5 Ways to Save Money On Your Move
When we move there are a lot of expenses that are unexpected and we all want to watch the budget as we prepare. Moving is made up of three elements; packing & loading, driving, unloading. The driving portion of the move is useually less in our control. The distance between your origination and destination can’t be altered. Cost elements like fuel, truck cost and mileage are going to be predictable ahead of time as they are relatively fixed. Here are 5 ways to save money on your move that are controllable and simple to follow.
1. Make the load smaller
How much stuff you take will drive a variety of costs to include materials to protect your goods, time to pack, time to load and unload. Making the load smaller will save you money. This does not mean you leave behind items that have great value to you. It means to default to “not take” all those items you are not sure about. When you see your grandmother’s china doll that was given to you as part of the family legacy, there is no question you take it. If you look at that half eaten box of cereal and wonder if it is worthwhile to pack it – don’t take it. There is likely cereal available on sale where you are going. Donate it to a good cause, feel better about your contribution to society and save money.
2. Pack as much as you can yourself
Packing can be tedious and if you have a professional pack everything it can relieve tedium. And it can drive up your budget. When we have projects go over budget the culprit is most often a client who had planned on packing themselves then changed their mind and had us do all the packing. Plan your pack well and understand what you are comfortable packing. Great items for you to pack are non-breakables like clothing and books. You can effectively pack delicate items though it will take longer than a professional. It is an option if you have the time. If you are uncomfortable packing the very delicate items we are happy to help. And if you pack your closets, plastics cups and cookbook collection you’ll save money.
3. Disassemble items yourself
In the age of flat pack most of our furnishings can be disassembled and reassembled. Assembling is not a lot of fun. Disassembling, however, is generally easier. That one log bed with the unique fastners that forces the movers to research how to take is apart is driving up load time. If you or a handy partner can disassemble item like racks and beds, the load time will do much faster and you will save money.
4. Prepare the site
As we live in an Alpine environment things like ice and snow can significantly slow down a move. We are happy to chip ice and shovel snow to make a move possible, and it will drive up the budget. We expect that site to be prepared as we all want a fast and efficient move. Not shoveling a drive and icy steps can add significant time to loads, and it makes is less safe for everybody. Clear your drive and steps to save money.
5. Be on site and give feedback
Confusion on the day about what is loaded or what is not loaded is a big driver of cost. Time is money, and if you leave the site and we have to take time to track you down for questions it does not help the budget. By no means do we suggest it is fun to be in the middle of the action on moving day. But be available. Maybe a coffee shop five minutes away with your phone on. And it is imperative that you are there to walk through the house at the end of a load. As most of our homes sell furnished there is no replacement for your looking into each room to ensure we have everything. Having to go back to a house to pick up a forgotten item when you or a trusted representative was not available for a walk through adds budget. Be available and save money.
We hope these tips will help you keep the budget where you want it and makes for a good move experience. We will see you on move day!
