Moving house is an exciting time in everyone’s life. You get the chance to start all over again in a new home, you can start making new memories all over again, and you feel refreshed, with more space and so much potential to come.
However, anyone who’s moved house before knows it can be pricey, and if you’re not prepared for the expense, you may find yourself eating 50 cent ramen during the first few weeks of living in your new home. Still, moving house doesn’t need to be that expensive, and while you won’t be able to do it for free, there are still ways you can keep the cost low.
But how is that possible? If you’re thinking of moving house soon, here are some top tips to make your move as financially friendly as possible.
Work With Reliable Realtors
Anyone who’s moved house before will tell you that you need a reliable realtor to make the move as comfortable and relaxing as it can be. Of course, few things are actually relaxing about moving house, but you’ve still got to do the best you can.
Rather than pay a fortune in House or Flat Fee Listing, it’s worth searching for realtors who deliver the same quality as expensive options but do so at an affordable price. Commission fees and more can often wreak havoc on your budget, and many times, they are unexpected, which will throw you into even more of a spin.
Before deciding where to look, make sure to do your research, ask around, and find the right realtor for your needs. It may take some time, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Get in Touch With Fantastic Friends
What are friends for, right? Bringing in reinforcements to help you pack and shift items across the city, or even the country, will help you save plenty of cash on hiring a professional moving company. However, you’ll still need to offer them something in return, but the promise of pizza will usually sway most.
Having friends to help you move everything will also give you great peace of mind. You can trust them to take extra special care of your things and ensure nothing breaks, and if anything doesn’t fit in the van or car right now, you can always ask them to hold onto it until a later time.
Remember to Declutter and Donate
It is nearly impossible to go through life without accumulating clutter, but this clutter doesn’t need to be the bane of your life when packing up to move house. In fact, it can open up plenty of other opportunities.
You can sell things you don’t need, but you won’t need a yard sale to do this. Instead, consider looking at Marketplaces on social media or use tried and tested platforms, such as eBay, and this can help boost finances in preparation for the move.
As for anything you can’t sell, your local thrift store or charity store will be happy to have them. It won’t matter if it’s books, old clothes, or random electronics, there is always someone somewhere who will need what you’re giving away/.
Make the Most of Protective Packing
The benefits of the thrift store doesn’t end there, though. These places will also have plenty of bubble wrap, boxes, and even elastic ropes that you can use to secure the items to your car. Through this, you will save money on equipment rental, and you’re usually able to source them for a dollar at the most. Some places may even give it all away for free if you’re kind enough.
Once you’ve sourced these items, you can focus on protecting the most fragile items in your moving inventory. This includes plates and bowls, glass, mirrors, and your First Edition Superman model that adorns your mantelpiece, despite your partner’s clear disdain.
You can also double up on protection by wrapping these delicate items in dish towels, between rolls of toilet paper, or even use pillows and bedsheets to soften the impact when going over speed bumps along the way.
Think About the Off-Peak Options
Few people know this, but there are peak seasons when it comes to moving house. As you’d expect, the summer is the peak season. Movers like to take advantage of the long days, the warm weather, and the fuzzy feelings that come with Vitamin D exposure.
However, because it’s peak season, moving companies like to jack the prices up. They do this to compete with the demand, so if you’re looking to keep costs to a minimum, moving house in the colder months is a great way to do so.
It may not be as exciting as moving in the summer, and if you move in the dead of winter, it’s unlikely you can enjoy your first night sitting in the backyard. There will, however, be plenty of time for this eventually, and you’ll be able to do so without worrying about unpacking box after box after box.
Embrace the Meal Prep Party
Before you leave your house to move into your new one, you do everything you can to strip the cupboards and refrigerator of everything you can. You don’t want to leave anything behind, but there are some instances where what you have left just won’t make a satisfying meal.
When this happens, it’s tempting to order take out. But, ordering take out every night won’t do your budget any good. Instead, work on meal prep in the weeks leading up to the move. Take a Sunday afternoon to create a week’s worth of meals and store them in the freezer. Each night, you can defrost one and enjoy it.
Financially Friendly and Fun
While moving house will always incur some costs, it’s still worth searching high and low to find the best discounts and deals you can. With enough savviness and understanding of where to look for these offers, you’ll make it to your new home with a wallet that’s stuffed full of bills, which should cover the first takeout you purchase to celebrate, complete with a bottle of wine, and maybe even dessert because you’ve earned this treat.
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