Smart Mover- Money Saving Tips for Moving

For people with families moving can be an intimidating task. There is almost always a lot of stuff and budget limited. We compile here some strategies that can save you money and headache as much as possible. Planning ahead is the key but for first time movers there is so much they’ll only learn with experience. We have tried here to reduce lessons learned the hard way for the first time movers. Some tips will be so very obvious but let’s not weigh those down as, as much of a hassle life can already be with today’s lifestyle and overloaded schedule, even right in front of you ideas can easily slip your mind.

Let’s begin!

Moving next block or across the country; pack like you are doing the later. Plan one huge trip rather than doing in small chunks over several days of multiple weeks. How that is supposed to save any money? Well not when you look at it first, but when you plan a big move, all the tips to come fit in a well designed moving plan and if you don’t have a well designed plan, chances are you’ll spend unnecessary money with your mind stuck in jumbled schedule of work and shifting and a messed up house for several days.

Ask your new employer

If the moving happens to be due to a job change, it doesn’t hurt to check if they offer any kind of relocation compensation or help. Many times employers do offer covering the relocation budget just be sure not to let it go unchecked.

Store the packing material in advance

This one is a no brainer but moving involves LOTS of packing that requires LOTS of packing material and if you are planning to save money on buying cartons plan ahead and start gathering empty cardboard boxes by asking from store in way advance. It might take a while to gather boxes of all kinds and sizes. Stores offering liquor can provide you with boxes that come in very handy when you pack your own glass materials and small items.

Old news paper and bubble wrap can be gathered the same way. Don’t forget mentioning it to friends and family too that you need bubble wrap and other stuffing material. Old blankets can also count as furniture that needs to go along can be covered with them for extra safety.

You can use personal towels and other linen to pack in between glass material but know this: after you unload and unpack be ready for extra tons of laundry amidst the hassle of setting up new home. Especially if you have little kids, prefer gathering bubble wrap or newspaper over using bed sheets or towels.

Get a pen and small notebook

The more organized and systemized your thoughts and ideas will be, the less you’ll stress. How does that save money? With a frazzled mind (especially parents of small children) one can simply prefer to head out and buy anything that is required at a given time and cannot be found and finally have some peace of mind.

Make an until you leave box

Keep all the stuff that gets regularly used whether it is a medicine or toiletries, pen, paper, some important documents or even tape and scissors. Designating a box prevents loosing small and regular usage items every minute especially if you have a family and little organization goes a long way because will power is a limited resource.

 Make a moment we arrive box

You certainly will not open all your cartons and can’t organize the new house in the first few hours right? So set aside necessary items that will be required for regular use as you unpack along the way. These may include towels, toiletries, coffee or tea making related stuff and toys and things that can keep the kids occupied when required. Reason is the same; avoid any unnecessary purchase.

Describe what’s inside each box

Try to make an inventory on each box as you load it with stuff. This makes unpacking SO much more convenient. You would not have to go looking inside an array of box after the other just for a single that you’ll eventually be tempted to buy once more.

 Clean up along the way

For those living on rent know how important the security deposit is and cleaning up before you leave makes a positive impact. As any space appears to be packed up and empty its best to clean up right away rather than looking forward to empty the whole house first. Don’t think having a wide vacant home will be quicker to clean. Being in a rush it can be tempting to hire professional cleaners to save time over money.

Get rid of the junk

No brainer here either but when the time comes most of us find it hard to toss the “beloved belongings” into the junk box. De-cluttering the home should already be done every once in a while and moving is the best time. If you keep gathering stuff only more of it turns into junk over the years. Anything you might save thinking “will be used someday” is usually never found when needed and we end up buying tid-bits anyway.

Point is to remove anything not used in the past couple of years and carry low chances of being used in the future either. Have a moving garage sale and you’ll make some cash instead. Consider donating stuff not sold (in usable condition) and obtain a receipt and see if it would be of any use when the tax time approaches. Besides having garage sales online selling is now the trend and can find you good deals even outside neighborhood increasing your chances to find a good buyer and sell most of your stuff successfully. You can giveaway to family and friends too. Just don’t carry over unnecessary load.

Sell all of your stuff

Moving cross country? This option is worth considering compared to costs it bring while hiring multiple large trucks. Just compare and make estimates for moving costs against selling the old and buying all new ones before making any final decision.

Look for store houses

Antique pieces are better off the moving site. Try different paid storage options for a quick pack move with less transportation involved. The stuff can be picked up later with convenience but remember the fees involved that’ll go every month. As alternative, friends and family can be the cheaper options for same purpose.

This also is a huge help when the move is only temporary. In this case storage units can be the only option sometimes depending upon the amount you want to leave behind safely.

Get multiple quotes from multiple movers

This will help you pick out the best option available out there. Money saving should not be the only priority on your list. Trustworthiness is very important since all the stuff that you own is involved. Anything that gets lost damaged will hurt you.

Also get detailed estimates. If the movers have to cover multiple staircase flights charges may increase. If tapered lanes are involved while shifting, charges may increase. Detailed estimates will allow better comparisons and saving options.

Check their insurance policy

Regular mover’s insurance policy cover any usual damage that might occur while on the move but there are also detailed “all risk” insurance policies.

Now if you want to opt for one of those to cover everything in between packing and unpacking, be sure to check if it comes with a term of “if packed by the movers”. If so, chances are high, movers will add a hidden surcharge for packing themselves.

Other hidden charges sometimes include fuel charges (for the journey) and even “back to company” fuel can be charged. Be sure to check thoroughly as the costs can pile up out of expectation.

Don’t underestimate movers

Delicate and expensive items like electronics and art are best packed by professionals. They propose good ideas about getting rid of clutter and small tips and tricks they use while taking the furniture apart are highly useful. Not only they save time but organization helps you keep your sanity amidst the hustle and bustle.

Big screen TV, ornaments and almost all of the kitchen items need to be packed wisely. Movers are professionals that way and whatever they pack gets insurance coverage too.

Book for the quiet hours

By avoiding Fridays (beginning of the weekend) you may save some considerable money as most people prefer the same (for the convenience of course) but plan ahead and go for early morning on the weekend or days that fall right in the middle of workweek where people generally avoid moving and you might find cheaper cost with your removalist company.

Also pick out quiet hours on the road so that you can avoid rush hours saving you extra cost of wasted gas expense on the road stuck in traffic jams. From May till September people more than usual prefer to move. Not so much in the cold weather and the rates inevitably drop. Make the most out of the off-season rates.

Be smart while picking out the truck you need

Just don’t opt for extra large unnecessary one because the larger the more it’ll cost regarding the rent and fuel.

Use alternate options to transport your books

If you happen to own a lot of books they’ll make up a considerable huge amount of load and may add to the moving cost because of their weight.

For those moving within US can use the option of Media Mail through the U.S. Postal Service. A little delayed may be but the books will reach safely. The prices are considerably low 20 pounds weight of books gets transported for $11.55. Check out your local post office for the same services.

Find coupons for hotel and other deals

While you pick out the by-road option you’ll need pit-stops to rest and eat. Meal coupons and hotel deals can be very useful if planned ahead sought after.

Try camping

While you are on the road map out camping sites if you are on a long haul and camping sites that offer showers can be a great option. You’ll stay fresh and experience an adventure (small may be) and ditch the hotel costs.

Try friends and family

If there happens to be a friend or family member’s home along the journey ask them if you may stay over a night. You’ll catch up and save money that would go in hotel rents otherwise.

Pack your own drinks

That way you would not have to buy drinks (that can be multiple times if you are taking a family along) on anomalous rates every few miles from morning till evening.

Revise utility shut down dates

If possible cut off the service early so that you don’t get charged for an extra month or days. Strategy can work with cable TV and not electricity. If moving in a new state try checking if they offer any concierge services for utility that can help compare and find out the best deal available for you.

Cancelling before the contract ends sometimes cost extra fees. Look out for those if you really want to save money. But upon moving one can almost always find new packages upon utilities of all sorts. It’s a new chance to explore don’t waste it. For TV and cable especially internet TV streaming is a very popular option these days and affordability is one of the reasons.

Try an accountant

If applicable upon fitting in a certain criteria like distance test an accountant might be able to provide you with exact saving points working professionally with the IRS rules and cut your expenses wherever possible.

Inspect the destination house thoroughly

A chartered surveyor can provide you with exact report revealing how many additional costs might await you upon moving. These may include hidden problem that will require repair costs once you move in.

On the plus side you might get into a position to discuss the buying price once again or get the work done by the selling party before the deal is sealed.

Also measure all the doors, windows and rooms and available space in the new house you are about to move. Nothing can be worse than finding out upon reaching destination that your huge sofa set can’t make it into your new home. Same goes for the large tables and even fixtures etc if they have to go to the upper bedroom check if the staircase will allow the transportation.

If the destination is situated far away, ask the landlord’s or seller’s help to do the measuring for you.

Avoid dining out and takeaways

The refrigerator and freezer meals don’t have to go in dust bin. Use it all wisely and pack meals for the moving journey and for the days you leave your old house and reach new destination as obviously no meal preps will be involved at that time. Try to be as clever and innovative as possible. Plan in advance. Ideally two weeks in advance.

List all the perishables you already have and plan to consume them over the next two weeks, strategically. Also either you’ll need not to shop for grocery at all for the coming two weeks or if do, just buy enough to consume within the deadline. Get an esky that you can take along the day you are moving that’ll keep perishables and frozen items (if not consumed by then) safe for a little while. But don’t plan on esky for too long it is not a refrigerator after all.

Save on the extra phone calls you make

While contacting companies for different purposes while moving, getting your details changed as registered with many service providing companies for example, people often end up paying for premium rate numbers. Usually these start with 0843, 0870 and 09 and as an alternative you may ask for a company representative’s number instead.

Bottom line

Whether you are happy about the move or not you can add convenience making it a pleasing experience. Give yourself a chance to embrace minimalism and who knows you might find it rejuvenating? Try a few or all of the money saving tips from above and you might be surprised by finding extra cash in your pockets.