How to Move on a Budget in Brisbane

How to Move on a Budget in Brisbane

Brisbane is such an incredible city, with so many beautiful suburbs to explore, it’s no wonder so many people are moving to Brisbane from interstate. However, no matter whether you’re moving just around the corner or across the country, it’s important to keep a tight rein on your moving budget. Trust us—moving costs quickly add up. Before you know it, your moving costs have chewed through your new furniture budget!

Moving on a budget is possible, and it makes the whole experience far more enjoyable. Moving house is a massive process, but if you keep costs down at least you don’t add a towering credit card debt to your list of worries.

Follow these tips to keep your Brisbane move on budget.

Move as Little as Possible

Obviously, there are household items that you just have to take with you, but limit it to the essentials – clothes, appliances and furniture. The more you take with you, the more your move will cost. Plus, there’s no better time to declutter your home than when you’re moving. If you really take a hard look at your possessions, you’ll realise you don’t need a lot of them.

To make sure you’re only moving the essentials, follow these rules:

• If you haven’t used it in a year, you don’t need it
• If you have multiples of something, keep one and sell, donate or dispose of the rest
• If it doesn’t have a function, there’s no room for it in your home
• If it doesn’t hold sentimental value, then there’s really no room for it in your home

Avoid Peak Seasons

You don’t want to move to, or around, Brisbane during school and summer holidays. Not only will everything be busier, but certain service providers will increase their prices. So, avoid the upcoming school holiday dates in Brisbane, which include:

• 21 September to 8 October 2018
• 14 December 2018 to 29 January 2019
• 5 April 2019 to 23 April 2019
• 28 June 2019 to 15 July 2019
• 20 September 2019 to 8 October 2019
• 13 December 2019 to 28 January 2019

You should also avoid the Easter long week-end, which will fall between April 19 and April 23 in 2019.

Lock Down Accommodation

If you haven’t already bought a home, make sure you have accommodation to move into when you first arrive in Brisbane, particularly if you’re moving from interstate. Staying in a hotel isn’t just inconvenient, it can be incredibly costly. So, jump on realestate.com.au or to find a house to rent while you’re looking for your dream home.

If you have already bought a home, make sure you are in constant communication with your real estate agent to ensure the house will be ready for the day you arrive. There’s nothing worse than organising yourself, only to arrive on moving day and realise the vendor hasn’t kept up their end of the bargain.

Do as Much as You Can Yourself

Obviously, your labour is free! So, any aspect of the move that you can take care of yourself will save you a lot of money. For example, if you self-pack for your move and clean your own house, it means all that you’ll just have to pay for is the freight of your goods.

Just be sure that you give yourself plenty of time to organise everything. If you’re packing all your own possessions, it’s best to start 8 weeks out from your moving date. Otherwise, you run the risk of being short on time. You also need to ensure that you pack everything carefully and methodically, with plenty of bubble-wrap and added protection. Otherwise, any money you may have saved on professional packing costs will be lost—you’ll be paying to replace items broken during your move.

Think About Your New Lifestyle

If you’re moving from Victoria to Brisbane, chances are you won’t need your heavy winter coats or snow gear. You should also think about the size of your new home. If you have large, speciality items like an aquarium or a pool table, there may not be enough room in your new house. So, why not sell these and use the money to fund the move?

What’s In Your Fridge, Freezer and Cupboard?

If you have food in your house, why not create a meal plan, so that you use every item before you move? It is actually a lot of fun trying to make recipes out of what you have left, and you’ll save on your grocery bill as well as your moving bill. If you want to get rid of a lot at once, organise a going-away dinner! Of course, if you have any non-perishable items in your pantry, bring them with you, so you have a few things to get your new pantry going.

Call in Some Favours

Have you got some friends around Brisbane that owe you a favour? Now is the time to cash in. Whether it’s borrowing a Ute, or just getting some extra hands on deck, the help of friends and family is free – use it!

Find the Right Removals Company

A professional, experienced removals company will help you stay on budget. After all, with all their experience, they understand how to ensure your move is successful. Things to look out for are:

• Great online reviews
• Experience
• Services that deliver flexibility
• Removals insurance