Hidden costs of moving and ways to avoid them

Relocation is considered to be a costly venture. And, more often than not, this is completely true. However, if you indeed plan on moving, that does not mean that you need to declare bankruptcy after you have settled into your new home. With a bit of creativity and knowledge that we will now bestow on you, you will find it easy to recognize all the hidden costs of moving and learn all the ways to avoid them.

How to avoid the hidden costs of moving that concern your moving company?

Depending on the size of your shipment, as well as the distance you are about to travel, one can arguably say that moving with some of the moving companies NJ is offering is cheaper than moving on your own. Unless you are moving just down the street and have all the time in the world, chances are you need assistance from professionals in order to conduct this properly.

However, establishing the importance of the part that the moving company has is just one part of this whole ordeal. You have to ensure that the company you choose is indeed worthy of your trust, money, and energy. And, once you are sure the choice that you have made is correct, you can try to avoid these relocation costs.

Paying your movers to take care of the packing

While this can be a rather useful and convenient service your moving company provides, it comes at a cost. In most cases, they charge by the hour. The people handling the packing may be your moving team or specialist packers. Whatever the case may be, however, ask yourself whether you really need the help. In addition, see if you are indeed able to allocate the necessary funds for such a service. If you are truly lacking the time and the energy to take care of this chore, then, by all means, hire the appropriate people to take care of it. If, however, it is all a matter of better organization and a bit of planning, this is a great opportunity to save some money during your move.

Paying your movers based on the quantity or the weight of your belongings

Mind you, this is not a scam the moving company is trying to pull on you. Every moving company has a certain method based on which they form their prices. However, there is one thing that stands for every relocation. And it stands regardless of the distance and size of the move. Keep in mind that the lesser amount of items you have, the cheaper your move will be. It’s simple math really. So, what you can do in order to avoid paying staggering costs of moving is to simply move fewer things.

Decluttering your home has many benefits to it. Not only will you save a buck or two, or a hundred, but you can also make some money along the way as well. Organize a yard sale with all the items you no longer need. It will be a great way to reduce your moving expenses and ensure that your new place is filled only with the items you have the actual use of.

How to avoid the hidden costs of moving when it comes to yourself?

If you have chosen to go down the DIY route when it comes to your relocation, know that it can be less expensive. That is, if you do it right. For starters when it comes to packing, it is important that you realize how bubble paper sheets are not the bread and butter of a box well packed. You can provide your belongings with just the amount of protection they need without losing half a month’s paycheck just fine. And this is especially true when it comes to your less fragile and delicate objects.

Pack inexpensively, yet effectively and correctly

While the most inexpensive way would be to simply shove everything you own in those big black plastic bags, one can hardly say that is also the safest way. However, that is not to say that you cannot have the best of both worlds. Here are some of the best ways to achieve that:

• Get free boxes by visiting your local grocery, clothing, and liquor stores, as well as the warehouses, and asking if they have some to spare. Make sure that the boxes you get are damage and odor-free.
• Use what you have to pack your belongings. Bags, duffle bags, bins, and even drawers will do a great job of keeping the majority of your belongings safe during the road. Just make sure to close them good, and use tape where it’s necessary.
• Use your clothes, sheets, and towels as cushioning materials. Fill your mugs and more resistant vases with rolled socks. Wrap the plates in your sweaters and hoodies. Use your t-shirts to cover edges of books or even some smaller kitchen appliances. These are just some of the examples that ought to give you an idea of how you can save money while moving, and avoid the costs of packing.
• Call your friends to help. After all, what are friends for? All jokes aside, the more of you taking care of the packing and moving, the more efficient the whole process will be. You just need to make sure all of those helping hands are coordinated well.

What it comes down to

As you can see, the hidden costs of moving are not that hard to avoid. A bit of organization and creativity go a long way. And having friends who can help goes even longer. Just make sure that you never put the safety of your, your friends, or your belongings aside for the sake of speed. After all, you want to have a good moving experience. And that means having all of your belongings undamaged, and you unharmed during the process itself.