Here are some costs to consider when moving home, have you thought about how much it can really cost you?
Renting? Deal with your deposits
Many people when moving home are likely to moving from a rented property and in this case it is easy to forget that any charges incurred to your deposit repayment is technically a cost of moving. Forgetting to calculate the potential deposit charges can leave you confused when doing your final budget and leave you wondering where your money has gone.
Make sure the property is in good condition when you leave, from cleaning to minor aesthetic repairs. Although it can be very difficult to get your full deposit back from some stubborn letting agents and landlords the better condition you leave the property in the more likely you are to receive the full amount back.
See more tips on how to get your rental deposit back >
Not only do you have to consider any potential charges from your old property deposit but you also need to take into consideration the deposit for the new place. This is often paid up front, considering you are on a removals website it is likely you have already paid this however many people forget to consider the financial implications for move day from the new deposit.
Energy Costs
It is now a legal requirement for a house to get an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) before it can be put on the market. By gaining access to this you should be able to calculate your estimated energy usage. Contact your current energy suppliers for further advice on how much the new property will cost you with them and use this to make a decision on whether to move companies or not. It is often the case that, especially if you are moving out of the area, other energy suppliers are the cheapest for the new property.
Dont forget to check the water utility costs at your new property too. Although water rates are much more difficult to save money on as each area only has one water provider, you can use information from these companies to see if you could save money by having a water meter fitted.
See more on utility switching when moving home >
Insurances
Check your insurance premium costs when moving to a new property. When moving to a new property insurance costs could swing either way. For example house contents insurance is likely to increase if the property is larger or in a less desirable postcode.
Car insurance companies work off both postcode and security of the new location of your car (is it kept in a garage etc) to calculate your new costs. Additionally most car insurance companies will charge an admin fee for transferring your insurance to a new address.
Contracts
Many of us are in a multitude of contracts that have œbuy out or œtermination clauses without even realising it. Some of these are unlikely to affect on you moving day such as your mobile phone but many contracts could cost you money to get out of, or even transfer come move day.
Most broadband providers have both high termination costs and transfer fees, they may even charge for an engineer to come out to your new property to reactivated the line. It is recommended that you ring your broadband provider and get all the costs information you can in preparation for move day.
If you are a member of a gym we suggest you look to see if they have another gym as part of their chain in your new propertys area that you can transfer it to. If they dont then they may have sneaky termination clauses in their contract.
Replacing Items & Buying New Items
Another cost that is regularly overlooked is the cost of replacing items from your old residence. For example when moving home many people throw out food items that wont survive the journey or condiments that have nowhere to be packed. When you get to your new property it is likely you will want to replace the items (especially food!) so make sure you budget for this.
Does your new property have all the accessories that you need to live comfortably? If the property is brand new or much larger than your last property it is highly that this isn’t the case. Make a checklist of items that you need to buy for the new place and make a note of which ones are a priority, allowing you to budget for them correctly.
Storage
If there is a gap between your moving out date and the moving in date then you will probably need somewhere you store all of your stuff while you find temporary accommodation. Self storage costs can vary as well as the level of security and protection provided.
Try to find a storage facility near to where you are temporarily staying, then when it comes to move day the removals team will not have far to travel when picking up items from your self storage unit are your temporary accommodation.
Study the costs of the self storage facility carefully, many storage units have minimum term times so you may have to pay for longer than you actually need.
Need help finding storage? Fill out our online storage enquiry form to see how we can accommodate your requirements.
Removals
Of course one of the main costs of moving home is the cost of the removal itself. Here at Kitsons Transport we will provide a quote based on your exact requirements and can tailor a removal service to your budget so that you dont overspend. We provide quotes from a simple man and van service to a full removal with assembly of furniture at the new property.
You will also need to calculate the costs of packing up your items in preparation for moving. Boxes, packaging, cellotape and bags can all add to your costs. You can purchase packaging materials from Kitsons Transport Ltd or read our guide on getting free removal boxes.
To find out how much a removal will cost you fill out our online enquiry form.
Dont forget to keep up to date with our other moving tips to help you save money on your moving day costs.