Moving can be quite expensive. Even more so, if it’s a long-distance move. However, even though the cost depends on the distance, it also depends on a number of factors. For this reason, there are certain things you can do to save money when moving long distance. After all, you are going to need the money for beginning your new life.
Long-distance relocation
We can say that there are several types of relocation, depending on different criteria. Two of them are interstate and intrastate relocation. So, with long-distance relocation, chances are we’re talking about interstate relocation. However, strictly speaking, the difference is whether you’re moving to another state or another country.
- Interstate relocation – if you want to move from Georgia to another state, for example.
- Intrastate relocation – if you want to, for instance, move from Savannah to any other part of Georgia.
Of course, interstate, or long-distance relocation costs more. From costs of transportation, or moving company services, to different ways of packing for a long-distance move, it simply requires more preparation.
How to save money when moving long-distance
Of course, you’ll save money if you get a surprisingly good deal from the moving company. However, instead of just leaving it up to luck, you can also do something to save money when moving long distance. And it all starts with having the whole relocation as planned out as possible.
Determine a moving budget
Having a good plan is very important for the moving process. Also, having a moving budget planned out will determine the direction that your relocation will take. So, for starters, divide the whole relocation process into doable tasks. Then, take your time and try to calculate the costs for each of them. Most importantly, set the limits for each of them. Also, don’t forget that there are certain costs that you just can’t predict at this stage. Here are some of the typical costs of the relocation:
- Movers costs
- DIY move costs
- The costs of transportation
- Post-relocation costs
- Unforeseen expenses
Also, try to act according to your planned timeline. If you don’t, the relocation might take more time than you want it to. And you know what they say, time is money, so be efficient.
It’s all about the timing
If you’re flexible with the date of your move, you can save a lot of money. The reason is that people usually move from May to September. As a result, during that time of the year, moving companies have a lot of clients. However, any other time, they have fewer clients. This will give you an advantage when asking for discounts and negotiating. Other than choosing off-season for your relocation, try to avoid national holidays and the last weekend of the month. During that time, there’s a lot of traffic, which can be a trouble that you don’t need.
Hiring professionals
So, you decided you don’t want to do it all by yourself. Let’s say you want to get help with your Sarasota relocation. Of course, you can’t hire professional help for free. So, this might be the reason why you can’t decide between a DIY move and hiring the professionals. Try to put it on paper, and see what you get from both. Then, you’ll see that it might be cheaper to hire movers. The reason is that there are some things that could go wrong with the DIY move. With professionals, you’ll stay on the safe side. But, don’t forget to ask them for the binding estimate, and always compare a couple of companies in order to get a good deal.
Decluttering can help you save money when moving long-distance
There are multiple benefits to decluttering. But, the one important here is that it can help you lower the costs of relocation. The reason is simple, it’s because the fewer items you have, the lower will the moving costs be. Not only because of transportation, but also because of the storage services you might need. And the increase is going to be significant, due to the nature of long-distance relocation. So, in order to do this, go through all of your belongings, and separate what you don’t need. There’s a good rule here – if you haven’t used it for a year, you might no longer need it. And this is the pile that you can:
- give to someone – you don’t need it, but someone might
- sell – this could be a great chance to make money
- recycle or throw away – in order to make space for new things in your life
Packing by yourself
Instead of using packing services, you can pack by yourself. But, in order to do this properly, take your time and start early. Also, try to find free boxes. The truth is that you don’t have to do it all by yourself. You can call your friends and pack without any tension or any costs. However, you need to be careful, especially with fragile items. Always use a lot of wrappable material. Also, don’t overpack, as you might break something. But, don’t leave a lot of empty space, too, as the items might move around and break. And in order to save the space, you should roll up your clothes and towels, instead of folding them.
Pay attention to every detail
This is the right time to be fully concentrated on every detail of your relocation. If you want to save money when moving long-distance, you don’t want something to go wrong, as you’ll have to pay for it. From checking the license of the moving company, to fully understanding what kind of insurance you got, to reading all the fine print. Keep your eyes open. Better to do it now, then regret afterward. After you’re done, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your new life the way you deserve.
