- Selling or donating household items before the move can help reduce costs and declutter quickly.
- Utilizing personal vehicles or renting vans/trucks may offer more flexibility and cost savings than professional movers.
- Improving your old home with new paint, flooring, furniture, appliances, and landscaping can help increase sale value to cover moving expenses.
- Proper planning and research into the relocation’s financial implications are essential to ensure enough money is saved for the move.
People often move homes for various reasons, including improved career opportunities, to be closer to family, or to find a better living situation. According to the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), in 2020, nearly 40 million Americans moved homes – an increase from 2019’s figure of 32 million – and these moves were predominately influenced by changing job opportunities.
In addition to finding better work, many people are motivated by the desire for more space or a different home style. The AMSA reports that in 2020 there was a shift away from urban areas as nearly thirty-six percent of Americans relocated from metropolitan centers. This trend was primarily attributed to the rise of remote working throughout the pandemic, which allowed people more flexibility regarding their location.
However, moving homes can be costly, so many people try to save up for this expense. People who plan to move must consider the financial implications of relocating, such as any down payments on new homes, movers fees, and other related costs. Fortunately, you can find ways to save money while moving, and these areas can be worth taking the time to research.
Sell or Donate Items
When moving to a new home, managing your personal belongings can be crucial in saving money. Not only can you save money by selling any items that you no longer need or want, but these same items can be donated to local charities, which allows them to help those in need while also cutting down on the amount of money spent on relocation fees.
By selling unwanted items, people can generate money which may help cover the cost of their move, while donating goods can reduce the number of things that must be transported and stored during the process. Furthermore, donating items is beneficial for tax purposes as it can increase deductions. Donations may even result in free removal services from organizations like Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army.
In addition to these benefits, selling and donating items before a move will help declutter and reduce the time needed to pack and organize. This time savings may translate into fewer hours from movers and other professionals hired for a move, allowing individuals to save more money in the long run.
Managing personal belongings before relocating is essential to saving money while moving. Selling unused goods or donating them not only helps cut down on costs associated with a move but also provides benefits such as increased tax deductions and decluttering homes more quickly. So, this necessary step will ensure that individuals have enough saved up for their upcoming relocation expenses.
Utilize Your Vehicles
Transporting your items is one of the most expensive parts of a move, so people should consider utilizing any available transportation to minimize costs. Using your vehicles or renting trucks for short-distance moves can help save on moving fees. If you don’t have access to a car or truck, there are also services in many cities that allow individuals to rent space in vans or other large vehicles for transporting goods.
These types of arrangements can be significantly cheaper than hiring movers and may even offer more flexibility when it comes to scheduling pickups and drop-offs. Furthermore, they often require users to pay an hourly rate instead of a flat fee like professional movers — meaning that people won’t be charged more than necessary.
However, you might save more money if you get services for long-distance moving. Traveling far with a heavy load can cause extensive damage to your car or rental truck, and the added cost of repairs can quickly offset any savings you may have initially seen.
Improve Your Old Home
Most movers make money from selling their previous property, which can help cover the cost of their new home. Since furnished homes tend to be more attractive to potential buyers, refurnishing your old house may help you get a better price that covers moving expenses.
Here are a few tips when refurbishing your home:
New Wall Paint
Painting your walls can be inexpensive, but it can drastically change the look of a room. If you’re on a budget, use lighter colors to give the space an updated feel.
New Flooring
Flooring can be expensive, but new carpets or wood floors can make a huge difference when selling your home. You can also upgrade home features like lighting, counter tops, and storage spaces to get more for your property.
Furniture and Appliances
Adding furniture and appliances may increase your initial investment, but these items will help attract buyers and make them more likely to purchase your property for a better price.
Well-Maintained Landscape
Curb appeal factors heavily into a home’s value, so maintaining the landscape of your old home is essential. Take some time to trim bushes, mow the lawn, and keep leaves cleared away from walkways.
Final Thoughts
Moving to a new home can be expensive, but there are ways to save money. You can reduce relocation costs by selling or donating items before the move, utilizing available transportation, and improving your old home for resale value. With proper planning and research into the financial implications of relocating, people should have enough saved up for their upcoming move.
