Moving to a new apartment in Lafayette, La is undoubtedly exciting, but it can also be expensive and stressful, especially when you factor in expenses such as packing materials, movers, materials, rental truck, and gas. Cost to move can creep into the hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars. If you are planning a move soon, don't break the bank in the process? A little planning and creativity can help, here are 5 ways to help reduce costs and keep a rein on your moving expenses: 1. Shop Around or a Moving Company Moving companies can charge hundreds of dollars for local moves, and extra for gas, mileage and unusually large items such as pianos and oversized armoirs. If you are hiring a professional moving company, shop vendors first. Get prices from a minimum of three movers, and inquire about line-item charges. Examples of line item charges are, does the quote include the truck, all protective materials, gas, mileage and furniture regardless of size? Does it include insurance coverage in case of damage to your belongings? If not, you will want to find out if your homeowners or renters insurance will cover it, or if you will need to purchase an insurance policy separately. You might also consider using a local “mom and pop” moving team or local freelance labor. While these options may be more cost-effective, they may come at a cost. They may lack protective tools, insurance, and experience to guarantee a damage-free move. Another consideration to reduce your expenses is to schedule your move in the winter or fall. Summer is typically a busy time for movers, and an offseason move when demand for professional movers is low might make their bidding more competitive. Moving during the middle of the week can also affect rates, as most working people move over the weekend. A professional moving company will typically give you a better deal if you move during low-demand days to fill their schedule. If you have a flexible schedule, it may be worth exploring these options. Pro tip: Consider checking consumer reviews of the businesses you have narrowed it down to. Before hiring movers, look at their reviews to gauge their track record with other customers, this can also verify that the company is legitimate. Keep in mind that customers who are unhappy are seven times more likely to leave a review than those who have had a good experience. That is because we expect good service and usually require an exceptional experience to write a good review. 2. Consider a DIY Move Depending on your schedule, how much you have to move, and how heavy your items are, you might consider forgoing a moving service altogether. If your belongings can be managed without the assistance of professionals, consider asking family members and friends. You might be able to pull off the move with the promise of a pizza party or a home-cooked meal in your new abode in exchange for their help. If you have larger items, you can rent a small truck for a few hours. Do not forget to fill up the tank before you return the vehicle, as truck rental services charge a premium to fill it up when you return it with less than a full tank. Pro tip: Plan your move during off-hours. Rush hour and stop-and-go traffic can drive up your gas costs as well as delay your move. 3. Only Move What You Need Humans have a habit of collecting things. Making a move is a great time to pare down your belongings. Consider selling, donating or throwing away any items you no longer need, use, or have plans to use in the near future. This can reduce your load and costs to move. Additionally, selling some of your unwanted items can offset your moving costs, or can be used to decorate your new place. Below are a few options for downsizing your home before you move:
Purchasing bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and boxes can get expensive. Instead of buying these items, consider a more creative approach by using items you already own. Towels, sheets, and blankets work great as packing materials, and they need to be pack anyway. Also consider using luggage, duffel bags and backpacks in lieu of boxes. Once you run out of these items, try some of the following resources for low-cost or free boxes:
Pro tip: If you are planning a move, start saving paper and plastic bags from your shopping trips. These make excellent packing materials for fragile items. 5. Track Your Expenses If you are making a move for employment, or are restationed for the military, you may be able to deduct your moving expenses on your tax returns. To qualify, you will need to be moving due to a permanent change of station. If eligible, you may be able to deduct the costs of moving, storage, travel, lodging and other expenses you incurred during the move. Pro tip: Keep a detailed record cost associated with moving. Save all invoices and receipts until tax season rolls around. At Lafayette Gardens Apartments in Lafayette La we care about our resident, if you should need any assistance please reach out to our office. We can help provide referrals to local contractors and other moving resources. TAGS: moving on a budget, budget friendly apartments in lafayette la, specials on 2 bedroom apartments in lafayette la, specials on 3 bedroom apartments lafayette la
16 Comments
8/8/2020 09:27:55 am
Moving boxes are very much essential to pack and move the possessions to the desired location, so if anyone is looking to rent moving boxes, they can surely get supplies from experienced movers in their location.
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9/7/2020 08:05:53 pm
This is a great addition tips blog on 5 tips for moving on a budget, thank you for sharing this article. I love it how you have written the insightful, all these kinds of information is really useful and great for all of us.
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11/24/2020 10:40:09 pm
This is a brilliant post, thank you for sharing these great tips. I think you are right with 5 tips for moving on a budget. I am sure many people will come to read this in future. I love this article, thanks for producing such great contents.I found this Mrcheaptransport.co.za Having loads of data, if possible do have a look.
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12/6/2020 11:24:21 pm
Being a professional I would like to say that this article is very much useful for all of us to know the concept o moving on budget. All the 5 tips mentioned in this article are very informative and well-written.
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4/8/2021 03:07:01 am
In this article you will get to know about the 5 tips for moving on a budget. It is a wonderful to know about so many things that are useful for all of us!! Thanks a lot for this amazing blog. I loved this article, thanks for producing such a great content. I loved your posts always.
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4/21/2021 06:19:37 pm
I appreciated it when you shared that it is great to rent a truck for a few hours during your moving day. My friend just mentioned the other day that he is thinking of moving out of his parent's house next month as he wants to live independently at his own place. I will suggest to him looking for a reliable service that can lease out a truck for him to use during the day.
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5/26/2021 11:36:07 pm
Employing a trucking organization eliminates the weight of getting your stuff from Point A to Point B, yet it can put a strain on your wallet. Understanding the expenses is quite possibly the main tips for proceeding onward a spending plan.
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10/19/2021 06:33:04 pm
I like your moving tips. I need to move. I'll have to hire a crew.
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12/16/2021 03:08:27 am
Much appreciated, this blog is on point. I was looking for moving on a budget for a long time now, and I am happy that I landed up here. Keep posting more.
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Thanks for pointing out that we need to fill up the tank before returning a truck rental to the company. I will keep that in mind now that I need one for my move next weekend. I will finally get to settle in the house that I bought and saved up for three years now, so this tip will help me have an easier move.
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3/5/2022 04:07:53 am
It got me when you said that we can pare down our things when making a move. My partner and I will be moving to our own bungalow house next month so this is helpful. With this, we will find residential movers on Friday who can help us pack and transport our belongings safely and securely.
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4/12/2022 06:00:26 am
I know hiring a moving company will be expensive, thanks to your tips I got the best company movers that will help me throughout.
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11/16/2022 11:20:27 pm
It really helped when you said that we should have the move during off-hours so that we will not have higher costs due to traffic. I will keep that in mind now that I need an apartment moving service here in Portland, Oregon. The new place I bought is just in the same location, but I need help for the heavy pieces of furniture that I have while on a limited budget.
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