How Not to Break Down the Next Time You Move
During every big move, there is a moment when it hits you: Oh right … the move is really damn expensive. You can forget how much all costs add up, from packing supplies and the truck itself, to cleaning, painting and utility bills, and even new furniture that better suits your new space. However, there are ways to make it less costly if you stick with the strategy.
Make a pre-move sale
Moving is a great time to start over. You’re about to find yourself in a whole new space, so consider if you really want to fill it with all your old stuff (no shadow for your stuff; I’m sure it’s great stuff). Freeing yourself of a few earth holdings now will help your new location at least start clutter-free, can reduce transportation-related costs, and give you extra money to get back on relocation costs.
You can do a sale and advertise with neighborhood flyers the old-fashioned way, head to Craigslist to post ads, or use new platforms like Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, and OfferUp to attract leads.
If no one bites, you can check the pickup schedule in your city and, depending on what you find, leave some items on the sidelines as freebies. Not only can this save you money on transporting all of your goods, but it can also be beneficial for another passenger in your area, bringing you some good karma.
Speaking of which …
Go “bending over”
If you live in a big city, you are familiar with the classic practice of picking up street furniture for free. If you live in New York and spend time on Instagram, you are also probably familiar with an account that makes it even easier.
@StoopingNYC has 185,000 followers who dutifully photograph discarded furniture in five boroughs and send them to account holders along with whereabouts. The owners, in turn, post photos and related information in the account history and the grid, encouraging New Yorkers to do so.
“Bending over is the process of hunting for discarded street gifts that has the added benefit of being both an activity you can do outdoors and ultimately enriching the space in which you are likely to spend all of your time: your apartment or house! ” I was told by the couple behind @StoopingNYC.
It enriches the space and also enriches your pockets as you are not paying for a coffee table, mirror, dresser or sofa. (And this is just a fraction of what @StoopingNYC has to offer any day!) If instead you live in a small city where slouching is regularly practiced, find something cheap by mapping the best local sales next weekend, or head to all online markets, where you actively give up the old things to make room for new (to you) things that will need your new place. (Craigslist also has a “free” section where people often give out items.)
One word of caution either way: make sure you clean your food well, and be careful when choosing anything made of fabric, such as sofas or armchairs. Do you know what is not cheap? Fighters, that’s what.
Decide whether to hire movers (or ask friends)
Movers are great, especially if you have particularly valuable items, a lot of furniture, or a long journey ahead. However, there are other ways to transport your belongings.
Don’t ruin your relationship or anything like that, but consider hiring friends for the big move. Promise some pizza and beer or cash if your friends can help you move your belongings. They care about you and probably charge less than real movers, but you also have to remember that you can also get what you pay for here.
“Honestly, if you can afford movers, find movers,” said Shannon Palus, a Brooklyn-based writer and editor who moved more than a dozen times in her life and made her last move for less than $ 60. “It’s really nice when people move your stuff. I think if you are on the U-Haul-and-friends route, hire someone from a service like Task Rabbit to help with the heavier things. I think that whatever money you can spend on the move, you should. They say that in order to be happy, you need to spend money on experiences, right? Spending the day doing something other than lifting boxes is the best thing to do. “
However, there are ways to compromise. You can hire movers for big and expensive things, and together with friends – for small and cheap things. Palus also pointed out that her last move cost less than $ 60 because she used car-sharing apps to stop cars and only needed to move small items. (“Don’t buy too many things!” She said. “I recommend this.”)
“Talk about it, let [the driver] refuse and give a good tip,” she said. “I don’t translate everything through Lyft either; I ride the subway.
Finally, keep in mind that movers are human too and can break your values. This happens all the time and it costs money to replace if the shipping company doesn’t have an insurance coverage policy. However, the value of some items is more sentimental than monetary value, so consider all the results when deciding exactly who will handle your items.
Get creative with how you pack
Instead of buying bubble wrap for vases and plates, swaddle them in thick winter clothes. Instead of buying boxes to transport items, ask local businesses if you can get them from a cache they planned to recycle, or store boxes from their own online stores for a few months before moving. Whether you have an ottoman for storage, suitcases, a massive collection of bags, or any household items that you can put other household items in, you know what to do.
While you’re busy thinking outside the box, expand yourself. Ask moving companies if there are any discounts or fixed moves. Don’t be afraid to be rejected; it is better to ask and get “no” than not ask when you could get “yes”.
Keep calm, try to be organized, don’t collect anything you need immediately – and then you have to spend money on replacement – and remember that when all this is over, you will have a gorgeous new home.