Practical money-saving advice to help make your move easier

While moving into a new home is exciting, it can also be costly. Here’s some practical money-saving advice to help make your move easier so you don't spend a small fortune.

Transportation

You have two options here. You can rent a truck or use the services of a professional moving company.

• When leasing a truck, you can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to $55 per hour. In this case you’ll still need to call on friends for a helping hand.
• The services of a professional moving company are usually in the ballpark of about $115 per hour. This rate includes one hour of transportation. You’ll need to consider the total travel distance (mileage) to estimate the cost. A four-room apartment will, for example, cost approximately $575, plus tax. You should expect to pay at least $800 if there are stairs involved.

Set-up and installation fees

Fees to set up new accounts and install services in your new place can include connecting the cable, Internet and telephone lines. Many companies offer these services for free, while others are known to charge up to about $60.

• Electric utilities: If you're not already a subscriber, new customers can expect to pay $20 to $50 to open a new account.
• Cost of food and beverages: Beer and pizza for your friends will cost about $60, depending on the number of people and their appetites.
• Cleaning and decorating: Fees for these services vary, but are usually in the $500 range if you can't do it yourself beforehand.
• Forwarding mail to your new address: The fee to re-route mail varies between $45 (six months within the same province) and $225 (12 months for international moves).
• Rent deposit: Depending on the location and the monthly rate of housing, you may need to put down anywhere from $500 to $900 if you're going to be a renter.

Other possible expenses

These include all other moving-related costs, such as:

• New furniture delivery
• Small appliance purchases
• Insurance premiums
• Condo fees

If you’re a first-time homeowner, certain legal fees will apply. The fees of a real estate lawyer or notary, depending on where you live, are usually at least $1,000. Added to this, transfer taxes, which can be $2,000 and more.

If you're frugal-minded, there are some easy ways to help you save money.

• Ask friends and relatives to collect moving materials for you including boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, tape, and rope.
• Sort your belongings and decide on what to throw away, donate, or sell. The fewer boxes you have to move, the faster everything will go.
• Use “virtual” painting software to avoid surprises and save money when designing and decorating your new space.
• Create a spreadsheet of projected spending and actual costs to help you determine a realistic budget.

In a nutshell, the best strategy is to plan carefully and also follow this practical, money-saving advice to help make your move easier. This way you’ll keep your cool and avoid unpleasant surprises on the big day.