In 2013 UK homeowners spent around £6 billion on moving home, a figure which is up from £5.2 billion in 2012 according to a report by Lloyds Bank.
The cost of moving home in the UK is now £8,248, with Londoners spending £20,825 on average. The reason for moving costs include estate agency fees, legal fees and stamp duty.
With the rising costs of moving and the prices of properties be at their highest for a number of years, it is important to find places to cut costs and one place you can do this is the move itself. Here are some simple tips to help you save money during move so it doesn’t seem so expensive:
Make sure all of your bills are up-to-date and let them know your moving date so they can stop charging you once you’re gone. Otherwise, you could get a hefty bill for energy, water or electricity that you haven’t used.
Preparation is one of the most important things to remember when you move home. Being prepared in advance of your moving date will mean you will spend less time wasting time and be in your new home quicker than you can say, “home, sweet, home”.
Ensure all of your insurance policies and the post office know you’re moving home. This will ensure all of your bills will get sent to your new address and will mean no bills are missed. It is also important your insurance policies cover you when you move.
Invest in a removal company but do it on a weekday. Everyone tries to move home on the weekend when they’re not at work, but this is when companies are in high demand and can add a premium onto your moving bills. By moving in the week, you will save a lot of money and will have less traffic to contend with too.
Use cardboard boxes instead of buying new plastic ones. Paying for boxes that will probably only get used the once is a bit of a silly expenditure that you don’t really need to do. Use cardboard boxes that you find around the house and see if friends and family have any going spare.
Moving home is a tiresome and expensive job, but by being smart in your decision making, you will be able to reduce your costs and will move much more efficiently too.
