Another 10 Sneaky Ways to Save Money Moving Home

Saving money on your home move is becoming even more important as the cost of every aspect of moving home spirals ever higher.

And with more and more people looking to move long distances rather than moving locally, the cost of moving home may have come as quite a shock to them.

No doubt you have been scouring the internet looking for ways to make moving home cheaper, but the results constantly come up with the same old suggestions which although very important, you have probably already done.

The most common ways to save money on moving costs are to

#1 Declutter

#2 Compare Removal Company Quotes

#3 Move out of season

#4 Move with No Furniture

#5 Get free moving boxes

But as always, we like to go just that bit further for you, and in 10 Sneaky Ways to Save Money Moving Home, we suggested slightly more unusual ways to reduce your moving expenses, from using vacuum pack bags to digitizing your film and book collection. 

Now we have come up with another 10 less obvious ways to make moving home cheaper.

10 Sneaky Ways to Cut the Cost of Moving Home – Part 2

Reduce the cost of your home move, make moving day easier, and save money long term with these more unusual cost-saving ideas:

#1 Recover / Renovate Furniture

Heavy and large pieces of furniture are not only really difficult to move but increase your moving costs substantially.

If you have a settee, for example, which is super comfortable but just needs recovering then have it sent away to a company for recovering. Then when it is finished have it delivered to your new home.

You will have a new sofa that matches your new décor and it will have been moved to your new home for free. Additionally, you will have saved time, effort, and space in the removal van on moving day.

You can use the same trick for renovating other pieces of furniture, should they need French polishing or refinishing for example.

Of course, the cost of renovation is only warranted on valuable items of furniture, but if they need restoring and you definitely do not want to part with them, then this is a great way to save on moving costs.

You may also like to read: How to Save Money Moving Home and Make a Profit. Discover one of the cheapest ways to move home and how you could even make some money from selling all those unwanted items.

#2 Pass on Family Heirlooms Now

Why not pass on those family heirlooms so that you can see the pleasure that they bring to others now rather than waiting?

Other people get to enjoy owning the item, you get to see the joy they get from the item, and you save a fortune on moving costs. A win all around.

Useful to know: How to Move Antiques and Collectibles. If you intend to give away your family heirlooms then they will still need very careful packing and handling to reach their new home safely. This guide will tell you all you need to know about this delicate process.

#3 Limit the Number of Moving Boxes

Most people will declutter before moving home and then get the number of packing boxes they need based on what is left to be packed.

You nearly always never have enough packing materials and end up getting more, wasting time and money.

So, set the maximum number of moving boxes by the cost of them or that you can fit in the vehicle you are being moved by.

As an example, your budget stretches to 20 boxes. You might say, 10 boxes for the kitchen, 1 for the bathroom, 3 for the bedroom, 4 for the living room, and 4 for the dining room. When packing the living room and your 4 boxes are full, then it is time to declutter even more things.

Pack the absolute essentials from each room first, then when you run out of boxes, those things not packed can be sold or donated.

This will help you be totally ruthless when decluttering ensuring that you are taking nothing but things you absolutely love and need.

Using this approach to packing means that you only need a transit-sized van rather than a luton-sized van. A smaller van is cheaper and quicker to load, saving you some more money.

Must read: 12 Space Saving Packing Tips for a Cheaper Home Move. Efficient packing of your moving boxes will ensure your things are given the maximum protection whilst you use the minimum amount of moving boxes and the least amount of space in the removal van. Efficient packing will ensure your packing and moving costs are as low as possible.

#4 Dismantle Furniture Yourself

Many removal firms will charge by the hour. Save yourself some money and time on moving day by dismantling furniture yourself.

Be sure to photograph the item before dismantling it so that you know exactly how to reassemble it at your new home.

Use masking tape to number each component so that you know part A1 fits into socket A1 for example.

Writing the numbers on masking tape will make reassembly easier and the masking tape will not leave any sticky residue on the furniture when you peel it off.

Put all the fixtures and fittings into a clearly labeled bag and firmly attach it to one piece of the item.

Once dismantled, furniture is easier to move and can fit into a smaller space within the van.

You may also like to read: How to Move Home Cheaply. In this guide, we look at how to move home cheaply with lots of useful advice to save on your moving costs.

#5 Scan Documents

You do not need the original of most documents these days. Paperwork can soon get heavy and is just another thing to store in your new home.

Most people have drawers full of handbooks for items that were thrown away years ago, or receipts for things whose guarantee has long run out.

So scan documents, instructions, handbooks, and receipts and store them online and on a removable storage device so that you have 2 copies of everything.

You must keep things like passports and driving licences, but bank statements or insurance policies, for example, are all available online.

You might like to read: How to Avoid 5 Things That Will Blow Your Moving Budget in which we look at how to avoid extra charges on moving day, how to avoid being scammed by rogue removal companies, and how to protect your things so that nothing gets damaged which will cost you even more money.

#6 Pack Using File Boxes

The type of boxes you use to pack your things in can make a huge difference to your moving costs.

Having boxes of uniform size and shape are easier to handle, stack better, and makes the most efficient use of the space within a removal van.

File boxes are ideal. Not only are they strong, but because they have lids, you will save a fortune in packing tape costs as well as saving yourself a lot of time packing.

Essential reading: The Reality of Moving Home on a Budget. Read the story of one of my home moves when I decided to move myself. See what problems I faced and how they were overcome, and hopefully, you will take away some tips to make your budget home move just a little less stressful.

#7 Cancel Subscriptions

To help prevent identity fraud, ensure that you notify anybody that needs to know about your new address.

This is a great opportunity to assess whether you really need that subscription or membership and save yourself some money each month.

If you are moving to the countryside then maybe you can cancel that gym membership, it is better to get your exercise out in the fresh air, and will be a great opportunity for a new outdoor hobby.

Must have: A Change of Address Checklist. Here we have created one of the most comprehensive changes of address checklists available. You can customize it to suit yourself which will ensure that you do not forget to advise anyone of your new address.

#8 Review Your Utilities

If you are moving to a new area then you may find you have a broader range of providers to choose from.

Take the opportunity to compare providers and prices and save yourself some money.

Don’t forget that your new postcode will affect your car insurance too, so it may be another opportunity to look for cheaper offers or just save money on your existing policy.

Essential reading: Home Removal Insurance – Do I Need It? One of the things you really cannot skimp on when moving home is insurance. The few pounds you save by not taking out the proper insurance could end up costing you thousands. Discover all you need to know about insuring your home move in this essential guide.

#9 Vouchers

Many people will go to voucher websites to save money on a meal out or a day at a theme park.

But you can also find discount vouchers for things like packing supplies, or cleaning materials, there is even one discount voucher for a removal company that we found today.

Check out sites such as www.groupon.co.uk or www.usevoucher.co.uk to find the latest money-saving vouchers.

Must Read: Where to Get Free Stuff When You Move Home. Nothing is cheaper than free so in this guide, we look at how to get free things that you will need in your new home. From links to websites offering samples and discount vouchers to places where you can get free furniture and household goods.

#10 Council Tax Discounts

If your move is a result of a change of personal circumstances, such as the break-up of a relationship, then you should check out if you are entitled to reduced council tax or other benefits.

Citizens Advice has some really useful information about this topic.

Beware of Moving Home Cheaply

There is a world of difference between moving home cheaply and moving home cost-effectively.

It is easy to just throw everything into bags or free boxes, hire a man and van from down the pub, and hope for the best.

In all likelihood, the damages incurred will cost you many times more than the money you may have saved in the first place.

Sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate. That means spending some money on good quality boxes, hiring professional packers, or hiring a really good removal company.

And having the proper level of insurance in place is crucial.

So many people pack their things themselves not realizing that many insurance companies will not insure your items unless they are professionally packed. Or that the level of insurance provided by the removal firm is woefully inadequate.

Always, always triple-check any home moving insurance.

Moving home yourself may seem like the cheapest option, and in your circumstances, it may be, but consider what would happen if you injured your back and had to take 6 months off work.

Or you cause damage to your things, or you damage the property moving out or in. Or you damage the hire van.

There are a thousand things that can go wrong when moving home and unfortunately, some of those can be extremely costly mistakes.

Save money where you can, but also spend money when you must to protect yourself and your precious possessions.

Therefore, the best way to move home as cost-effectively as possible includes:

#1 Move as few pieces of furniture as possible

#2 Avoiding moving heavy and bulky items

#3 Getting the best insurance

#4 Hiring a good full-service removal company

Finally, you might like to read: Moving Home Yourself vs Hiring a Removal Company – Pros and Cons. There is a lot to consider when deciding the most cost-effective way to move home. This guide looks at your moving options to help you decide what makes the most sense in your circumstances.