Moving to Orlando on a Budget

With its beautiful weather and flourishing economy, Florida has long been a popular destination. Orlando has everything anyone could want in a Floridian hometown. The decision to move to Orlando may be a no-brainer, but the challenge is figuring out how to get everything from point A to point B without draining your bank account. Relocation costs add up fast, but your big move doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some strategies for moving to Orlando on a tight budget.

Plan Ahead

When it comes to saving money on moving, planning ahead is vital. Working out the logistics of your move as far in advance as possible will give you time to gather the necessary packing supplies and find the best deals on Orlando movers or a rental truck.

By the way, don’t make the mistake of thinking that renting a truck will save you money in the long run, or that your friends will want to help you load and unload everything you own in exchange for beer and pizza. Remember: time is money. If professional movers are in your budget, start contacting moving companies in Orlando as soon as possible to get quotes for your desired dates. Orlando movers get booked fast, and you don’t want to end up moving twice or paying for storage services you didn’t really need.

Avoid Moving to Orlando During Peak Season

As Orlando local movers, we can tell you that the peak moving season is May through September. With so many people relocating to Florida between those months, local moving companies may offer better rates during the off-season. A winter move could also mean more vacancies, since landlords have a harder time finding tenants close to the holidays. Purchasing a home might also be easier in the colder months because winter sellers tend to be highly motivated, outside of the bustling spring real estate market. Not only that, but you’ll have less competition when you place that lowball offer.

Sell or Donate Bulky Items Before You Move

It’s no secret that moving costs more the more stuff you have, so now is the time to downsize and offload items you no longer want or need. If you happen to be moving to a smaller place, it’s possible that you own furniture that won’t even fit in your new house. When visiting your new property, be sure to measure not only the dimensions of each room but also the points of entry, such as doorways and stairwells. Not every bedroom can accommodate a king-sized bed, and not every couch will fit through a narrow doorway. If your new home comes with a refrigerator, it may not be worth moving your old one.

Not only will you save money on the move by selling bulky furniture and appliances, since moves are priced by weight, but you might even make money. Larger items are often the easiest to sell on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, but if something doesn’t sell, you can always give it away.

Thrift stores are ideal for quick donations, as many will pick up your items and others offer drive-up services where they unload your donated belongings and hand you a receipt. Goodwill of Central Florida is one such organization, as well as The Salvation Army of Orlando. You’ll feel good about helping to support a charity or to create jobs for the less fortunate and having that itemized receipt will allow you to write off your donations come tax time.

Ask Around for Boxes

Avoid buying moving boxes until after you’ve acquired at least some of them for free. Boxes are everywhere—you just need to ask for them. Consider posting a request on your town’s community Facebook page because someone who has just moved will be happy to let you pick up their boxes.

Even your office or place of business could end up being a box goldmine, depending on your line of work. Once you’ve told your coworkers you’re moving, ask them to start setting aside boxes for you.

Use Household Items as Packing Materials

We all have fragile items we need to protect, but if you’re on a budget, skip that industrial-sized roll of bubble wrap and pad your breakables with household items instead. For example, kitchen towels can be used to separate plates, and glasses can be wrapped in paper. In addition, pillows and blankets can be used to pad more oversized, fragile items.

Ask Your Employer to Reimburse You for the Move

One way to save a substantial amount of money on your move is to ask your employer to foot the bill. Before you accept that job in Orlando, ask your company if they offer compensation for your relocation. If they are the ones wanting you to move, you clearly have the upper hand and should leverage that advantage.

Some companies will even pay for professional packing and unpacking services so you won’t have to lift a finger. Don’t forget about additional costs such as hotel accommodation, especially if you’re moving a long distance. If you’re in the military, your moving expenses may be tax-deductible, so that’s another possible money saver.

Cut Off Some of Your Services Early

Some companies won’t prorate your services, so having them turned off at the end of the billing cycle rather than a few days later can save you money. Knowing the best time to transfer your utilities will also save you money, so why not take advantage? Take a break from packing and make some phone calls to find out how to optimize your shut-off dates.

Water and electricity are essential, but to cut costs, you may decide to go without TV and internet services for a short time. If you cancel your internet, you may be able to get by using only your phone’s hotspot. After all, you’ll probably be too busy packing to sit at your computer for very long.

When you set up cable or satellite at your new home, take the time to shop around for the best prices. Signing up with providers that offer a 12-month special deal for new accounts will reduce your monthly expenses during a time when your money would be better spent on other things.

Don’t Overspend on Your New Home

When planning a move, there’s a tendency to get excited as you visualize your new home. It’s common to start mentally decorating your new space, leading to impulse shopping. One of the dangers of buying items in advance for your new home is that it might be different in some ways than how you remember it.

Resist the temptation to make purchases in advance, and instead, wait until after you move in. You’ll have less to move on moving day, and the less you spend now, the more money you’ll have left in your pocket after the move. Once you unpack, you may even find that decorating with those old familiar items helps your new place feel more like home.

Hire Reputable Orlando Local Movers

One of the most important decisions you’ll make in the weeks leading up to your move is hiring a mover, so choose wisely. When researching moving companies in Orlando, be sure to go with a reputable company like Suddath. Keep in mind that cheaper isn’t always better, especially in the moving industry. Consider the value of your belongings and how you would feel if something got damaged or stolen.

Get a free, no-hassle moving quote, or find out more about moving to Orlando in our ultimate Orlando moving guide.