Moving (on a tight budget) - tips please!

[C~Q]

Hi guys, I know I haven't been around much lately, been really busy and was spending far too much time on BB!

Seems like I have to move and will give my months notice tomorrow (on a month by month contract). I haven't found anywhere yet but will look at a lot of places next week. So I have a month in which to organise things which is good.

I know there are some things that I can't get out of paying for - the place to be sprayed and the carpets cleaned. Other things I will have to do myself **sigh** like the move out clean and the packing and physical moving. I have some big strong boys I will rope into helping with utes and one has a trailer which will help and we won't be moving that far away I don't think.

So...budget moving tips please! I need to get boxes and from what I can remember you can buy second hand ones that are chaper? What else can I save on?

Also if anyone has any tips on how to fit a fully furnished 4 bedroom house into a 3 bedroom townhouse I'd like to hear them!

Thanks guys...you're all awesome!

[ss_storm]

Also if anyone has any tips on how to fit a fully furnished 4 bedroom house into a 3 bedroom townhouse I'd like to hear them!

Garage sale!

I've only ever moved twice, both of them were pretty easy as we didn't have much stuff. First time was when I moved into a unit with DF in town, out of my little box of a room at uni. I didn't really pack anything, it all just got thrown in the car!
When we moved from the unit into our house, again we didn't really pack as such...we were moving literally around the corner and we were only packing up a one bedroom unit so we didn't have a great amount of stuff. For boxes we just used what we had, and OH worked at the time for a business that sold office products so I think he grabbed a few larger boxes from them. Maybe ask around at some furniture places to see if they have any large cardboard boxes that they were just going to throw out, they might give them to you for free? Otherwise those cheap plastic stripy bags from a $2 shop are great for non-breakables.

[luna moth]

Got boxes in Woolloongabba. Come on over...

[C~Q]

Thanks guys, snugglybean I might take you up on that! I saw a house today that I really like so fingers crossed, it's a 4 bed house but it's in a neighbourhood that I wouldn't normally choose...

We'll see. Thanks, i'll let you know about those boxes!

[C~Q]

Well I got the house and we move on thr 25th so if I could borrow those boxes that would be great an you pm me your add?

[Kazbah]

If you rent a truck, its cheaper on sundays too.

For the exit-clean, if you want to save time, get a list of what the real-estate agent wants and work to that.

Prioritise your utilities - if there's anything you can do without (landline?) then don't install it for a week or so - don't forget you'll be getting bills from the old place which will possibly be hefty along with the connection fees for the new place.

Good luck - um, as the 25th is a public holiday, how will you drop the keys back?

[Inertia]

The best advice I can give really is - if you can get a freestanding house - do it. DH and I were stuck in a townie for 3 years whe we had to move (owners divorcing so selling the house) and I would never do it again with kids.

With the boxes, we looked out the back of dollar shops and near loading docks. DH used to be chuffed when he would come home with a bunch of good boxes to help us move.

And don't forget the oven! They always check it. LOL. Get out your condition report and make sure you look at anything not on it - and on your next one - WRITE EVERYTHING! Cracks, marks, stains, ufos, absolutely everything. All too often we just sign what they wrote - but there can be a lot of stuff missing. Not so much a money saver now, but will be in future.

[Kazbah]

Don't just write, take photos for the condition report!

[Rivlas]

All the best with your move.

Don't forget to get your post redirected. Yes, it does cost but it is well worth it in the long run.
When our DD & SIL moved they did it for the first little bit but later discovered that they had forgotten to tell some companies where they only got yearly bills.
Start making a list so you don't forget someone.