Moving Tips | Found a place you love? Congratulations on your upcoming move. But moving can be expensive and is almost always stressful. To keep your budget in check, here are some money-saving moving tips.
1. Get rid of the junk
Moving is the perfect time to get rid of things. Everyone has belongings they don’t need. You’ve binged, now it’s time to purge. But don’t just toss the items you don’t want; there are some great options that are much more environmentally friendly. Some can even get you a bit of extra spending money. So what are some good ways to get rid of that stuff?
- Garage sales
- Charity donations (make sure to write these off on your taxes!)
- Put the item on Craigslist or another online classifieds site
2. Don’t pay for boxes
One of the easiest mistakes to make while moving is to go out and buy boxes that you’re going to use when packing. Instead, keep all the boxes that come your way and ask your friends and neighbors to do the same. For example, if you have something shipped to you make sure to keep the box.
Another easy way to get boxes is to ask local retailers. Many of them have a huge surplus of boxes that they don’t need from their weekly inventory shipments.
3. Move during off season
Believe it or not, “moving season” is a thing, and is during the summer months. If you have any flexibility when planning a move, aim to move between September and May. Even though the weather may be a little worse, you’ll be saving a bunch of money.
You can also save by moving mid-month, since moving companies tend to have the most demand the first and last few days of the month.
4. Keep your receipts
There are some moving expenses that are tax deductible. If you are moving because of a job, you will most likely be able to write off some of the expense if you itemize.
5. Pack yourself
As with most things, you’ll be able to save the most money if you do it yourself. Packing is no exception. Even if you’re hiring a moving company, it’s best to do the packing yourself simply because it will give you the opportunity to throw out or donate the things you don’t need. This will, in turn, make the overall cost of hiring movers lower.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re packing everything up yourself. Just like you shouldn’t pay for boxes, you can avoid paying for some packing materials. More often than not you can use things around the house to make sure your valuables don’t get broken. For instance, you can wrap your dishes in towels, since you need to pack both items anyway. Get creative!
6. Hire quality movers
Maybe you’ve heard the saying “Measure twice and cut once,” which refers to being certain before you act. The same is true for hiring movers or any other professional. Always do your research, read reviews and ask friends and family members for recommendations. Even if it means spending a little more money to hire a quality company, it’s going to be much cheaper than firing a moving company and hiring another one if you aren’t completely satisfied or, worse, losing your belongings or your money to a moving scam.
7. Look for hidden fees
Always read the fine print when you hire movers. There may be fees such as insurance programs or random fees that the company will tack on and hope you miss. Read everything before you sign, and don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions.- Redfin
Looking for new home communities? Please do not hesitate to contact us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!
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