Let’s face it. Moving in 2 months is probably not the walk on the beach anyone would want to face. Relocation takes a significant part of your finances. How much money you’ll have to prepare and spend depends on several factors, including where your new address is, the volume of items that need transporting, and so on. Hence, preparing a budget is key to a successful and hassle-free move. 

The best way to set up a budget is to plan your entire move from start to finish. Start by creating a list of tasks that you need to do at every stage of the move. Doing this will also allow you to file cost estimates and determine how much you must allocate to each expenditure item. 

Is 2 Months Enough Time To Move?

Growing up in New York, I moved about every other year – which I’d say makes me a pro when it comes to moving. With that in mind, I’d say two months is a reasonable timeframe to prepare for a move – for most people. However, this is dependent on the complexity of your move and your circumstances.

For a local move, 2 months is typically enough to organize your belongings, find a new place to live, and hire a moving company. However, if you’re moving long-distance or internationally, you may need more time to arrange transportation and get all the necessary paperwork. Additionally, if you have a large household, valuable or fragile items, or other specific requirements, starting planning earlier is crucial to ensure a smooth and stress-free move. Ultimately, the key to success is to create a detailed plan, stick to a timeline, and stay organized throughout the process.

Is 30 Days Enough Time to Move?

If you’re a procrastinator and sat on your hands for the first month, it’s time to get cracking: you’ve only got 30 days left. While facing a move in 30 days might be enough to give even the strongest person a little heartburn, such an undertaking is possible. The key is in the preparation.

How To Plan A Successful Move in 2 Months

Moving can be a stressful and overwhelming for even the most experienced folks. But, there are some ways to make the process a little less stressful. Remember, with the right preparation and planning, moving can also be an exciting new chapter in your life.

If you’re moving in 2 months, you have enough time to get everything done, but staying organized and focused is important to avoid last-minute scrambling. Here’s a 2 month moving checklist you can download (courtesy of Allstate) to get you started!

2 Months Before The Move: Budget, Budget, Budget!

It’s essential to start by researching (2 months before the moving date) how much it’ll cost to move. This can include comparing moving companies’ seasonal rates with self-moving costs or determining whether you need a moving permit in your city for truck hire. Permits can cost from $10-$80 per day. 

Remember to factor in specialty expenses such as booking a service elevator to remove large furniture from an apartment and hiring cleaning services to polish up your home post-move. The average moving cost can range from $800-$2500. However, with early and extensive preparation, you can explore easy ways to save money moving and reduce your budget and spending. 

Take Care of Utilities

Once you’ve determined the budget, you can begin paying the bills and utilities in your old home. Be sure to settle any outstanding fees at least 2 months before moving for your local memberships, clubs, and organizations you participated in. Then, close those accounts. If you’re renting, talk with your landlord to get back your security deposit. 

Then, check out what amenities you need to pay for in your new residence. These can include filing for membership at the local community organization, updating information with your new utility provider, filing forms with the local government, and so on. If you’re moving to a newly leased property, coordinate with your property manager to help you with the paperwork. 

All of these can run you a few hundred bucks to fulfill; subsequently, you must account for such expenses in your overall moving budget. 

Organize All Of Your Belongings Before The Move 

Next, organize your belongings and inventory each item at least 2 months before the move. Doing this will determine the type and volume of packaging, storage, and transportation required to fit all your belongings for moving cost estimates. 

You can sort items into categories by room, such as kitchenware, bedroom bedding and clothing, and living room décor. Make sure to count each item individually to tally up the number of items that need shipping. Furthermore, you can search for a local community organization to donate unwanted items. You may dispose of or recycle anything else. 

If you need a storage unit to keep some of your inventory before moving, set aside about USD$100-USD$300 of your budget to rent space, depending on size and quantity. 

Plan Your Packaging 

Purchasing the proper packaging at least 2 months before the move is essential to ensure your belongings arrive at your new home intact. You can refer to your inventory list to determine what packing supplies will suit the size and weight of each item and how many you’ll need. 

The most commonly used packing supplies include cardboard boxes, heavy-duty plastic wrap and packing tape, furniture pads, bubble wrap, and foam padding for cushioning fragile items. Altogether you can allocate about $150 for apartment packing and $400 if you’re moving from a four-bedroom suburban home.  

If you have a larger budget, you can use a packing service provided by a moving company. This will set you back $250-$1050 for a small apartment to a large family home. 

Explore Shipping Options 

Shipping could take up the bulk of your moving budget, so it’s necessary to adequality prepare for it at least 2 months before the big day! Your cargo volume and travel distance to your relocation destination will determine the costs. So, it goes without saying that a local move (I.e. Nashville to Memphis) will cost more than moving overseas. Nonetheless, you can reduce shipping expenses by researching available options and comparing quotes for moving companies. 

The most affordable option is a self-move, renting a vehicle to load your belongings and driving to your new home using a rented truck. This will require truck or container hire, loading, and offloading items, moving equipment for large items, and gas prices. 

Hiring the truck alone can cost $2000-$3000 for a one-way cross-country trip. On the other hand, hiring a moving company won’t need as much preparation as the movers will handle packaging, loading, shipping delivery, and offloading your items timeously. As the more convenient yet high-priced option, it costs an average of$1250 for a same-state move while a long-distance is estimated at $5000 for an out-of-state move. 

Conclusion

How much money to prepare for a move in 2 months will depend on the details of your relocation. If you’re planning a DIY self-move, you might only need to rent transportation and pay for packing supplies. Moving with a service company will take up more of your budget, yet they’ll do everything for you. 

Remember that distance and the volume and size of your shipping items are the biggest cost factors to consider. So, the further you move from your residence with plenty of heavy belongings, the more money you should budget. 

This article Moving in 2 Months: How to Preserve Your Sanity originally appeared on Rick Orford - Invest, Earn More Income & Save Money.