Tips to Save You Time & Money When You Move
People often view moving as one of the most stressful events that they’ve gone through in life, after divorce and the death of a loved one. In fact, on the Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale, moving is listed at No. 32, but it’s still clear that most people simply hate the entire experience of moving. It’s time-consuming, tiring and relatively expensive, so there’s no arguing about it being a total drag.By implementing some tips from the moving professionals, you can save time, money and relieve a lot of the stress. One simple money-saving tip would be not to buy boxes. Just get them from your local supermarkets, hardware stores or other retailers. Call ahead to determine the best day and time to come by and get them. I doubt that any retailer is going to charge you for boxes they’re tossing out anyway. You’re already well on your way to saving money on your move.1. Pack Everything Up Before Moving DayThis is a no-brainer but it is the No. 1 complaint of movers. Last minute packing will waste a lot of time and this only adds to the costs. The problem is that a lot of people think they’ve packed everything when they haven’t. So while the movers wait they rush around their home pulling out drawers, grabbing stuff out of the basement and stuffing things in random boxes they forget to label.2. Pack a Survival KitYour survival kit will be a bag containing everything you’ll need to survive for 72 hours. You may not need this because it’s not as if you’re evacuating a disaster area, but the move will certainly disrupt your life, so packing a bag full of these items can relieve a lot of stress and may be a lifesaver in the end. Just having your essentials in one place can potentially save you a lot of time and money since you won’t be forced to search for them or buy replacements. This is what you’ll pack in your survival kit:• An extra outfit that’s clean and ready to wear• Toothbrush, floss and toothpaste• Hairbrush, personal care items and any accessories• Any medications you take and a first-aid kit• Cell phone and charger• Information related to the movers, company address, truck and other details• Wallet and identification• Keys• Snacks and drinks3. Devise a Loading Plan for the Moving TruckLoading the truck properly is extremely important to avoid any damage to your belongings, and save the cost of repairing or replacing the items that end up being damaged. The order in which items are loaded into the truck is important. Load heavy furniture first, such as desks, trunks and dressers. Then load in soft furniture items, like sofas, and mattresses. Boxes come next, followed by lighter items like rugs, chairs, luggage, etc. If you’re handling the move yourself, this is the best way to load the truck to protect everything. If you’re paying movers, make sure you place the boxes in a separate area of the house so the heavier items can be conveniently loaded into the truck first then unloaded and easily placed in the right rooms.4. Buy or Rent a Shoulder DollyProfessional movers use these handy devices, which are essentially a two-person strap system to secure heavy items for moving. It has a sturdy strap that connects two shoulder straps similar to a backpack. You secure the shoulder dolly beneath a heavy items like a washers and dryers or heavy dressers, then you and your moving partner put the straps on, grasp the item and lift it. This redistributes the weight, making heavy items easier to move while leaving your hands free to handle the item as you maneuver through tight spaces and doors. It gives you more control while carrying heavy items and helps you to keep from dropping things, dinging walls and the costs that come along with doing repairs or replacing damaged items.5. Use Blankets and Pillows to Protect FurnitureIf you’re not using movers and want to keep from damaging your furniture you can use your own blankets, comforters and pillows to wrap delicate furniture and secure it with tape before you move it out of the house. If you’re concerned about damaging your blankets, just be careful and think about how much it would cost to replace the blanket as opposed to repairing or replacing that piece of furniture.6. When Hiring a Moving Company Get an On-site EstimateBefore moving day, have the moving company send someone out to survey your possessions and have them provide a written estimate of the cost for the move. Moves usually take longer than expected, so ask them how they figure the additional hours. This way you will know in advance what the move will likely cost you.7. Peak Moving Times Should Be AvoidedIf you can avoid moving on the last day or weekend of the month, do so. Those are the busiest times for truck rentals and movers. Peak moving times run from the month of May to mid-September, so those months should be avoided as well to save money.8. Inform the IRS of Your MoveIf the IRS has not been informed of your new address you may not receive your tax refund check, which is what happens to thousands of people every year. The U.S. Postal Service forwards mail only for a set period of time, and certain types of mail are only forwarded for 60 days. You might also look at the IRS’s website to determine if you can write off the move. In general, if you have to move more than 50 miles to take a full-time job, you may be allowed to deduct your moving expenses on your tax return.
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