How To Slash Moving Expenses
You might have found a bargain on a new home you want to buy. But if you don’t keep an eye on moving expenses, you’ll wind up much poorer in the long-term.
The good news is that there are a bunch of ways you can cut costs on your next move. Here’s what you need to do.
Grab Some Free Boxes
Moving companies and suppliers will charge you a fortune for moving boxes. Some quote upwards of £25 for something that is essentially just a glorified cardboard box.
To avoid these expenses, look for free cardboard boxes in your area on apps like Gumtree. You’ll find people who just want to shift clutter in their homes and literally give boxes away. Take advantage of these.
If you can’t find any online, go to your local store. Companies love handing boxes over to customers.
Choose A Cheaper Time To Move
People like to move home at weekends during the summer months. The weather is good, and they don’t have to organise any time off work. Unfortunately, this pushes up moving costs. Movers are in short supply at this time of the year, meaning that you’ll pay significantly more for them.
Cheaper times of the year can cost half as much. Moving on a Tuesday in December might cost 50 percent less than a Sunday in July.
Get A Better Rate On Your Mortgage
When choosing a mortgage, don’t go directly to banks. Many will charge an administration fee (usually £2,000 or more) just to set you up on one of their mortgage products. That’s more than a month’s pay for many people.
Instead, go to a mortgage broker. These professionals have access to all the mortgage products on the market, so they can make better recommendations. They also have access to special mortgage products that regular consumers can’t access, no matter how long they search.
Get Rid Of The Stuff You Don’t Need
Before you move, get rid of all the stuff that you don’t need. Transporting it to your new home increases your costs by adding weight and requiring you to pack more boxes. Use moving as an opportunity to lighten your need for belongings. Hire a skip if necessary.
Move Closer To Home
The further you move, the more expensive it becomes. It’s not just higher moving company fees (though that’s a big part of it). It’s also all of the additional costs with moving to a new area, particularly a new country. These include things like taxes, storage costs and transport fees.
If you can, try moving within 100 km of your current location. Better yet, stay in the same county, unless you have to move for work.
Inspect Your New Home Thoroughly
Lastly, moving costs go up considerably when you fail to properly survey your new property. When you arrive, you suddenly discover a host of problems, all of which require tremendous expense. To avoid this, get professionals to inspect the house before you move into it.
*This is a collaborative post.
