Moving homes can be expensive if you don’t plan it well. Money already a stressor at this time as you buy your first home or sell your old one, the last thing that you want is to be hit with even more bills. Don’t worry too much though, with proper planning and enough time to prepare you will be able to avoid any expensive surprises.

1. Plan ahead

You will need to take a moment to sit down and really think about what you need to do for your move. You will need to plan out every little detail of the process. From the early stages of researching moving companies and packing materials to how you are going to dispose of unwanted items or furniture, there is a lot to plan for. Planning ahead can make all of the difference when it comes to the overall cost of your move.

The best place to start is with a checklist. List out every item that you will need to move and any other considerations that will have to take into account. These include who will look after the children on the day of the move.

2. Throw things out

Moving house can be a great time to clear out some of the clutter in your home. If you are always surrounded by old clothes or magazines that you no longer have any interest in then you should get rid of them. The last thing that you want to do is spend time, money, and effort moving things that will sit in boxes in your new home until it comes time to move again. The trick here is to be ruthless and not hold onto any items that you don’t need or want.

The best part is that you will be able to speed up the process of unpacking your things when you arrive at your new home.

3. Hire professional movers

If you want to make sure that you don’t end up paying more than you have to, you should look into hiring professional movers. This will help to keep costs down and allow you to really benefit from the best price available for your move. Another advantage to hiring the professionals is that you won’t be hit with any surprise costs as these well-established companies have a reputation to protect.

4. Packing materials are essential

Another cost that you may have to bear if the moving company is not skilled or experienced enough to handle the moving of your things is that of damaged possessions. If the correct packaging materials aren’t used or the truck is improperly packed you may suffer a great deal of damage to your as they shift around in transit. This can be heartbreaking when you come to unpack them.

5. Time your move correctly

You want to make sure that you avoid any holidays and ideally avoid any peak times. If you are unsure of when this is you should speak with your moving company to find out when it the most affordable time to move. If you have the flexibility to move on any given day you may find that you are able to save some money by asking about the different dates that are available.

6. Cancel bills in a timely manner

Once you know when you will be moving house you should contact your utility and cable provider and let them know that you will be cancelling or transferring your service to your new address. This will help to prevent you from paying double for your services and also stop bills from arriving at your old address after you have moved out.