Okay, so you’re planning to move . . . and want to save some money. You won’t do it by hiring a moving company – you’ll save only time and energy. The average cost for a long distance move using a moving company is about $4,300, based on an average weight of 7,400 pounds and an average distance of about 1,200 miles. And a local move with professional movers is shockingly expensive at about $2,300. So if you want to save your cash, here are 8 tips to DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati.
1. Start Early
One of the best things you can do to DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati is to start early. Start planning months before the move date so that everything is ready and in place. Get all the materials, equipment, and people lined up long before they’re needed. Moving is just too stressful to leave anything to the last minute. And starting early also means an early start on moving day to avoid traffic and to finish up at a decent hour.
2. Line Up Help
Just because you intend to DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati, doesn’t mean you should or have to do it by yourself. You will need help, and your help will need to be able to plan ahead. So recruit friends and family – the reliable ones, that is – to help and do it early. And it never hurts to sweeten the deal by providing food and drinks.
3. Get Rid of Stuff
And if you’re going to DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati, you’re going to have to get rid of some stuff. (You don’t want to cause extra work for the kind people helping you, do you?) The less you have to move, the easier and faster you move will be, so it’s critical to de-junk. Keep only the things you really need and use, and purge the rest.
4. Rent a Truck or Trailer
You will also need to rent a truck or trailer (or maybe both) to DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati. Most of us have only a couple of friends who own pickup trucks. You can’t expect those one or two friends to make countless trips back and forth hauling your stuff. If you rent a truck, though, you can likely get it all in one load. Besides, renting a truck is relatively inexpensive – you can rent a 26-foot U-Haul truck starting at around $40. Just make sure you reserve the truck well ahead of time so that it is available on the day you need it.
5. Use the Right Packing Materials
It’s also wise to have plenty of the proper packing materials on hand before moving day, especially good sturdy boxes. Is anything more frustrating than having the bottom fall out of a box while you’re carrying, particularly if the contents are breakable? You will also need plenty of bubble wrap and tape, as well as markers of various colors for color coding.
6. Move on the Weekend
And if you DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati you have the advantage of being able to move at the optimal time – the weekend. You and your helpers won’t have to miss work, and traffic is usually much lighter. Starting early on Saturday gives you two full days to complete the move. You usually don’t have this option with a moving company.
7. Rent Necessary Equipment
Be sure to rent the equipment you will. The right equipment, like dollies and straps and furniture covers, will make the job easier and more efficient. And you won’t break the backs of your friends helping you. You can usually rent your moving equipment from the company where you rent the truck.
8. Get Tips From Your Agent
If you want to DIY your move in Middletown, Dayton, or Cincinnati, then, you can save a lot of cash. And it’s really not all that hard if you follow these tips. But you should also call on the real estate experts for even more tips and advice. Your local real estate agent knows plenty about moving efficiently when it’s a DIY move.