Before you pack up and move
There are few things to bear in mind before packing:
- How much you need to move
- The various sizes of goods to be moved
- The day of the week you want to move
- The time of the month you’ll be moving
- Will you be able to occupy the property immediately or do the goods need to go into storage until you can?
Moving your belongings
If you’re moving house, chances are you’ve done a lot of research to find the mover who offers the best value. You could also be thinking of doing it yourself. Regardless of the option you choose there’ll be a significant cost involved. For example, moving company prices can range from as little as R1 500 to as much as R50 000 and up.
Remember that most people choose to move when their leases expire at the end of the month, so it can become a very busy time for movers. Some movers may increases prices to meet the resulting demand.
Even if you use a removal company you may still need to get your own boxes for packing. The easiest option is to get leftover boxes from your local grocery store. If you prefer, you can also buy new boxes and packaging from a supplier such as Boxman. You may also need to get protective material such as bubble wrap, newspaper, old towels or old blankets to help protect your goods during the move.
Damages
Your belongings may get damaged during the move, and with movers going from room to room, it’s possible that one or two walls may be slightly damaged too.
Hopefully the damage will be confined to small chips that can be touched up with a bit of DIY and Polyfilla, but it’s a good idea to set aside some money to cover larger issues such as damaged carpets or scratched floors. This is especially important if the damage takes place in the property you are moving from.
Tip: Use of your 4 free savings plans, name it House Move, and put away some money every month to help you cover your moving costs.
Doing it on your own
You may decide to hire a truck and do it yourself. This may seem more affordable in the short-term, but there are other considerations. For example, you’ll also be responsible for filling up the truck with petrol and, if anything happens to it (a scratch or a scrape, or even a traffic fine), you’ll have to pay for that, too.
No matter who is helping you do the job, you’ll also need to provide refreshments. Set aside a few hundred rand for takeaways and cool drinks.
Storage
You may not be able to move into your new house right away. If so, you’ll need to store your goods for a while until you can. There are a number of storage companies in South Africa. A quick online search will give you hundreds of choices. The cost will vary from company to company, so do your research and compare them to find the best supplier for you.
Reconnecting utilities and services
When you move into your new home, you may need to reconnect services such as your telephone line, Internet and security alarms.
Make some cash
Now might be a good time to get rid of unwanted goods or those that won’t be able to fit into your new home. Use the money you make to help cover your moving costs.
Notify service providers of your change of address
Some of the places you’ll need to update your address details with include:
- Your bank
- SARS
- Insurance companies
- Cellular providers
- Any subscriptions you have
- Motor vehicle licencing departments
