You just bought a new home; excitement is high but so is your stress-level. Where do you begin? How much does moving cost anyway?
Depending on where you are moving, what time of year it is, and how you plan to move all play a role in determining how much your move will cost. Make your move a stress-free experience by knowing these five ways to save money on your next move.
Be Prepared
One of the most overwhelming things about moving is getting started. Moving is more than just packing your belongings from one home and transporting them to another. There are many steps in-between that need careful planning to make your move as stress-free as possible.
The best way to prepare for a move is to plan. Start off by writing a checklist of all the tasks you need to get done before you move, while you are moving, and what to do post-move. You can also download our complete moving checklist to take an extra item off of your list.
Ultimately, planning your move can help you avoid unwanted costs. By creating a checklist, you’ll know how much to budget
Lighten Your Load
In the months leading up to your move, you’ll want to take inventory of a) the items you have, b) what you want to bring with you, and c) what items you can leave behind.
It can be overwhelming to part with your belongings; how do you know what to keep and what to part with? Start by creating four sorting piles: 1) keep, 2) sell, 3) donate, and 4) trash. For sorting some items, this process may come easy, but for the items you are unsure about, consider following a sorting rule such as The Declutter Formula or the KonMari Method.
You can save money, space, and unwanted stress on your move by lightening your load. This is also an important consideration whether you decide to hire movers or move by yourself. One of the big costs associated with hiring movers is their hourly expense; the more items you move the longer it will take and the costlier it will become.
Pack Your Own Belongings
The more time you take to prepare for a move, including packing, the more time and money you will save. If you choose to hire movers, having your belongings packed and ready to go will significantly save you money on moving expenses. If you plan to move by yourself, you can significantly minimize stress on the day of your move by being prepared.
You can save extra money when packing your own belongings by making use of household items you already own. Wrap your valuables in towels, linens, and sheets rather than buying packing paper. Instead of purchasing moving boxes, you can save by packing your belongings in suitcases and storage bins you already own.
If you do need to get packing supplies, try reusing shipping boxes, or ask a friend if they have any storage bins that they can lend you. At the Move Out Bin, we provide Round Trip Totes at an affordable price to help you get from Point A to Point B efficiently. These Round Trip Totes are 100% stackable and maximize space in our portable storage containers.
Consider Portable Storage Solutions
You may be asking yourself, should I hire a moving company or move by myself? Like any decision, there are pros and cons to each solution. In a nutshell, hiring movers takes the pressure off you to budget time and effort, but is also significantly more expensive. Moving by yourself can save you a significant amount of money but requires an investment in time and effort.
If you are willing to budget extra time and plan carefully, moving by yourself is a cheaper alternative to moving services. There are many cost-friendly ways to move by yourself; you can rent a moving van or truck, use portable storage solutions, or enlist the help of family and friends.
For a hassle-free, DIY move, consider portable storage solutions. Portable storage containers, such as our 16’ x 8’ x 8’ units, allow you to take your time packing and unpacking. These portable storage units are also easy to transport– all you have to do is give us a call!
Move During the Off-Season
Did you know that the most popular time of year to move is during the spring and summer months? If you plan on hiring a moving company, you’ll save on moving costs by moving outside of these months. This is largely because moving services are in high demand during peak season resulting in higher moving costs.
You can save money on your next move by planning to move during the off-season between mid-September and April. The demand for moving services is usually lower during this time as many families with children wait for the summer months to avoid disruptions to their school-year schedules. Not only will you avoid high costs, but you will also likely have more choice of what moving company to hire.
If you choose to move using a portable storage solution, the Move Out Bin does not charge additional costs based on the time of year! This means if you are planning a move during high season, the Move Out Bin provides affordable, fixed pricing to help you save money on your next move!
Save Money and A Headache
All things considered, you’ll minimize costs and stress on your next move by being prepared, lightening your load, packing your own belongings, using portable storage solutions, and moving during the off-season.
We’re Here to Help!
At the Move Out Bin, our professional team is here to help make your move a positive and cost-effective experience by:
- Delivering your portable storage container
- Removing the pressure of a deadline
- Transporting the portable storage container to your new location, or store it at our facility until you are ready for its delivery
- Hauling the empty storage unity away when you are done
To get started with your storage solution, contact us today.
