Find out how you can cut the cost of moving by following these 7 helpful tips.
Image by Phil Scoville via Flickr
Moving house can sometimes be a stressful process. Along with the inconvenience, time, and effort involved in sorting, organising, and packing up everything you own, moving can also be expensive. This is why it’s a good idea to get quotes from moving companies beforehand that will allow you to include this in your budget. For example, if you’re looking to ship larger items such as your car, you can find a quote from a reputable service provider on sites like https://www.rcgauto.com/services/shipping/quote/. There are plenty of other ways to save money, and the following 7 suggestions present some clever strategies that will help you slash your moving costs.
- Moving house is the perfect time to cull your possessions and get rid of things you no longer need. Do you really want to move that broken junk you’ve been meaning to have repaired one day? How about those old clothes that you’ve intended to give away that have been hidden in the back of the closet for the last few years? Grasp this opportunity to simplify things and bring only those items that will suit your new environment. Organise a garage sale and put your profits towards the move and you’ll automatically lighten your load. The less you have to pack the quicker you will get the job done and your moving bill will be even cheaper.
- Rather than spending time running all over town looking for strong packing boxes, use a dedicated service like The Moving Box Company who specialise in providing expert advice and a variety of quality boxes and packing materials to suit all budgets and requirements.
- Another great way to save on expenses is to pack non-essential things first and if possible, move them over to their new location before the bulk of your possessions. Many smaller things will easily fit on the backseat of the car or in the boot. Depending whether the new location is close by, smaller loads can be dropped off progressively as you go about your daily business. You’ll incur fewer expenses if there is less for the movers to move.
- When researching potential movers ask for recommendations from friends and family. The internet and social media can also be used to find out what kind of experiences other customers have had. Be sure to compare the rates of the various companies you contact for quotes and don’t agree to anything until you have spoken to at least four or five companies. Check whether they charge a flat rate, by the hour, per kilometre, by volume, or a combination of these factors. Getting the best deal for moving services tips the scales in your favour when you know which questions to ask.
- The location of the removalists’ base or depot needs to be factored into your calculations as many companies will charge you an hourly rate that includes travel both to and from their depot. For example, let’s say you are hiring a removal service in Mont Albert. The clock starts to tick when the moving van leaves their depot and doesn’t stop again until everything is unloaded and the workers and their van return to the base in Mout Albert. Therefore, try and source a company that is central to where you are moving to and from, not necessarily someone with a better price located further out of town. You’ll save more money if the truck travels fewer kilometers to move your belongings.
- Ask your friends and family if they would be willing to help you to move house. The key is the old adage of ‘many hands make light work’ and the more helping hands you have the less money you need to pay a professional. Organise a convoy of cars with each helper taking what will fit on the back seat or boot. Perhaps you know some strong people with a Ute or small truck that would be willing to help in exchange for a future favour? Offer to throw a barbeque at the end of the day to reward your exhausted, hungry friends.
- Leave the largest and heaviest things for the removalists to take. If you transport the more manageable items, all that will be left to load will be those items that professional movers deal with every day. Don’t break your back trying to heft bulky items. Some aspects of moving can be a literal pain and are worth the cost of paying a professional.
While moving house can seem like a blessing or a curse, there are always strategies you can use to keep the cost to a minimum, depending on how you tackle it.
