Moving can be expensive, it’s true. Besides the apartment or house you are renting or buying, you will have a ton more extra costs you’re not thinking about now. Hiring a professional moving company can be pricey. If you’re on a tight budget, there are certain things to consider for your upcoming relocation process that will save you (or even earn) some extra money. Planning your move in advance and foreseeing possible costs will definitely turn out to be helpful. If you’re not sure what that entails, we have prepared a list of things you should consider for your budget move. Enjoy!
- Set up a personal moving budget
Before you even start searching for moving companies and asking their prices, set up your moving budget and stick to it. Think about the maximum amount of money you can spend on your upcoming relocation process. Of course, you need to be realistic and think of all the things that need to be done. Whether you are moving by yourself or hiring a company, you should make this list. Think about expenses of truck rental, packing supplies, hidden DIY costs or moving cost estimate, moving insurance, extra fees etc. Setting up a budget for your budget move is important because otherwise you may find yourself in a financial challenge once you move to your new home.
- Do your research
Do a research of costs of DIY vs. professional services for your upcoming move. You shouldn’t automatically assume that hiring professional movers will be more expensive than moving by yourself. If you choose a self-moving option, you will need to order supplies, pack everything on your own, rent a moving truck and possibly pay for damaged items due to poor packing skills. Many people swear by self-moving only to realize they have spent more money than they would have paid the cheap movers. Before you decide on the company you will hire, you should compare their rates. Tray to consider rates from at least three or four companies. Look at their service and what it entails. The cheapest option is not always the best one as well. Also, when it’s not the peak of moving season – during fall and winter, moving companies lower their rates. If you can move during these seasons, why not? Do a background check before hiring a company. The best way would be to get a recommendation from someone who already used their services. If not, the Internet is full of reviews and comments. Dive in and find the best company.
- Find free packing supplies
It is possible to organize and plan a move without ordering packing supplies. Instead of buying them and possibly spending more money than you need on unused boxes, go to your local store and ask them to give you their unused boxes. You will get more than enough, trust us. However, you should be careful while using borrowed boxes. First of all, make sure they are completely clean before you put your things into them. Also, make sure they are firm and whole. There may be some damaged boxes. You can still use them, just for some light weight things. Try not to put too much stuff into those boxes and you’re good to go. Tip: look at your local liquor store. Boxes strong enough to carry glass bottles will be excellent for your upcoming relocation process! On the other hand, you can use some of the things you already own such as baskets, containers, trash bags, etc. Instead of protective blankets, you can use your own blankets, clothes, towels or linen sheets. They can do a great job at protectiv anything fragile: glassware, vases, bottles, mirrors etc. Be smart and creative while packing your items and use all resources you have at your disposal.
- Ditch some of your stuff
Decluttering is a huge part of the moving process. Everyone who has ever moved knows that very well. It is the perfect time to go through all of your stuff and get rid of unused things. Even though you might think now that you don’t have much to declutter, once you start going through everything you’ll realize you’re wrong. We tend to hoard things if they have sentimental value to us or because we might need them in the future. As it turns out, we never do. Once you put something away for future use, there is a 90% chance you will never reach for it again. This is also a great opportunity to earn some cash. Wonder how? Well, sell your things. Instead of donating them to your friends or a local thrift store, organize a garage sale or sell your items online. Either way, you will earn extra cash that can be put to good use once you are settled into your new home. Tip: some companies charge their service based on the weight of things being moved. You might want to get rid of some bulky items if you no longer need them.
- Pack by yourself
Now this is a huge thing to consider. Packing is a huge process and it’s equally, if not more, important than the actual move. Having the professional movers can be useless if you don’t pack your belongings properly and they get damaged during transport. Most moving companies are not held responsible for the damage if they are not the ones doing the packing. You should be very careful which option you will choose. If you have a friend or family member who recently moved or has the required skills for packing, you’re in the clear. You can ask them to help you or give you some guidelines on who to pack certain items. Packing is not simple at all. You cannot just throw whatever you want into the boxes and move it like that. Hiring professionals on the other hand may seem more expensive at the start, but paying for damaged goods may end up costing you more than the actual packers and movers. The best option would be to ask your movers about their prices and recommendations. Go to Google and search for „Movers San Diego“. You will get a number of different moving companies in your area who will be more than happy to help you and give you all the information you need!
- Don’t overbuy for your new home
We all get excited when we’re moving to a new home and that excitement can cost us quite a lot. Buying things for your future home, especially online, can make your spend way more money than you actually should. Try not to order too much before you actually move. Of course, things you need for everyday life should be pre-ordered and delivered to your new place instead of the old one. Make sure you plan this correctly, otherwise your move will cost you more money, because the movers will have to move those new items as well. Once you are all settled in and unpacked, you will notice what is missing and order it then. This trick is a mental one, but if you manage not to „add everything to cart“, you will save extra money. Once you are settled in your new home, you can start buying and ordering things. You will be able to see what is missing and what can fit into your new home. You shouldn’t order in advance especially if you don’t have access to your future home before the moving day.
- Don’t miss a work shift
If you’re moving on a budget, it is important to save as much as you can. Try to fit the moving schedule so as not to interrupt your business or work shifts. If you have to miss a shift, that will cost you as well. The same goes for children. If they are not in school or kindergarten, you will have to consider the cost of childcare and that might affect your decision. The best option would be to have someone close look after them such as a friend or neighbour, but if that is not an option for you, you should consider moving at the weekend.
- Get rid of food
There are a number of things that cannot be moved and it includes food – especially perishable food. A couple of weeks before your move, start thinking about using what you have in the freezer or your pantry. Food can be tricky to move even if companies want to do it, so you should try to avoid it as much as you can. Make a meal plan in advance in order to use the majority of groceries you have stored in your home. Eating the food you have will mean having less boxes to pack and move. You can prepare some meals in advance as well. In that way, you won’t be tempted to order takeaway or buy something unhealthy once a part of your kitchen has been packed. Using your frozen goods should be a priority because they cannot be moved without defrosting and it would be such a waste of food. If you simply can’t eat all that food, make sure it doesn’t go to waste and find a place to donate it to.
- Disassemble by yourself
If you haven’t booked a disassembling service in advance, make sure all of your bulky items are disassembled properly and ready for the professional movers. Expecting the movers to move bulky items that won’t go through a door or asking them to disassemble them without prior agreement would mean more costs and more time spent on your move which will end up in increased costs as well. If you have someone who can help you disassemble furniture, then you’re all good. Do that in time and be ready once the movers arrive. If not, book a disassembly service in advance. Be careful when it comes to this. Disassembling large and bulky items is not easy. You must be careful not to lose any screws or tiny parts of the furniture. Without them re-assembly won’t be possible and then it will be too late to search for them in all the boxes you have packed. If you’re lucky enough, you might find them. But let’s not risk it.
- Manage your time properly
We all know how the old saying goes – time is money. That saying has never been more true than on your moving day. Hiring a professional company would save you the trouble – they would make the whole plan of packing and moving and you wouldn’t have to worry about it. However, if you want to save some money and use only professional movers’ service, you should make a good plan. We like to say that a well-organized move is a successful move. Make sure the packing has been completely finished before the professional movers arrive. Give access to the property and parking permits if it is necessary. Make sure you have disconnected items like the fridge or dishwasher ahead of time. The point is, make sure you are not the one who is responsible for a hold up. Otherwise, you will be charged more.
All things considered, the key to a stress-free move is to plan ahead and be very clear about your moving schedule and tasks that need to be done. Whether you are packing by yourself or using professional service for that, time management is of vital importance. If you’re anxious about your moving day, don’t worry. It is completely normal and most people feel that way before the moving day arrives. Once our professional movers from San Diego Moving CO arrive, you will slowly start to relax. Our movers are professional and well-experienced in local moving, so you’re all set. If you have some additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our customer support center is available 24/7. Getting a moving quote is completely free, so you have nothing to lose. Give us a call today and your seamless relocation process will be our responsibility! If you place your trust in us, you won’t regret it.