Moving home can be a daunting task at the best of times, but when you’re having to make a move due to increasing rental prices, the stress can go to a whole new level.
When stress levels are this high, it’s easy to make unwise and rash decisions to cut corners. The problem is, cutting those corners can often cost you money that’s already being stretched thin.
And since money is on the tighter side for many Australians, especially renters, anything they can do to make dollars stretch further is a win.
So, with just a little planning and resourcefulness, coupled with a good amount of elbow grease, you can make your move more affordable, less of a hassle, and the beginning of a new chapter you didn’t know you wanted.
1. Start early and plan ahead
Time is of the essence when you need to move out quickly. Start the process by creating a detailed moving checklist to keep yourself organised.
Research your options for packing materials, cleaning services, utility providers, and so on. By avoiding last-minute rush and panic, you can secure better deals and make cost-effective choices.
2. Sell, don’t throw away
While you’ll still be able to find the odd garage sale around your neighbourhood, like most things, private selling has moved online to places such as Gumtree, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace.
Anything you no longer need and would normally send to the tip or put out for hard rubbish collection – such as clothes, old computer monitors, furniture, bicycles etcetera – can be turned into cold hard cash.
Never underestimate the value in the saying ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’.’
3. Hire an affordable moving truck or van
Removalists are dime a dozen, but none of them care about your belongings more than you do.
4. Get your bond back
There’s two ways to tackle this one, and it’s completely up to you: either clean each room of your current rental as you move your belongings out, or do a big clean after everything has been moved out.
Either way, give yourself every opportunity to get your bond back in full by getting your former home as close to the condition as it was when you moved in.
Do not hire cleaners if you can avoid it – there’s very little a professional cleaner can do that you can’t do yourself.
Keep an eye out in particular for stains on carpets, chips or cracks in tiles, or damaged paintwork on the walls, doors, and skirting boards.
Most of these can be fixed after watching a YouTube tutorial with cleaning supplies and a bit of glue.
5. Improvised packing materials
Some packing materials such as carboard boxes, bubble wrap, and tape can be surprisingly expensive when you multiply by the volume that you will need.
Odds are there are plenty of things lying around your home that can be doubled-up as packing materials.
Use towels and bed linens to protect delicate items like plates and bowls, use your old suitcases as boxes, and use empty jars to transport small items such as pens, USB sticks, or LEGO bricks. It’s all about your imagination.
6. Rent – don’t buy
There are plenty of tools and gadgets you might need during your move that you may not already have, like a trolley for moving heavy items, or a drill to disassemble a table, a steam mop, pressure washers, and so on.
While you might be able to find these pretty easily at your local hardware store, there are also plenty of businesses that will let you rent these for a day or two for a fraction of the cost it would be to buy.
Better yet, ask around and borrow one from a friend.
7. Cook your meals in advance
Moving home can be a lengthy and exhausting process. The last thing you will want to do after a day of moving boxes and driving around town is whipping up dinner.
In the days leading up to your move, freeze some meals for you and the family that can be easily reheated in the microwave so you don’t have to spend a small fortune on food delivery services which will further help ease the cost of living pressures.
