Save on your Furniture Removal
Whether you’re going across town or across the country, moving is a big deal. It is one of the most exciting adventures you can embark upon. It’s also easily one of the most stressful, not just from a logistical standpoint, but in terms of budget. According to research, the average cost of a local move is R2000, and a long-distance move average R11 000.
Though some moving costs are unavoidable, it is possible to save money in a few areas. To help you do just that, we share some of the best money-saving advice for your next big move.
Declutter Before You Pack
It may feel like an added item on your to-do list but getting rid of everything you don’t want to take with you before you move will ultimately save you time, space, and money.
Go through all of your belongings, from cookware, clothing, and even furniture, and take inventory of what you no longer need or want. Before packing and you will be surprised by how much you own. Depending on how much you have downsized, you could save hundreds of rands, as one of the big costs of moving is the hourly expense of the movers themselves.
Beyond that, you can actually make money on the things you’re getting rid of and allocate those funds toward moving costs. Take furniture to Cash Crusaders or nice clothing to consignment shops, throw things onto websites like Gumtree and OLX, and hold a garage sale if you’re feeling ambitious. If you don’t want to mess with selling stuff, you can schedule a donation pick up or drop off.
Book Your Movers at a Strategic Time
If you’re hiring movers, you can save lots of cash simply by scheduling their services for a weekday versus a weekend, off-season versus on-season, and mid-month versus the end of the month.
Weekdays are typically less expensive because fewer people move on those days. If you can take off work, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays tend to have the highest availability and the lowest cost. Also, try to avoid the last weekend of the month, as those days tend to be busiest and are more expensive.
In general, you can expect to save 20 to 30 percent if you can move on less popular days.
Speak With Your Utility, Internet, and Cable Providers
Double paying for your rent or mortgage, utilities, internet, and/or fiber at two separate locations is going to cost you, so avoid this if you can. Do your best to align begin and end dates for accounts, which usually means calling your provider and discussing proration. Additionally, take advantage of new account specials offered by internet and fiber companies in your area, and speak with utility companies about waiving installation/activation fees. Some will waive these costs if you can demonstrate a history of timely payments elsewhere, or if you’ve been a longtime customer.
Get Creative When Sourcing Moving Supplies
The cost of moving supplies—which include boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and plastic sleeves—adds up very quickly. Instead of spending hundreds on the aforementioned, think outside of the box (literally).
“Before you purchase any other packing material, make sure you are utilizing all of your own suitcases, hampers, and baskets. If you end up needing boxes, hit up local businesses or big-box retailers for their old cardboard boxes, or ask friends and neighbors.”
Depending on how much you’re moving, you can save between R500 and R4000. Not to mention, you’ll also benefit the environment.
Pack It Yourself
If you can muster it, packing everything (or at least most things) yourself can save you tons of money on your move. This takes the longest amount of time and is, therefore, one of the most expensive aspects of relocating. You can compromise by hiring movers to pick up your packaged boxes, or even just your furniture.
Consider Shared Load Moving
Another one of the more expensive aspects of moving is transporting your furniture across a long distance. This method costs the mover (and therefore you) lots of time and resources. One way to cut costs is to use a shared load moving company. This is essentially a big truck with a trailer that carries multiple households goods to cut the cost for everyone. It can take you slightly longer to get your belongings, but this method can cut costs by half.
