Relocation Checklist
Moving Checklist
10 Smart Tips to Save Money on Moving Costs
Moving Checklist
1. Get Rid of Clutter
When you’re packing, you’ll want to put everything you own inside the moving boxes. This means extra weight, which will mean extra money spent. At the very least, you’ll have to pick up more boxes, even if you’re moving yourself, which isn’t ideal. Get rid of all the junk that you don’t need and can't donate before you begin packing for the big day.
2. Sell Items You Don’t Need
This includes every item that you’re thinking about replacing in your new home. Round up all the items, which include appliances, furniture, and everything else you can think of, and put it up on Craigslist or sell it in a garage sale. This is going to partially fund any moving expenses you’re going to have and will also rid you of items you don’t truly need.
3. Donate Items You Can’t Sell
If you happen to be left with any items after your selling spree, it’s not over yet. You can still donate those items for a receipt, which will count towards your tax deductions for the year. Make sure you get a tax refundable receipt, otherwise you might go through this trouble for nothing (except for helping people in need, of course).
4. Empty Your Fridge and Cupboards
You’ve likely got a lot of food in your refrigerator that’s been waiting for you for an eternity. Now is the time to chow down on it. All this food is going to be wasted if you don’t finish it before the move. It’s also going to save you from having to eat at restaurants because your kitchen might be a mess during the packing process.
5. Consider If Your Friends Can Help You Move
This might not work for long distances, but if you’re moving locally, this might be a good time to test your friends’ loyalty. Ask friends and family if they can help you out a little bit. They might not be able to carry the heavy furniture for you, but light boxes are definitely in the books. If any friend of yours has a truck, they could come in especially handy.
6. Don’t Hire Cheap Movers
Movers generally charge by the hour, and will normally take a minimum of 3-4 hours, even if you don’t have many items to move around. Some movers might give you a lower estimate, but will later spring up hidden fees. Make sure you ask your movers to confirm all the fees, hidden or otherwise, before you work with them.
Cheaper doesn’t always mean better because low quality services could damage your items and do more harm than good.
7. Look for Free Moving Boxes
You could find cheap or free moving boxes on Craigslist or around any campuses. Ask around and see if anyone you know has boxes lying around. As long as you can get your hands on boxes that are in decent condition, there’s no reason to spend tons of money on new packing materials. Also, remember that clothing and towels serve the same purpose as bubble wrap.
8. Move During the Off Season
Moving prices are much lower during the off season since demand is low. This might not entirely be under your control, but if you have the choice, move during winters, in the middle of the month, and the middle of the week. That’s when you’ll be able to grab onto the lowest prices - especially if you negotiate with your movers and compare with their competitors.
9. Measure the Access Points of Your New Home
Any furniture that literally can’t pass through the main access points of your new home is essentially useless. It’s always a good idea to measure these entrances so you don’t spend extra money on moving furniture that won’t enter the building. Consider selling or donating furniture like that.
10. Cancel the Cable
If your new home has a cable connection, you should consider cancelling it since it might be expensive. With an increasing amount of people moving towards internet connections and abandoning cable, you may want to hop on the bandwagon and save some bucks.
At the very least, you’ll have to pick up more boxes, even if you’re moving yourself, which isn’t ideal. Get rid of all the junk that you don’t need and can't donate before you begin packing for the big day.
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Testimonials
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We cannot recommend Julie enough. She recently helped us both buy a home in Northbrook and sell a home in Lakeview. The process was a bit overwhelming, but Julie was extremely patient with us throughout the entire experience. She was extremely patient, and visited over 50 homes with us to ensure we found the right one. Moreover, she got a great outcome for us on our sell in an extremely tough Chicago condo market. We could not have been more pleased, and would absolutely recommend Julie to anyone looking for a partner and advisor in this stressful process.
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- dustinworley2
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I heard about Julie Anne in 2010 when the market was at its worst. My home had been listed for over a year with no results and several price changes. I felt hopeless and I hired Julie Anne and she got the job done within 2.5 months !! Now I'm in the market to buy a home and again shes helped me so much,the home was for sale by owner and I'm so glad I had Julie. Through inspection we found some Major structural problems that would of cost me well over 50,000 and this home would of buried me forever ! Now we will be closing on another house and its just perfect for me ! Thank you Julie for all that you've done to make everything run so smoothly!
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- cindyann1960
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In buying our 1st home, we were so lucky to get Julie as our realtor. She was patient with all of our 1st timer questions and all of our strikeouts. Julie is a professional - she was quick to respond, and she really took the time to understand what we wanted in a home. I would use her services again in the future, and I always mention her name to anyone starting their home purchasing or buying journeys.
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- mgon49
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Julie Anne is awesome! She was able to close and secure our deal even though our buyer was out of the country and working on a completely different time zone. She helped us to present a competitive offer (multiple offers were made for our home), and our closing was stress-free due to her expertise! Julie is outstanding and wonderful!
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- vinkeber
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I have known Julie Anne for many years. She has helped me through a sale of my home in 2009 and a purchase in 2014. Both transactions were smooth, problem free and completed in a timely manner. Julie Anne is an extremely professional Real Estate Broker who takes the time to understand your needs and delivers on her promises. I would highly recommend Julie Anne to anyone in the real estate market today.
Tim S.-Palatine
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- tim3429
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Best realtor, very professional and always giving you the best options. She help us to understand and made easy the process, she always recommended the right people to help with the requirements.
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- patymyers
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Julie was very easy to work with. She was very responsive and flexible with her schedule. She is knowledgeable about the market and I felt comfortable with all negotiations that took place. When we found the property we wanted she was quick to act with the seller’s realtor as there was at least one other party that had made an offer.
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- truss karen
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I have purchased and sold home through Julie and would recommend no one else. She is hands down the best in finding exactly what you need to negotiating a smooth sale and can answer all your questions and concerns!!!
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- transtlye
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I have used Julie Anne for selling my previous home and then for purchasing a condo later. I highly recommend her. I will continue to use her in the future. My purchase had some bumps and I had to refine my search several times and she was patient through it all.
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- user5211198
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I am so grateful for Julie Anne's help with my mom and me. We moved from two households into one, and the timing of things was not always perfect, but Julie was extremely flexible and patient. Whether we were ready for a group of showings or wanted to see a particular place immediately, she was able to make it happen. Her negotiating skills are WONDERFUL - we were able to get the place we wanted despite multiple bids, and without going beyond our budget. She handled everything between us and the seller and really made the entire process a lot less stressful, even if I didn't show it. Thank you Julie!!! ;)
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- user267357053
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Julie Anne have proved herself so competent while representing both the seller and the buyer (myself) during the process of buying new condo, that I have retained her services when I was selling my old condo. She has an amazing ability to navigate the tense circumstances and frustrating situations with calm class and easy nature, and is simply a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend.
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- y4yuliya
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I've referred friends of mine to Julie and she has done an excellent job! She exhibited patience and understanding in selling their home and finding the right home for them and followed through to the end to get the job done! A true professional!
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- loupleotis0
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Julie Anne made sure to find the home of our dreams! We bought our house online from California through her and we are so happy that we found someone that we could trust like that! She knew what questions to ask us and made sure that all our priorities with purchasing our first home were met. Thank you Julie Anne! We have never lived anywhere that has made us this happy!
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- NozVM
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Julie Anne helped to find the right apartment when I just arrived in Chicago from France. At this time the market wasn't so good but she never showed me bad places and finally she found mine... where I still live.
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- celineredon
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