Moving to a new home is exciting, but it also can be expensive. The average cost of relocation in 2023 is $1,340. Multiply that by 30 million, the number of people who move each year, and it’s no wonder that moving is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the cost of your move. A little effort and planning can save you a bundle in packing and transporting your household goods.
If you simply call a moving company then sit back and let them handle everything, you’ll pay top dollar. On the other hand, if you try to do everything on your own, you’ll spend a lot of time and energy, probably get stressed out, and maybe damage some of your valuable possessions as you scramble to get everything done.
If you want to keep costs low but also want to keep your sanity, this post will suggest some simple strategies. Nowadays, most people are looking for ways to save money. Here are a few ways to save on your next move.
Move Some Items Yourself
If you don’t have a lot of belongings and furniture to move or are moving within the local area, you can move some or all of your household goods yourself. You can rent a truck and enlist the help of friends or relatives to load your boxes and furnishings, then drive to your new place and unload. Even if you can’t move everything yourself, a moving company will charge less to move a few items than to move everything.
Book During the Off-Season
Most relocations, more than 60 percent, occur during the summer. This is when kids are out of school, and more people can get time off from work. It’s also when movers are busiest, and their rates are the highest. So if you can, plan to move during off-peak times between October and April. During these times, many moving companies lower their prices. You’ll find it easier to find a suitable moving company during these times and book a move on your schedule. You can also contact several movers and compare rates.
Clean Out Your Stuff Before Moving
Why pay to move a bunch of stuff you don’t need? You may have accumulated some items over the years that you no longer use or have belongings you won’t need at your new home. If you pay to move these items, you’ll be charged for the movers’ time and occupying space in the moving truck that could be filled with necessary items instead.
So in the weeks and months before your move, go through your possessions and decide what you don’t need. You can sell, donate, or discard these. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and Decluttr are some places to sell or donate unneeded items. If you have enough things to sell, you can even hold a moving sale to help raise money for your move.
Get Free Moving Boxes
If you buy new cardboard boxes and packing supplies, you’ll likely spend hundreds of dollars just on those. Instead, used boxes are fine for moving many items. Many stores, like big box department stores and home improvement stores, receive many shipped goods and have leftover boxes. Your local U-Haul may have a section for box exchange. You can also check sites like Craigslist, Freecycle, and Nextdoor for free boxes being offered. Sites like Ecobox receive used boxes and sell them at a considerable discount. And ask your friends, relatives, and neighbors who have just moved to see whether there are any leftover boxes. Just make sure the boxes you get are sturdy enough for what you plan to carry.
Consider using luggage, file cabinets, and furniture drawers to hold items. You have to move these things anyway; you might as well fill them. You can also purchase plastic bins instead of using cardboard boxes. These bins are lightweight and reusable in future moves. They also are self-sealing, so you don’t need packing tape.
Use Reusable Packing Supplies
Like cardboard boxes, packing paper and peanuts are staples of the moving industry and are frequently used to provide padding and fill empty spaces inside boxes. They can also be expensive. Instead, consider using clothes, towels, and linens. Wrap small glasses inside clothes. Use towels and soft fabric tee shirts to protect plates and glass. Pack glasses in linens and blankets. Wrap lamps and electronics in towels or put pillows around them. This will help you save on packing supplies.
You can also save magazines, newspapers, bubble wrap and peanuts from items you receive in the mail and use those for your next move.
Moving can be expensive, but there are ways to cut costs. You can use the money you save for decorations in your new home.
We hope you found this post, How to Make Your Move Less Expensive, useful. Be sure to check out our post, Common Factors that Affect Your Moving Costs for more great information.
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