Moving to a new home in New Jersey usually is an exciting project. However, it can get quite an expensive one too very quickly. Not only you need money to secure your new place of living, but the moving itself can endanger your wallet. There are ways to save money on your NJ move, and the secret to achieving them is extensive planning. Put a little more time and effort into your moving process and you can save a ton of money.
We have contacted some professionals and we’ve talked to regular people about their experiences. What we came up with is a list of strategies that can help you save money when moving in New Jersey, or pretty much anywhere else in the U.S. We’ll also share with you a few tips that should help you to stay organized on your moving day. The basic things you should look into are these:
- Moving off-season
- Donate, sell, or throw away anything you don’t need
- Don’t pay for packing supplies
- Optimize utility shut-down dates
- Transport your books via USPS
Off-season moving can help you save money on your NJ move
As you probably already know, there is such a thing as moving season. Any time between October and April is considered off-season. Moving companies will keep their prices high usually until early fall. Simply, the demand is high and that reflects on prices. However, what this means for you is that you can plan your move to happen during the off-season. Therefore, you’ll automatically get a lower moving quote, and if you call far in advance you may even get an additional discount.
Luckily for you, there are companies like allseasonmovers.com that operate without any problems during the whole year. So you will be able to find the best fit for your move at any time. Find a long term weather report, choose late fall week with nice weather, and get on the phone.
Late fall is your best bet if you want to save money on your NJ move.
Downsize your possessions
If you want to save money on your NJ move, start thinking about downsizing your possessions at least a few months before the moving day. So, if you had ideas of moving heavy pieces of furniture into your new apartment, we’ll have to ask you to think again. Moving companies charge by weight, so the more stuff you have the higher your bill will be. And when you put it like that, downsizing suddenly makes much more sense.
Go through your home room by room and put aside anything you haven’t used in more than a year. There’s also no point to take with you something that you can buy when you arrive at your new address. Keep your head clear and be merciless. Try to focus on the big picture and you’ll be surprised by how much trash you have laying around. Usable things that you don’t need you can sell on the internet or in the garage sale. However, don’t forget that there’s the option of donating. Your little can mean a lot for someone that doesn’t have anything.
Get your hands on free packing supplies
It is always tempting to go out and simply buy all the boxes, packing wraps, and moving blankets that you need for the move. However, if you moved in recent times you know how quickly those little expenses can pile up. If you want to go that route, that’s okay. Just be sure to calculate the cost of your upcoming NJ move beforehand so you know if you can afford it. And for all of you that don’t mind spending a little bit more time, here’s what you can do.
Visit your local grocery stores and shops. Many of them have lots of boxes that they throw away, and that they’ll be happy to give away. So, if you don’t mind them being second hand you just need to ask. Collect free moving paper, or simply save all the prescriptions that you have. Newspaper works amazing as protection as it behaves similarly to packing peanuts. Things like duct tape and stretch wrap simply aren’t that easy to replace and you’ll have to buy some of those. However, the savings even without them are amazing.
You can find free moving boxes all over your town, you just need to ask for them.
Optimize utility shut-down and turn-on dates
Different utility companies have different rules under which they operate. Some of them won’t prorate your bill as of your moving day. So, it might be a good idea to cut off some of your services earlier. Sometimes one bill less can make a big difference. What’s important for you is to call them and check what case you have on your hands. We’re sure that you can survive without cable for a week or two if that’s the case.
If you’re moving from a different city or state, and are looking to save money on your NJ move be sure to check different utility companies. Many of them offer special deals for people that are just moving in so you never know what you can go by. Just be sure to call them on time. You wouldn’t want to come to a house that has no water or heat after a whole day of moving. Suddenly all those cleaning strategies for a new home that you read don’t have any meaning.
Call your utility company as early as possible to make sure everything goes as planned.
Send your books by USPS
This is a little trick that not many people think about. Books are heavy, we all know that. So, why would you bring them with you since the movers charge much more than postal service? Pack your home library extensively well and secure the box additionally as well as you can. Then, send it through the U.S. Postal Service. Although this way of transporting your belongings can take a little bit longer, it will be cheaper. And what else could you want if you’re trying to save money on your NJ move?