Relocating to a new home? You may be wondering how to make this as efficient and stress-free as possible.
There are various aspects of relocation that you need to consider. One often-overlooked aspect of a smooth move is how you’ll transport your vehicle, especially if you’re relocating a long distance. Considering professional car transport services can significantly reduce the stress and complexity of your relocation.
In this guide, we’ll cover the key steps to organising your relocation, tips for choosing car transport services, and budgeting strategies to keep your plan in check.
Key Steps for Organizing a Seamless Home Relocation
To make your move hassle-free, you’ll want to consider how you can best organize the process. Breaking your relocation tasks down into chunks can make things appear more manageable.
- Start ahead of time
Start planning a couple of months in advance to ensure everything is in check. Assign different tasks to different weeks, ensuring that you have enough time to complete everything from decluttering to notifying necessary contacts of your new home address.
- Organize your possessions
Decide which of your possessions you want to keep, donate, sell, or recycle. Minimizing your belongings could potentially lower moving costs, not to mention make unpacking easier to manage.
- Schedule utility transfers
Remember to get new service setups for electricity, water, internet, and other utilities sorted to ensure that when you move in, you don’t have to worry. This offers a smart way to avoid unnecessary downtime when the time comes to relocate.
How to Choose Reliable Car Transport Services During Your Move
To make your relocation easier, you may want to consider leveraging reliable car transport services to help. This could be especially useful if you are travelling a long distance and want to save on driving exhaustion.
However, as there are many car transport services to choose from, you should take on the following recommendations to make your selection:
- Research
Before signing anything, do your research. Seek out car transport services from companies with positive customer feedback and a strong review rating. You’ll also want a partner with transparent insurance coverage policies and valid licensing through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
- Understand your options
There are different car transport services out there, so ensure you pick one that aligns with both your needs and budget. For example, open vehicle carriers are affordable but offer limited protection to cars onboard, whilst enclosed auto transport offers additional protection at a higher cost.
- Compare quotes
Don’t shake hands with the first provider you come across. During your research stage, request quotes from various companies and compare them. Additionally, don’t be tempted to simply pick the lowest quote. There could be hidden costs involved, or the cheapest company may simply provide the lowest quality service.
- Check delivery timeframes
Remember to ask your potential provider about expected delivery timeframes and whether it can offer you a guaranteed delivery date. While less important to some, this may be crucial if you are on a tight schedule.
- Familiarize yourself with the law
If you are relocating across state borders, remember to read up on interstate transport laws that may apply to your vehicle shipment. For example, authoritative sources like the US Department of Transportation could assist.
Budgeting and Financial Planning Tips for a Stress-Free Relocation
Relocation can be expensive, but keeping these tips in mind can help keep your costs under control.
- Make estimates
Estimate all your major expenses, including moving company fees, utility connection charges, and car transportation services.
- Create an emergency fund
Sometimes, unexpected costs come into play, which is why it’s recommended that you set aside around 10% of your budget for peace of mind.
- Consider how to keep auto transport costs low
The less expensive types of car transport services usually involve terminal-to-terminal delivery and pickup, open transport methods, and off-peak seasonal travel.
- Track your spending
You can use handy tools like spreadsheets and budgeting apps to monitor your expenses as you make them. This can help keep you focused on your spending, ensuring you can make any adjustments if necessary.
Rounding Up
So, there you have it. Hopefully, you can now see that relocation doesn’t have to be the overwhelming, mountainous task that many movers see it as. By following a structured approach and selecting the right car transport services, you can keep your move on track and make it as manageable as possible.
