Relocating can be expensive, especially for those who have lots of stuff or who have lived in the same home for many years. Many people don’t even like moving due to the stress and hassle, and the last thing they want to do is spend more money than necessary. Below are some guidelines that will help you to move house on a budget.

Create A Moving Budget

Before you begin your move you will first need to develop a budget. It is important for this budget to be realistic as you will want to stick to it. Things to factor into your moving budget include the cost of travel from your current residence to your new home (the farther away your new home is the more expensive your travel costs will be). You’ll also need to consider the cost for a moving company should you decide to hire one.

You’ll need to pay for packing supplies, or a rental truck if you decide to transport your belongings yourself. Your budget will depend on the resources you have. Those of little means will have to do a lot of the leg work themselves, while wealthier people can hire a professional moving company that will do practically everything for them.

Acquiring Moving Insurance

If you need to move belongings which are valuable, such as antique furniture, coins, artwork or silverware, then you’ll want to get moving insurance. Most moving companies will offer moving insurance to their customers, but the typical rate they provide is usually not sufficient to cover the cost of high value or antique goods. Also, since standard moving insurance is dependent on weight many movers will need to acquire insurance from alternative sources.

Another reason to be wary of the standard insurance rates provided by most moving companies is because this rate is not what you may receive in the event of damaged goods. This rate merely represents the total coverage that you’ll receive, but you have to factor in costs such as taxes, government regulations and other things of this nature.

Cleaning And Repairing Your Home Before Moving

Whether you’re moving out of a house or an apartment, you will be expected to clean it up and repair any damaged that has occurred during your stay. If you own a house you intend to sell you will want to do this for obvious reasons, and if you’re renting property most rental agreements will require the apartment to be in good condition when you leave. Depending on how busy you are, you may not have the time or inclination to do this, which means you’ll need to hire someone who will.

You’ll want to hire a plumber to fix any plumbing issues, as well as professional carpet cleaners to clean the carpets. If you’re moving out of an apartment then you’ve likely already paid your landlord a security deposit, and to get that money back you’ll want to make sure the apartment is as clean as possible and any damage that has occurred has been repaired.