Fickle Finance: How To Stay Above The Red Line With The Stresses Of Moving
Wednesday, October 5, 2016, 6:00 AM | Leave Comment
You don’t have to break the bank to move into your dream home. In fact, with the right foresight and planning, you can fold your move right into your annual budget.
Here are just a few tips for an affordable and stress-free relocation.
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Do Your Research
Does the truck company charge by the hour or by the mile? Do you have to pay an additional fee for liability insurance, or is that covered in the total cost? What about loading and unloading charges?
Some moving companies offer better deals than others, so before you hand over your credit card, make sure you’re paying what you should be.
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Be Strategic
You can find boxes at drugstores, libraries and local office buildings. If you get any large package flatten the boxes and store them for use when you move later.
Your friends and neighbors are also a great resource for packing materials, and they will probably be glad to get rid of the extra boxes and containers lying around.
If you pack by strategically placing objects where they will be safe and take up the least amount of space, you will use your resources as effectively as you can.
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Utilize All Resources at Your Disposal
Look for little ways to save during your move. For example, people who change their address at the post office can request a little “moving” envelope filled with coupons to furniture and hardware stores.
You can also look for moving websites that offer deals on rental trucks and storage units. The resources are out there; you just have to find them.
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Reach Out to Your Realtor
Talk to your realtor about ways to save money during your move. They might be able to cut you a special deal or work with you financially to help you keep more money in your pocket.
They might also be able to connect you with other people in the community like buyers, sellers, movers, insurers and loan officials.
They are a resource that can help you as you move to a new community where you don’t know many people yet.
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Consider Your Bills
If you’re moving on the 15th but your cable bill always comes on the 10th, go ahead and cut it off a few days early. If your utility company pre-charges for the month, call them and explain that you’ll be moving in the middle of your billing cycle.
Most companies will work with you during life changes, especially if you’re sticking with the same carrier, and a few precautions today can save you a lot of headache in the long run.
One expense new home buyers often forget to anticipate is home maintenance. The experts from Roger Deines Real Estate Group ReeceNichols suggest planning on spending 1% of what you bought the house for a year on repairs.
Keeping this in mind can help you budget for the future, as you never know when repairs are going to pop up.
These are just a few ways to lower costs during your next move. Whether you’re uprooting your entire life or just hopping over to a new home in the same city, these tips will help you save money during the next chapter of your life.
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