Moving hacks to simplify and save

The prospect of moving often fills even the strongest of hearts with an impending sense of doom. It is labor intensive, expensive and can involve numerous strategical details that can be hard to plan for in advance, despite your best attempts.  If you are past the point in life where bribing your friends to help with beer and pizza is a good option, but you are still trying to make your move an affordable process, don’t fear—there are several avenues which might prove to be good options.    

 

Simplify with a purge before you move

You will probably be amazed at the things you have accumulated that you will not need in your new home.  Save yourself time and frustration by clearing these items out prior to your move.  Do yourself a favor by donating unwanted items to a local non-profit, and you can take advantage of the tax write off too!
 
This concept doesn’t just apply to older furnishings or the close in the back of your wardrobe.  When was the last time you cleared out your kitchen pantry or your bathroom cupboard? If you are like most of us, you have lots of things hidden in there which have passed their “use by” dates. Toss ‘em. Traveling light makes your move much easier.  Spend some time sorting your garage too. It is likely inhabited by old paint, expired chemicals, or lawn care tools.  Dispose of these items or take them to the recycling center.

After you have organized and purged, the next step is physically relocating the remainder of your stuff.  Let’s look at some options.


 

Move yourself with rented equipment

There are many options for companies that will rent you a truck or trailer and other necessary moving supplies like dollies, hand trucks and quilts.  They will even sell you boxes, tape and padding so you can pack like a professional. 

Moving yourself might be the best option if:
 

• You are trying to economize to the max. This thrifty option allows you to pay for what you need, and only for what you need. If you have scoured liquor stores and discount locations for boxes, and saved newspapers, you do not even need to purchase moving boxes and paper.
• You can ensure your possessions are handled with the upmost care. If you are a self-mover, you can pack your china your way, using exactly as much packing material as you care to use.

Moving yourself might NOT be the best option if:
 

• Time is a hot commodity you’re short on. While a great cost saver, self-moving take lots of time. And there are other considerations as noted on Moving.com, “Consider the fact that truck rental quotes are only for the rental and do not include things such as fuel costs, tolls, insurance, cargo protection plans, possible fines and penalties, packing materials and other things...”
• If the move presents physical limitations. You probably have some larger furniture like a couch or king size mattress.  Can you safely tote those down two flights of stairs and then into your new home?  Not to mention all the boxes you’ll have to pack, stack, and lift. So, when in doubt, hire it out. You don’t want to end up injured.

 

 

Check out moving containers

There are multiple possible approaches to relocating your belongings from your old abode to your new home.  In fact, The Spruce suggests seven ways to move economically. Container moving tops the list. There are many moving companies (and companies who specialize solely in containers) who will bring a large shipping container to your home and deposit it in your driveway to be packed. Then at your leisure, you load it up with your furnishings and boxes.

There are several reasons container moving might be your best option:
 

• Flexible timeline. With a container you are free to pack things at your own pace. Most containers are priced by the amount of time you need them and size of the box. If you do not want to rush, you can schedule your container for exactly the right length of time to suit you.
• You dictate the loading process. That is right, you’re 100% in charge of how your belongings are loaded and packed in the container.  If you feel commercial moving companies or your college buddies might be too lackadaisical about handling your goods, container moving, allows you to determine what goes in when, and how it is organized.

Indications that moving containers are NOT your best solution:
 

• If they present physical hardships for you.  If you have a bad back that cannot tolerate lifting, for instance, container moving likely is not a valid option for you. Packing a container requires lifting, bending and hauling your furniture into the unit.
• They violate the policies of your apartment community or HOA.  Often HOA’s (homeowner’s associations) limit the amount of time a portable moving container is permitted to be stored in your driveway, or in the parking lot if you live in an apartment.  Some prohibit them all together.  Before you make arrangements for one, check your HOA covenants or with your apartment’s management office.
   

 
 

Additional alternatives to move and save

Move across town with your own vehicle

If you are staying in your current geographic area, using your SUV or car is a great way to move. It will likely require multiple trips to get your possessions to your new home, but for the penny pinched local move, this is a great option. This is especially great for people without appliances and few pieces of larger furniture, though you may want to borrow or rent a small truck for those large sofas or dining tables and beds.


Shipping via Bus

Many people are unaware of this option, but you may be able to ship utilizing a bus service.  The Spruce suggests using bus freight to move your possessions.  This might be the perfect solution if you are moving cross-country, for instance, and you just want to hop on a plane and have your belongings delivered to you in your new state.  What might you ship via bus? We would suggest soft goods, such as clothing, linens or bedding. Unbreakable items such as pots and pans might also be a good choice to ship this way.

Individual companies set their own limitations, like Greyhound Shipping specifies a maximum weight per package of 100 pounds with maximum dimensions of 29" H x 47" W x 82". They also offer pick up and drop off services for packages when you prepay at the time of booking your shipment. To make it more economical, their BusFreighter service provides a quantity discount of up to 60% off when shipping more than 6 boxes.


 

In closing…

Moving is one of life’s more stressful events; finding ways to simplify will make it more manageable and economical. So, do your due diligence and figure out which moving option is right for you.

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Thank you for reading and sharing our articles from The Greater Charleston New Homes Guide. Our business is to know Charleston, SC's new home construction, home builders, neighborhoods, and homes so we may assist you as you take your new construction home journey. Please take the time to explore our site. The Greater Charleston New Homes Guide is considered the best and most reliable ‘local’ resource to new home construction, builders, neighborhoods, and homes throughout the Lowcountry since 2004.

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