Moving can be expensive, but there are many simple ways for you to clip costs without sacrificing your needs.  Here are just a few ways you can make it happen.

Make an Inventory

A lot of people don’t do this, but they should.  Making an inventory helps you take stock of what you have.  It also minimizes the risk that you’ll lose something in the move.  Professional movers do this, and almost no one talks about it when they move.

Get yourself several sheets of small stickers (ideally all the same colour).  For example, you might go to an office supply store and pick up some small round stickers with good adhesive – they need to be able to stick to your belongings.

Make a physical list of your things, noting the size, shape, and quantity of items.  For example, you might pack a box full of dishes.  Note the number of dishes in the box, the kind, and anything significant about them, especially if you tend not to use them very often.  Seal up the box and place a sticker on it with a number.

Now, mark your inventory list with the same number that’s on the box.  When you get to your new place, you’ll be able to match the numbers on your inventory sheet to the numbers on your items.

Likewise, if something goes missing, you’ll know what it is and can relay this information easily and accurately to the insurance company (assuming you purchased mover’s insurance, which is a good idea).

The Mover by PROLew (tomswift) Holzman, on Flickr.  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License.

Pack Everything Yourself

Packing up everything yourself is really the only way to know that you’ve got everything.  If you let professional movers pack your things, they may not be as careful with your belongings as you are.  Packing everything yourself also obviously saves you money.

Sell All the Things

Sell everything you don’t need.  This is something that’s also difficult for people to do.  If you’re having trouble making cuts, get a few friends to help you – preferably, friends that aren’t afraid to tell you the truth.

Sort your belongings into two piles.  One pile is the “keep” pile.  One is the “sell” pile.  That’s it.

Hold a yard sale and get rid of everything you don’t need.  A general rule of thumb is that if you’ve not used something in a year, you probably don’t need it.  Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, like a dress you want to wear to a (hypothetical) wedding or seasonal clothes that didn’t get used because it was unusually hot or cold during the last season.

Also make note of any family heirlooms – you probably don’t want to get rid of these.

Buy a Rehab

Buying a rehab home can be a little scary.  But, some of the best Alberta homes for sale are homes that just need a little work.  It can save you a lot of money and, if you get a thorough home inspection and get yourself hooked up with the best contractor in the area, you could save yourself thousands of dollars and have all-new finishes in your new home.

Reach Out to Friends for Help

Finally, don’t forget to reach out to friends.  That’s what they’re there for.

John Vaughn has many years experience facilitating moves for armed forces personnel.  He enjoys the chance to share his insights with an online audience.  You can find his thoughts posted on a number of different websites.