Moving is a necessary hassle, and it's easy for moving costs to become overwhelmingly expensive–especially if you haven't bothered to set a moving budget. The best way to avoid overspending on moving is to set a moving budget and then stick to it. The following is an essential guide to help you create a moving budget and save on your moving costs.
Make a List of Logistics
The first part of creating a moving budget is to make a list of necessary logistics. This includes deciding on how much of your current living space you'll be moving, how you'll be moving it, and whether or not you need (or want) certain moving supplies.
What to Move (And What to Drop)
How much of your current living space will you be moving? For instance, do you intend on bringing your furniture, or leaving it behind? The more you bring, the higher the moving costs–especially if you are moving more than an hour or two away. If you intend on bringing furniture, you will need to hire a professional mover, which will greatly increase the total moving costs.
Necessary Moving Supplies and the Packing Process
Do you have all the supplies you need to move? Some moving companies may provide you with moving supplies, but this could cost more than simply buying or otherwise procuring the items yourself. And will you be picking up yourself, or having a company do it for you? In general, it's best to do the packing yourself (with a group of friends or family) if you can to save on the high expenses of hiring a company to pack for you.
Figure Out Moving Date & Transport Expenses
If you have a fixed moving date, then you will be able to get an estimate fairly easily, though if the date falls within the busy season then the cost will be higher. If the date is not fixed, you should ideally pick an "off-season" date in order to reduce expenses. For example, it will be much cheaper to move on a weekday in the winter than a Saturday in the summer.
There are three standard ways to move your household: shipping items, professional moving company, and transporting everything yourself. Transporting everything yourself with your own vehicles may be technically cheaper, but it can be time-consuming or even risky depending on the type of objects you need to be transported. A professional moving company service will move your items efficiently and professionally, but this can be expensive if your moving area is more than an hour or so away. The third option, shipping, is ideal when you are moving far away but this too can be expensive. Shipping is recommended if you have a higher budget or if you are able to cut down on costs by only shipping lighter essentials.
Add Up Estimates and Adjust
Once you know all of your moving expenses, it's time to add them up. It's best to keep a chart of each individual estimate for adjustment purposes later. Once you have a final estimate, you can adjust your budget accordingly until it fits within your budget parameters.
If you are looking at moving to a new apartment or upgrade to a boutique apartment in Western Canada contact Mainstreet Equity and learn about the advantages of renting with us!