If you are just entering the escrow process, you are probably filled with a sense of happiness but also a bit worried about all the stress of actually packing up and moving. One part of moving that really causes stress is the additional expense that it entails. While moving isn’t free, there are some easy ways to reduce the amount of money you spend.

The more stuff you have, the more it is going to cost to transport it. So while you begin packing, take stock of your belongings and get rid of anything you don’t really want or need. For instance, maybe you really don’t like your living room sofa or your patio furniture. Sell these items and not only will you lighten the load and reduce the amount your movers will charge, you can use the proceeds to fund the move. Plus anything you get rid of is one less thing you have to unpack and put away in the new house.

Another cost that can be quite prohibitive is the cost of packing supplies. You need boxes, packing tape and packing paper. For a typical three-bedroom house, this might mean you need as many as 100 boxes of varying sizes, which could easily cost around $400. To lower this cost, look for free boxes on Craigslist and Freecycle or ask friends to save any boxes they have. Also ask friends to save their newspaper to use for packing materials. You can also use towels and clothing to wrap up fragile items.

You might think that renting a truck and moving all your items yourself is less expensive than hiring a moving company, but this is not always the case. Certainly if you are moving just a couple of miles away, doing it on your own probably is going to be cheaper. However, if you don’t have friends or family available to help, it can be very hard to move those heavy items. If you are moving a long distance, you will have pay truck rental fees for several days, as well as the gasoline expenses, your lodging expenses and meal expenses. Add it all up and it might just make sense to have a professional team of movers take your stuff. If you aren’t moving furnishings and have just a few boxes, it actually also can be quite cost effective to mail your boxes at the post office.

If possible, schedule your move-in date, for a weekday. Tuesday through Thursday tend to be less expensive simply because the majority of people have to move on the weekend. In addition, most moves are made during the last few days of the month or right at the first of the month, so if you can plan a mid-month move, the cost also can be substantially less.

For those who are ready to take the plunge and buy a home in scenic Texas Hill Country, give Nixon Real Estate a call today. Their expert real estate team can help you find the perfect home in Kerrville, in Fredericksburg, in San Antonio or any type of Texas Hill Country real estate.

Pammy McGrath loves reading about real estate blogs. If you are looking for licensed Texas Hill Country real estate agents, or to discover a Fredericksburg homes for sale, please go to the NixonRealEstate.com site now.