Moving is both stressful and expensive, it is not a secret. Having years of experience in moving business we at moving-me.com know how to eliminate stress for our customers. Hiring a professional team of movers could be the answer to the first part of this dilemma. Experienced packers and movers have a magical ability to turn your what-seems-to-be-a-nightmare relocation into a bearable and logical task. But what about the costs? A good and trustworthy moving helper’s service will not be cheap, betchya! Getting a moving loan can help cover moving expenses if you at some point see that you’ve bitten a chunk bigger than you can chew. Sure, it is not pleasant at all to find out in the middle of the move that you cannot afford it. If you don’t have savings for a move, a personal loan for moving can be the way out. In order to decide if relocation loans are right for you, you need to understand how they work, as well as benefits and risks.

What is a moving or relocation loan?

A moving loan is an unsecured personal loan used to pay for moving expenses. If the term unsecured does not scare you off (and it actually shouldn’t), keep on reading. Moving loans are paid back, you repay this loan in fixed amounts (negotiated and counted according to the size of your loan) monthly usually over a few years, plus interest. There are also ways to cut down the interest, make sure you discuss it with your banker. You can use the funds from an unsecured loan to pay for everything that your upcoming move might involve from moving service to furniture for your new home.

How does a moving loan work?

A relocation loan was specially developed to help you make your dream come true. It gives you money that will help you cover your move and make it less stressful. As soon as your loan is approved you will get money within an instant (well, usually within a day or the next day).

How to get an efficient moving loan

Decide on your needs and wishes: that part is crucial since personal loans come in a lump sum. You won’t have a chance to borrow more later. So, it is important to sit down (potentially with your banker and your moving company’s representative) and make a detailed plan on the things your move will require. Try to have a clear vision of how much your move will cost before you apply. You can use our moving cost calculator to estimate the approximate costs or contact us here.

Pre-estimate: You can pre-estimate with a lender to see what loan amount, APR, and monthly payments you qualify for. Don’t worry: pre-estimating doesn’t affect your credit score, so you can compare offers from a few lenders before committing to a loan. That would actually be advisable. Generally, three or four calculations can show you an objective picture on your potential loan and upcoming payments.

Take care of the paperwork: Once you’ve decided which offer to accept, start gathering documents like identification, Social Security number, W-2s ect. Make sure you pay all the stubs. This step will save your time and let the lender fund the loan faster.

Create a payback plan: You need to create a payback plan to avoid late fees making payments on time. Extra payments or paying the loan off early are usually not penalized.

Pros and cons of moving loans

Taking a personal loan to cover moving expenses has its advantages as well as disadvantages offering an easy way to finance a relocation but not without pitfalls. Be prepared and weigh your decision of getting a moving loan as you are the only one to make the final choice:

PROS of taking a moving loan

• More profitable than credit cards. If you have good credit, you can get a much lower interest rate with a personal loan than with a credit card. It is very personal, so make sure you straighten your credit history as much as you can before you apply for a moving loan.
• Fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payments. The fixed payment schedule and the predictable repayment costs make budgeting easy and reduce the risk of falling into financial distress after the move.
• Fast funding. If you have to move unexpectedly and need money fast, some online loans fund as quickly as one business day. Submitting a complete application with all the required documents can speed up funding.
• No collateral. Unsecured loans don’t require collateral, so you won’t risk losing an asset to the lender if you can’t pay back your moving loan.

CONS of taking a moving loan

• Long-term debt. Terms on personal loans can extend up to five or seven years. Normally, it is recommended to take a loan for the shortest possible period. So, you’ll have to figure out the comfortable payment sum that you’ll be able to pay for several years. Consult you kender on that. Then, you’d probably want to cut it at least a half year down and consider selling things that you don’t use any more. That will provide you with some extra money for the move and significantly cut down your moving costs. Try it! You’d have no regrets.
• Fees. Some lenders charge origination fees that can range from 1% to 10% of the loan amount, though it’s usually based on your qualifications.
• High rates for bad credit. If you have bad credit (629 or lower FICO) or a lot of existing debt when you apply, a personal loan can be expensive.

Alternatives to moving loans

• Consider borrowing from relatives or friends. Asking willing to help friends or relatives for money saves you on paying interest on the borrowed amount. Try to pay timely not to disappoint your helper.
• Don’t mind using a credit card. Credit cards usually have higher interest rates than moving loans, but if you have good credit, you can qualify for a credit card with an introductory 0% APR period.
• Get a job relocation package. If you’re relocating for work, you can negotiate with your employer for moving assistance and may be able to get reimbursed for some or all of your moving expenses.
• Purge and sell. Declutter and get rid of unwanted things thus making your packing easier. Earn some cash organizing a garage sale or selling online.

It may take some extra time to work out how much money you will need monthly to get by as a minimum when you get your first place. On top of this, you have a debt over your head in the form of a loan so not only do you have to worry about rent, bills, food, and transport as a minimum but you also have to worry about making sure you can pay your loan on time. Remember that without an income or assets, any loan that you get will be very expensive with the odds that you won’t be able to repay it high and the consequences severe. Try to DIY your move as much as you can. Ask your family and friends for help. And pack only things that you can’t do without. Good luck with your move!