It doesn’t matter if you’re packing up to move across town or the country. Relocating can be expensive. Added to the time it takes to declutter, downsize, and pack the contents of your home, the financial commitments can feel overwhelming.
There’s hope, however. If you know what you’re doing, you can cut down on the costs of moving through smart planning. More importantly, you don’t have to do everything yourself. You can hire moving services that won’t break the bank while allowing you to focus on other important details.
1. Pre-Move Planning: Set Yourself Up for Success
One of the best tips for moving on a budget is to plan your move before you start. That means creating a detailed checklist and establishing a timeline for your move.
Create a Comprehensive Moving Checklist
A comprehensive moving checklist includes every detail about your move. It covers purchasing packing materials and packing items in your home. The checklist also includes taking care of administrative tasks. These tasks involve changing your address and signing up for schools. Additionally, it reminds you to research important services like movers.
Why should you create a moving checklist? It helps reduce the risk of missing essential steps or making last-minute mistakes.
Avoid Peak Moving Dates and Times
Sometimes, you can’t help it: you need to move and do it quickly. But if you have some flexibility, you may be able to save money by strategically scheduling your move. Try to avoid peak moving dates and times by planning your relocation with the following considerations:
Off-peak seasons: Move during the fall or winter when demand is lower to reduce your rates.
Mid-month advantage: Choose a mid-month move date. This can help avoid higher costs seen at the month’s beginning and end.
Weekday moves: Book your move on a weekday instead of a weekend for better deals and more carrier availability.
Plan Ahead: Your Timeline for a Smooth Transition
Well-planned moving timelines can help avoid last-minute expenses and ensure a smoother process. Your timeline might look different depending on the urgency of your move and the size of your home or packing needs. A typical moving timeline might look like this:
Two months before moving day: Start decluttering and organizing. Source quotes from a moving broker.
Six weeks before moving day: Begin packing non-essential items room-by-room. Notify schools and arrange for record transfers.
One month before moving day: Finalize moving company details. Update your address with essential services.
Two weeks before moving day: Pack essentials and personal items. Confirm all moving arrangements.
Moving week: Double-check your plans and conduct a final walkthrough of your old home.
Combined with your checklist, a planned timeline will reduce your stress and help you save money by eliminating potential mistakes.
2. Declutter and Downsize: Less Stuff, Less Stress
If you’re looking for ways to save money when moving, the short answer is to “have less to move.” That means downsizing. Reducing your belongings before you move means fewer things to pack and packing supplies to buy. Many movers charge by volume, too. You might receive a lower quote if there is less to load and unload.
In addition to the money savings, decluttering can give you a fresh start as you assess what you really need. Let go of unnecessary items and start anew in your new home. With fewer things to pack, the process goes much faster, too. Unpacking will also be less overwhelming.
What does decluttering look like? You have several options:
Sort through your belongings: Go room by room and place them in categories: keep, donate, sell, and trash. Be honest with yourself about what you use and need.
Host a yard sale: Selling unwanted items can generate extra cash to help with moving costs. You can also list the items for sale on social media platforms and online classifieds like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
Donate items: If some items won’t sell, but they’re still usable, consider giving them to a charity. This doesn’t just help others. In some cases, you can see tax benefits from it!
Recycle and dispose of junk: Responsibly dispose of items you cannot sell or donate. Most communities offer bulk pickup services for large items.
3. Packing Like a Pro on a Budget
Relocating on a budget means paying close attention to your costs. A comprehensive budget includes the cost of supplies. When packing, you have several options for sourcing packing materials. While you can buy them new from most hardware stores, this may be expensive. If you’re trying to figure out how to save money when moving, consider instead asking friends or even local businesses to save their sturdiest boxes for you.
While you may be tempted to buy large boxes and shove everything in them, packing intelligently means paying attention to item weight and fragility. Packing items in the correct-sized boxes can help keep your items from being damaged. In the long run, this can save you money as you reduce the risk of needing to replace damaged or broken items when you arrive in your new home.
If you’re short on time, you can also work with a moving broker to negotiate packing services at a reduced rate as part of a comprehensive moving quote.
4. Determining Your Storage Needs
As part of your move, you might need to consider temporary storage, especially if you’re staging your home for sale. Knowing just how much storage to rent can significantly impact your moving budget. Avoid unnecessary expenses by renting no more storage than necessary. A good rule of thumb is that a 5- by 5-foot storage unit fits the contents of one bedroom, while a 10- by 30-foot unit can hold the contents of a single-family home.
5. Crafting Your Moving Budget
Creating a well-planned moving budget helps you anticipate expenses and identify cost-cutting opportunities. When considering how to create a moving budget, take the following steps:
List all potential expenses: List all possible costs for your move, including moving company fees, packing supplies, and storage costs.
Get quotes: Contact a moving broker to get quotes for long-distance moving services.
Break down costs: Categorize your expenses into fixed (moving company fees) and variable (gas, lodging) costs. This can help you understand which costs are flexible and can be adjusted.
Build a contingency plan: Allocate an extra 10 to 15% of your budget for unexpected expenses. This buffer helps accommodate any last-minute changes or unforeseen costs.
- Track your spending: Keep a close eye on your expenses during your move. Use spreadsheets or budgeting apps to monitor actual spending against your budgeted amounts. This is especially important if you’re seeking reimbursement for a corporate relocation.
Essential Components of a Realistic Moving Budget
Understanding all potential moving expenses is crucial to creating a comprehensive and realistic budget. Consider the following essential components:
Moving company fees: These can vary greatly based on distance, weight, and additional services like packing or storage.
Packing supplies: Include boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and specialty containers for fragile items. Buying in bulk can save you money.
Transportation costs: If you drive your own car, factor in fuel, tolls, and vehicle maintenance. For long-distance moves, consider airfare or car shipping costs.
Temporary housing: If there’s a gap between your move-out and move-in dates, include hotel stays or short-term rental costs.
Utilities and deposits: Budget for connecting or disconnecting utilities like electricity, water, internet, and gas. Also, account for any required security deposits.
Miscellaneous expenses: Don’t forget meals on the road, tips for movers, pet boarding, and cleaning supplies for your old and new homes.
6. Avoid Common Moving Mistakes
Moving on a budget means paying close attention to common moving mistakes that could lead to skyrocketing expenses. Failing to plan your move appropriately might cause you to scramble to find a moving company, and packing incorrectly could result in lost or damaged items. Don’t throw away money because you didn’t plan well enough.
7. Finding the Right Movers Without Breaking the Bank
Finding affordable moving services is probably the biggest priority when moving on a budget, especially if you’re making a long-distance move. You’ll want to balance cost and reliability without overspending. You might even be tempted to pass on hiring professional movers and take on the responsibility yourself.
DIY vs. Professional Movers: Weighing the Costs
If you’re considering taking the DIY route, remember: Moving on your own is a significant lift. If you have heavy furniture, you’ll likely need to draft friends or family members to help load it. You’ll also need to rent a truck to haul everything, which means playing Tetris with your belongings as you load them. This, along with driving long distances, is a highly specialized skill in its own right.
These factors all add up to a significant time investment. Hiring long-distance moving services can help reduce that commitment so you can focus on other things.
How to Shop for Reliable Movers
Once you know that hiring professionals is the right move, it’s time to find them. That takes time, too. Instead of worrying about it, consider partnering with a trusted moving services broker who can connect you with affordable, accredited moving providers to simplify your relocation.
Safe Ship Moving is a moving broker with years of experience in facilitating long-distance relocations for homeowners, businesses, military families, and others. We partner with trusted, vetted, and affordable moving services providers. Contact us today for more information on a free moving quote.
FAQs
What is a reasonable moving budget?
Your specific budget may vary, but a reasonable moving budget typically ranges between $1,000 and $5,000. This amount depends on the distance, size of the move, and additional services required. Long-distance moving costs are often higher.
What month is the cheapest to move?
The cheapest months to move are typically between September and April. It’s the “off-peak” season for moving companies which often means greater availability of services and lower costs.
What is the cheapest day to move a house?
The cheapest days to move a house are weekdays, specifically Tuesday through Thursday. Moving companies often lower rates on these days because of reduced demand compared to weekends.
