Saving Money on A Move And After It
Moving is something we all have to do from time to time. Very few of us leave our parents’ home and then spend the rest of our lives in the same house. In addition to relocating for jobs, education, retirement, or just to downsize, many of us move as a moneymaking technique. You need only to flip through a few TV channels to see the popularity of buying, renovating, and re-selling homes.
But what is often left out of the equation for many of us is the cost of moving. We know what we expect to get for the old house and what we’ll pay for the new one, but we don’t always track the expenses involved in getting from one to the other.
Many people think they can save money by doing their own moves, even over long distances. What they don’t realize is that the money they’re spending will add up quickly. Most of the true expenses are lost in the shuffle as you nickel-and-dime your way through fuel for borrowed pickups, food for friends who help, and miles of bubble wrap. If you truly captured everything, you would probably realize it would have cost less to hire North American Van Lines to do the move for you.
In addition to the obvious cash expenses that you incur at the time of moving, there can be still other costs. It could be an heirloom piece of furniture that’s dropped and broken or even a whole box that is left unattended during unloading and is stolen. It could even be your own visit to the chiropractor after pulling a muscle carrying things up the steps.
The costs of moving come in many different forms, so it’s usually best just to hire a professional who can guide you in the packing process and then make the move in vehicles that are designed (and insured) for a move.
Once you’re in a money-saving mood, keep the momentum going. A new house is a great time to think about new ways of saving money for your family because you’ll be establishing a new routine of new habits.
A move often means a bigger house, so treat your worries about the utility bills by taking on some new strategies to keep them under control. In addition, a new home means a new insurance policy, so while you’ve got the agent on speed-dial, discuss your coverage levels to make sure you’re utilizing every possible discount while still getting the coverage you really need.
You might also be doing new landscaping at your new home, and it can save you money too. Plan for the long haul by planting tall shade trees on the home’s sunniest side. You’ll save a lot of money on your air conditioning years down the road, and even if you move before the tree hits its mature size, it will add value for your resale.
In fact, any change you make during your move can save you money. A new water heater will reduce utility consumption. Upgraded shower heads will reduce water use. Tough hardwood instead of carpet will reduce the frequency of replacement. The list goes on and on.
Moving can be more than just a financial boost and a change of scenery. It can be a great time to rethink some of the everyday expenditures you had been taking for granted and to make some money-saving changes.
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