It’s no secret that moving house is a monumental task (and an expensive one). The less you spend on packing and transporting, the more you can spend on building the home of your dreams.
Here are five genius ways to save money when moving.
1. Hire a moving truck yourself
In any move, the biggest expense will be a moving company. By hiring a truck, you can avoid this cost entirely. The only charges you’ll need to worry about are the rental fee and petrol.
If you have a Code C licence, you can choose a self-drive option. If not, the majority of truck rental companies in South Africa provide a driver. Either way, this is significantly less pricey than getting a moving company to do the work for you.
Of course, you’ll have to do the loading and unloading yourself – but depending on your situation, the extra bit of hard work may be worth it.
2. Lighten your moving load
A foolproof way to save money when moving (and earn some in the process) is to take stock of your belongings before the big day, and get rid of everything your new home won’t need.
Whether you’re hiring a truck or getting a company to do it for you, a lighter load potentially means a smaller truck – and less money spent in the process.
Consider selling some of your belongings on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. You can put the extra cash towards your moving expenses.
3. Do the necessary research and planning
When it comes to a big move, planning makes perfect. Research the best time of year, because off-season moving prices are almost always cheaper. Then, plan your route cleverly to avoid any rush hour traffic or busy roads.
The more quotes you get from moving companies or truck rentals, the less you’ll end up paying. Spend as much time as you need to find the best mover for the job.
It may require some additional effort on your part, but a move will feel much less stressful when you have a well-thought-out plan of attack.
4. Start packing early
Don’t leave the job to professional packers when you can just as easily DIY it. As soon as you’ve secured a moving date, begin the packing process yourself.
Start packing up in the rooms you use least and, over several weeks, work your way towards the areas you spend most of your time in. That way, you’ll avoid any unnecessary tripping over boxes.
5. Rope in family and friends
Many hands make light work. With a little help, your boxes will be packed, loaded and headed for their new home in no time.
Maybe you even know someone with a truck or bakkie who’s willing to help you transport your possessions. If so, this is a great way to save money when moving.
It’s nice if you can offer family and friends something in return for their help. Perhaps treat everyone to a meal out once the moving is done, or order in pizza.
Self-storage for when you’re moving home or office
Self-storage can be a boon when you’re moving. It’s a good way to get breakable items, as well as items you don’t intend to keep in your new location, out of the way.
Storing household or office contents can also give you breathing space if you need to vacate premises. Then you can take your time to properly organise the sale of goods or a move to a new location.
At XtraSpace, we offer clean, secure self-storage units that are ideal for storing furniture and other items. Contact us for more information or browse to find a branch near you.