Moving is a daunting task, especially when you are a minimalist and want to move without spending much. How is it possible to get all your stuff out of your current home and into your new place without dropping a ton of cash in the process? Since we are moving experts, we know the art of doing it. And here are a handful of tricks and strategies for moving on a tight budget.
Connect with local moving companies
Contact as many companies as you can and grab moving quotes. The more quotes you have, the better the chances to know the latest moving trends. The moving quotes are free and are easy to get.
Research the Costs of DIY vs. Professional Services
Do not assume that moving company charge exorbitantly. That’s a myth. Once you receive the moving company quotes, compare them, and analyze how much is the budget.
If you are doing it yourself (DIY), how much will be the final moving cost? You need to consider all factors including the moving truck. This is a challenging task but you need to know it before taking a final decision.
Once you make an estimate, negotiate with movers. Even moving companies have an off-season: if you can time your move during fall or winter, companies often lower their rates as much as 30 percent.
Opt for a moving company if you find that affordable. Otherwise, you can go with DIY.
Don’t pay for the boxes
Boxes to pack your household belongings are costly. Buying boxes is simply unnecessary when there are several ways to get them for free:
Get empty boxes from your office or workplace; printer-paper boxes are strong and large enough for most items.
Ask friends who have recently moved or post a request on your social networks.
Check Freecycle and Craigslist's Free section or take a look around your neighborhood on recycling and garbage day. You never know who else has just moved and is getting rid of their used boxes.
Ask at your local liquor store; boxes strong enough to hold glass bottles of rum or vodka can certainly handle your knickknacks.
Ditch all stuff that you feel are no more necessary
Before the moving date, you need to clean up the wardrobe. To your surprise, almost half of the stuff at home will not be required anymore. Hold a yard sale or sell them via online stores. You give some of the stuff to charity. Giving away the stuff will help you reduce the volume of items to be moved and will save the truck space. This will also cut down the moving cost drastically.
Pack books separately
Books are heavy. Pack 6-10 books in a small box as they are better than 1 big box with 60 books in it.
Quality of packing materials matter
To cut down the moving company quotes, you should not buy/use cheap packing tape to seal your boxes. This does not save money, instead makes moving more challenging.
Reuse cheap or free packing materials
You know that packing materials come costly. Instead of buying an oversized roll of bubble wrap, use household items as packing material for items to be moved.
Here are a few tips to follow:
Socks can be used to wrap glassware.
Kitchen towels are a great way to separate plates.
Leverage original packaging to transfer what originally came in them, or find a way to use these old boxes to protect finer goods.
Avoid buying moving boxes altogether. Try sites like Craigslist to search for people who are willing to give them away.
Moving is an art. You don’t need to rob a bank to relocate to a new home. Just try to negotiate for an moving company quote. If you plan properly in advance, moving your home will not be a challenge, instead, it would be a remarkable incident packed with fun and enjoyment.