It’s summer. The sun is out, the weather is beautiful, and you and your family are about to start your next chapter in a new home. You’re not alone. Summer is the most popular time to move and for a good reason. Namely, weather and the kids are out of school.
With demand high, it’s also likely that you’ll pay more for a summer move. But with some preparation you can keep your costs down. Begin by creating a budget and include these cost-saving tips:
The first thing you need to consider is whether to hire movers. If you’re moving locally, you may be able to save money by renting a truck, asking your friends for help, and packing up your cars yourself. Otherwise, hiring professional movers might make the most sense.
If you plan to hire movers, get at least three quotes. Be prepared for them to ask you for a list of all your big items (furniture, appliances, art) and an estimate on the number of boxes. Many companies will send a mover to your house to do this, others will provide you with a checklist so you can do the estimate yourself.
Moving is generally cheaper in the off season (October-May). But if you need to move in summer try to avoid holiday weekends, and if possible, consider moving in the middle of the month or the week. Moving companies may offer discounts for your flexibility.
If your kids are old enough, involve them with the moving day. If they’re younger you may want to schedule the movers for a time when the kids are at camp or when they can spend time at a friend’s house or with grandparents. As for the pets, consider boarding them for the big day. It will help keep them out of the way and reduce the stress they may feel with having noisy movers in the house.
Either way, make sure to schedule your movers as soon as possible.
Moving is a great time to declutter and purge items that you rarely use, are broken down, or out of style. Consider donating items that are still in good shape to a local charity. Or earn some extra cash by selling items on sites like Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. This is a great task to involve the kids as they can share in the joy of someone new loving an item they once loved.
If you can, consider moving loose items yourself. This might be clothing, jewelry, precious toys, personal electronics and plants.
If you need to rent a truck, use a price comparison tool to find the best deals.
If you’re prepping for professional movers, you can save money by boxing items yourself and using your own packing tape.
Involve your kids by asking them to tape up the boxes and to label and put stickers on them. If they’re old enough have them box their own items, making sure they keep their most prized possessions in a personal bag with them during the move. And consider boxing up their room last and unboxing it first to help them feel as settled as possible.
If you’re moving locally, another good tip to help kids feel settled faster is to take them to visit their new neighborhood ahead of time to check out their new school, local parks and youth activities.
Movers charge by the hour, so the more you prep ahead of time the more you’ll save.
Hiring movers, packing up your belongings, and making the move to a new home will be your main moving expenses, but you’ll also want to be prepared for any financial surprises.
Once you get settled into your new home, you’ll want to make sure you’ve updated your contact information, plus many other steps. Read more with our checklist of 6 things to do after a move.
Just getting started on your homebuying journey? Reach out to a mortgage loan officer in your area.
Related content