It’s no secret that moving house is expensive. From the deposit to estate agent and conveyancing fees to surveys and removals costs, it seems like a never-ending list of fees to be paid. That’s why it’s always worth knowing the ways to save money when moving house – even if it’s just a few pounds here and there.
Yes, if you’re already working your way through your moving house checklist, you’ve likely already accounted for the hefty legal costs associated with moving from one place to another. But most people don’t realise that the physical act of moving house can also add up if you’re not careful. Especially when under pressure to make quick decisions.
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1. Plan ahead
The ever-changing housing market means sales can move quickly, putting home-movers under pressure to meet tight deadlines to ensure the sale goes through. This can mean they have less than adequate time to plan the move effectively, which is essential to keeping costs low. So, if you can, try to plan ahead as much as possible.
Although you can’t book anything until you have a confirmed completion date, you can still obtain quotes from professional removals companies or van hire companies if you’re doing it yourself. As well as offering you a chance to pull the trigger quicker when the time comes, it’ll also give you an idea of how much it’ll set you back.
I’d always recommend squirrelling away money for the worst-case scenario (i.e the most expensive quote) so the full price doesn’t take you by surprise.
2. Declutter before you pack
A professional removal company will generally base their quote on the amount of stuff that needs moving, rather than the size of your house. Because of this, decluttering can significantly reduce moving costs. After all, the less you have, the cheaper it will be.
Alongside this, it will also mean you are not paying for packing materials for items you don’t need, and it will speed up the moving process. All of which can save you money and time (often in short supply when moving house).
If you want to make a bit of extra cash to put towards your move or kitting out your new home, you could always look at selling the items you’re decluttering on sites like Gumtree, eBay or Facebook Marketplace. But this takes time, so it’s best to start as soon as you start looking for a new home.
3. Start packing early and label everything
Packing up a home always takes longer than you think, and it can be incredibly tiring if you leave it to the last minute. It can also make the moving process longer, which can cost you more if you rely on professional help.
When you are thinking about moving, take a bit of time to pack up those lesser-used items. Start with:
- lofts
- sheds
- spare rooms
- seasonal decorations
- sentimental items
- seasonal clothing
- books.
Do little and often until you are left with your essentials only, which can be packed up at the last minute. And if you have a spare room, it could be worth using this as a temporary storage area to avoid feeling like you are surrounded by boxes.
But when you pack so far in advance, it can be difficult to remember what you have packed and where – this is where labelling boxes is essential (you can even write a list of everything in the box and tape this to the outside). This can help the moving process run much more smoothly, meaning it can be completed more quickly and on budget.
4. Disassemble furniture before the movers get there
Transporting bulky furniture when you’re moving can be expensive, as you’ll likely need to hire a van or rely on professional movers to move it. But disassembling things like desks, drawers and wardrobes before moving can mean you can fit more items in a single trip and save money by opting for a smaller van or negate the need for professional movers altogether.
5. Be flexible on your moving date
If you’re flexible about the date you can move, you can save yourself some money. The start of the year is off-peak, but demand grows throughout the spring and summer months, so it’s a good idea to be mindful of that as you go through the home-buying process.
Day of the week matters too. Fridays are the most popular days to move, and as such are likely to be more expensive. If, however, you can be flexible on the day you get professional help with the move, then that can help keep costs low.
Lyndsey Wallbank, marketing director at moving services company Pickfords, agrees: ‘Fridays are the most popular days to move as most house sales complete on a Friday. If you are flexible with your move dates, you can save as much as 20% (outside of peak months) by moving on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, which are the least popular days for moving home.’
‘Demand rises during the holiday periods and peaks during the summer. The busiest move day in the moving calendar is usually the last Friday in July. Months with the least demand and therefore the lowest prices are January and February, October and November. If you can be flexible with your move day, you can save money by planning to move outside of the busy season.’
6. Do as much as you can yourself
As with many tasks, you can usually save money by doing as much of it yourself as possible before you hire someone to do it for you. When moving house, this can mean planning to move as much of your stuff as you can yourself in your own vehicle (or roping in friends and family to help) before you consider hiring a van or a removal company.
But this may only be feasible if you are moving to another property that is relatively local. For longer-distance moves, the time and fuel required for multiple back-and-forth trips might make it more cost-effective to hire a professional moving company, which can move all of your belongings in a single lorry load.
This is where it pays to have planned ahead and done your research on costs and how much stuff you have to move well in advance of moving day.
7. Save on packing essentials
Packing materials like boxes and bubble wrap can add even more to your moving costs, so if you’re house hunting, it’s a good idea to start keeping any decent cardboard boxes you get from the likes of Amazon, and any free newspapers that come through the letterbox. Ask family or friends to keep theirs for you, too.
Smaller boxes can be easier to manoeuvre and can be better for playing car Jenga when you try to fit as many boxes in as you can. If you don’t get many suitable boxes delivered to your home, ask your neighbours, friends and family to keep any they receive that might be suitable. You can also ask at work, as some office supplies come in decent-sized boxes.
Your local supermarket might also be worth checking – some have a stash of cardboard boxes for free near the checkouts.
8. Don’t be afraid to haggle
Never be afraid to negotiate on quotes you might receive when moving house – if you’re polite about it, the worst someone can do is say no. And if they say yes, you’ve saved money without barely any effort!
FAQs
What is the hardest room to pack when moving?
The kitchen is generally considered the hardest room to pack when moving, as there are many small, fragile, and oddly shaped objects to pack. Alongside this, it can also be difficult to pack appliances – especially when they are too big for the boxes you have.
Because of this, it’s best to start packing up the kitchen early on. You can focus on little-and-often packing here, packing the items you know you definitely won’t be using before you move. This way, you won’t rush, and you’ll be able to keep the packing process stress-free.
What are common moving mistakes?
Moving can be a stressful time, and it’s easy to make moving mistakes. Some of the most common include:
- Leaving packing until the last minute.
- Not decluttering beforehand.
- Packing essentials needed on moving day.
- Not labelling boxes.
- Not updating your change of address.
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