If you and your family are preparing for a move, saving money on that move should be a priority. Moving is expensive but there are ways you can reign in the costs. Following these simple steps will help you cut back on moving costs for you and your family.
The More Planning Time the Better
The longer in advance you can plan the move for you and your family, the more savings you are likely to find. Planning way ahead will help you to compare costs and give you time to do the research. Moving is a lot like traveling in that if you must make last-minute decisions you are going to probably pay more for the service.
The time of year that you are planning the move for you and your family will also affect how much you will pay to hire a moving company. Summertime is the busiest season to move. About 60% of moves in the United States happen between May and August. If you can move a little earlier or a little later, you can see significant savings. Plotting to move your family carefully can be one of the easiest ways to save money on your move.
Take on Part of the Move Yourself
Moving companies typically offer a suite of services. These added-value services come with a steep price tag. For example, most moving companies offer packing and unpacking services which can ring up the cost of your move. Instead of paying for a moving company to do the packing and unpacking, you can delegate duties to your family and get the house packed up without picking up the tab.
Put your family to work and make each family member responsible for packing up their own room. Of course, if your children are very young, you may need to enlist the help of extended family members like grandparents. Doing part of the job yourself will result in significant savings that you can put toward the work that needs to be done in your new home, like landscaping. Saving money on your move and putting it toward landscaping in the new place can result in a 14% return on your investment when you resell your new home down the line.
Save For the Move
Remember that first tip to plan as far ahead as you can? If you start planning months in advance, you can start saving as soon as possible for the move. It will be less of a hit to your budget if you tuck a few hundred dollars to the side each month to cover the costs of the move instead of using credit cards for the move. Saving for the move may not reduce the overall cost of the move but it will lessen the financial hit.
Look for the Best Value in Moving
A DIY move may seem like the best way to save money, but you have to consider whether it is the best value. Consider the cost of renting a moving truck, the time it would take to load all your family’s goods, and then unload the goods at your destination. Time is money. If your family includes younger children, a DIY move can be harrowing. Of course, you also have to consider safety. Can you carry that fridge with a friend down a couple of flights of steps? Will you have the “manpower” to make the move?
Finally, Do This
Many people do not realize that they can negotiate moving costs. If you and your family are moving, treat it like you are buying a new car. You may be surprised to find that you can ask for discounts and get them. Saving on your move is essential because there will be things you will need to have money for when you get to your new place. For example, a new video surveillance system to keep your family safe. About 67% of burglaries can be avoided by adding a surveillance system.
You can curtail the cost of moving your family by just taking a few simple steps and, in some cases, asking for a better deal. Good luck on your move and make savings a priority.
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