Moving house is often said to be one of the most stressful things you can do. Even worse, it can set you back a great deal, too. What do you need to know about house moving costs in the UK today and how can you save money when relocating?
Factors to consider when moving house
There are lots of things to budget for when moving home. To begin with, there is the capital cost of the house you will move into. You may also have to pay stamp duty on it depending on the house’s value. This will usually involve arranging a new mortgage unless you have sufficient savings already. You will also face several professional fees. When buying a new home, rather than renting one, you’ll need to pay solicitor’s fees and for a survey to be conducted. Whether you are buying or renting, you will also have to pay for a removal firm to help you shift your belongings, of course.
Once you have moved into your new home, you will face a number of other costs. Reconnecting the utility supplies and setting up a new broadband connection, for example, will often set you back. Then, you may want to make alterations to your new house. People often don’t budget for new wallpaper, carpets and curtains, let alone things like fitting a new kitchen. However, all of these things add up and constitute part of the overall relocation costs. According to one of the UK’s big mortgage lenders, when you add it all up, the average cost of moving home comes to almost £9,000.
Removals costs and how to save
Things like professional fees and the capital costs associated with a house move are basically fixed. In other words, there is very little you can do to reduce them except for buying a cheaper property. Therefore, one of the best ways to save money when moving house is to focus on your removal costs. What are the main options?
- If you hire a removals firm to move your belongings, then the costs involved can be high. This is because such firms tend to charge a day rate. People who live in two and three-bedroom homes or who are only relocating a few miles away will often spend more than they need to this way. Many removals firms charge well over £1,000 per day in the UK.
- Instead of hiring a van and doing the heavy lifting yourself, consider a man-and-van removal service. Companies like Volition Removals provide vans and professional moving services. However, they only charge by the hour. This makes man-and-van services ideal for smaller moves and ones that don’t involve hours of driving.