within proximity, much of what has to be moved can be transported in a car or a pick-up truck. You will need enough space in your truck for furniture, appliances, bedding and outdoor equipment. Weigh the rental rates between miles and hours. In some cases, where mileage rates are high, it may be better to rent a truck at one location and return it at another. Try to time use of the truck efficiently so when you have access to it, it is either being loaded, transported or unloaded. Don’t keep a truck overnight unless absolutely necessary. Know where the truck will be loaded and unloaded ahead of time and make sure the driver understands that. If your need is real short term, consider renting from a big box home improvement store who offers truck rentals.
5. Don’t Move Empty Items: Moving cheaply means making use of space wisely. This means packing suitcases, duffel bags and backpacks. It involves not transporting empty drawers. It means making sure every box is filled to maximum safe capacity. If you have reusable grocery bags, use them to move groceries. The same can be said for every vehicle that is being used in the move. Make sure use of space is maximized and minimize your expense.
6. Sell Items Rather Than Move Them: Many people spend time and money moving items that they may not want or need anymore. Selling these items is a win-win. You lessen the amount of “stuff” you have to move and you create some extra cash to help fund your move. Selling large items especially can pay big benefits.
7. Prepare Your New Home for the Move: One of the most overlooked aspects of moving cheaply is preparing your new home in advance of the move. This includes having utilities turned on and mail forwarded. But it also is extremely helpful to have shelves lined, closets painted, and your initial furniture layout planned. Know ahead of time how the flow of materials will be moved into your house, where boxes should be placed, and take steps to protect the floors and walls. Many times, costly damage can occur while moving items into a house. Take preventative measures to limit such damage to save on your move.
8. Don’t Go Overboard on Food and Refreshments. If your move is starting in the morning glazed donuts, coffee and juice is more than enough. For lunch, pizza is the standard. Don’t worry about ordering pizza for every taste. Order several large cheese pizzas and be done with it. You may want to be careful about offering beer too early in the day as it can lead to broken items and injury. It is also likely to decrease the efficiency of your move. Save any celebratory beverages for after your move is completed!
2 Point Highlight
Used boxes from a grocery store can seem to save money, but not if they contain bugs that can cause a costly infestation.
According to American Moving & Storage Association, the average in-state move costs $1,170 and the average interstate move $5,630.
