People who downsize tend to do so because they are looking to save money on their living expenses. However, it is easy to give back a portion of that savings by spending too much on moving to their new place. Fortunately, there are things that a person can do to keep the cost of the transition to a reasonable level.
One of the easiest ways to save money on moving is to move local. This may reduce the number of moving trucks that you need or the amount of time that you need them for. In some cases, you may be able to use a friend’s vehicle or ask a family member to help with the move instead of paying for assistance.
The more prepared that you are on moving day, the less time it will take to complete the move. By taking care of packing and cleaning ahead of time, you won’t risk paying a fee or otherwise losing out on your security deposit if you fail to leave your apartment in good condition.
While a moving company will charge for their services, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find a company that meets your needs and your budget. Ideally, you will compare quotes from at least three different companies. Furthermore, try to book a company as far in advance as possible to avoid rush or other convenience fees. Choosing a local company can help save money as the truck won’t have to go as far on its way back to headquarters. Generally, moving companies charge you until the truck has returned back to its base.
While selling goods may not directly reduce the amount that you pay to move, it can help offset the costs that you incur. People will buy almost anything from your extra couch to the television that is too heavy to carry out of your current place. Depending on what you have for sale, it isn’t out of the question to raise several hundreds or thousands of dollars to defray moving costs.
Ideally, you will start to plan your move as far in advance as possible. Doing so will make it easier to find affordable moving professionals or otherwise make arrangements to move without spending a lot of money. In addition to saving cash, good planning can reduce stress and get the move finished in a timely manner.
Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.