Moving out of your current home can be a stressful ordeal, especially if you’re already dealing with financial struggles in your daily life.
This is largely because it takes a lot of time, money, and effort to bring all your belongings and handle all the utility connections and disconnections within a limited time span, and to execute such activities flawlessly and on time.
With all the things you have to stay on top of, it’s not hard for homeowners to accumulate excess expenses that they may not have initially prepared for. From hiring movers to purchasing packing supplies, there’s plenty of little costs that can slip under your radar when moving.
If you want to ensure that you allocate a proper budget for the move, then you’re in the right place. This article will highlight some hidden costs that people tend to overlook before moving to a new house or property.
Let’s take a look at these costs in greater detail.
Moving Service Expenses
When moving, it’s not uncommon to hire extra help to ease the physical burden of carrying so many things in one go—professional removalists, in other words.
In Australia, professional removalists commonly charge around $110 to $200 per hour to carry out the physical process of moving. The final price will fall within that range and will differ based on the number of movers, truck size, distance, and final volume of the things that need to be moved.
For instance, moving out of a shoebox apartment will likely be free or be extremely low cost. However, moving a three-bedroom home or a home with two storeys may cost upwards of $1,000 AUD. If you’re moving interstate, the cost will naturally swing higher, reaching $2,500 or more depending on the volume of goods you’re relocating.
In any case, it’s essential to get a full quote beforehand to ensure that you know how much the final bill will end up being. The closer you can get to getting a fixed price, the better for your financial planning. It’s extremely worth asking for an itemised quote rather than simply looking at the advertised hourly rate.
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Packing and Storage Costs
Packing supplies are another expense that can quietly accumulate over time. Things like boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and other protective materials can add up once you start buying them individually.
Moving out of a standard-sized home may entail homeowners spending around $100 to $200 worth of boxes and packing materials. Larger houses, naturally, would entail households spending more to move a box-worth of stuff; in contrast, smaller units may need to spend less.
If you decide to have professional removalists pack your belongings, packaging costs may be incorporated into the final bill offered by their service. That said, it’s not unusual to be charged higher upfront as part of the “convenience” package.
Another cost related to this is storage cost, or the cost you’ll pay to keep your belongings during the transition period between having them in your old home and your new one. Storage prices may vary based on the facility and unit size, but they often have an upfront rate posted for your discretion.
That said, even a short storage period can become expensive if your move is delayed for several weeks. As such, be sure to stick to your calendar date of moving as much as possible. This way, you won’t unexpectedly pay more than you should for storage fees that have been in use for an extended period.
Cleaning Expenses
Cleaning your property before moving may seem like a low- or no-cost activity. However, this step is necessary to ensure that your old home is in pristine condition before you begin turning it over to the landlord or the next tenant.
You can most certainly perform the cleaning duties yourself, but this can take a lot of time and effort, especially if you own a large home with multiple floors and rooms. If you don’t mind spending a little extra, then you can have cleaners do the dirty work for you.
Hiring cleaners can cost you anywhere between $150 and $1,000 AUD, depending on the level of service and the size of your house. Even if you don’t hire cleaners, you’ll most likely have to invest in cleaning products and supplies to keep your entire house clean, and this can raise your overall costs. So be mindful of that before finalising your budget.
Utility Transfers and Connection Fees
Moving house usually means dealing with an array of utility accounts, most notably connection and transfer fees. Electricity, gas, water, and an internet connection can all have different requirements depending on your provider and your new address. Be sure to take these facets into account before finalising your cost breakdown.
On a per-month basis, utility costs in total can run you around $250 for an average-sized house. Electricity makes up a third of that total, gas makes up another third, and the others fall in the remaining range.
If you want to transfer an existing utility to a new home, there may be a corresponding fixed transfer fee associated with the move. In any case, it’s worth contacting providers before moving day so you know exactly what you’ll be charged—and thus plan accordingly.
Replacing Household Items
You most definitely won’t need to bring all your furniture to your new place, especially if it’s starting to have visible signs of wear and tear or is on the brink of falling apart.
In some cases, you may simply not want to have a particular item like an old fridge or piece of furniture in your new home—and that’s totally okay too.
With that being the case, you’ll have to undergo the process of replacing these items with brand new ones. The cost will ultimately depend on the checklist of items you plan on buying, and this can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to your overall relocation costs.
Besides these bulky pieces of furniture, you’ll probably also need to buy smaller items like light bulbs, extension cords, shower curtains, and storage curtains for your new place. These items can add a couple of hundred dollars to your overall bill as well, so incorporate these things to your budget to ensure you won’t go over your total budget.
Unexpected Moving Day Expenses
You may be led to believe that relocation costs are set and final based on your moving company’s final quote, but that can’t be further from the truth. There may be additional costs like tolls, delays, and insurance to take into account that may not be included in the original quote.
On top of that, certain days may lead to a surcharge in the original price, with premiums of around 20%. This is why having a contingency amount set aside can be a smart move. Having an extra 20% or so to allocate on top of your moving budget can give you some protection in case you run into these additional moving day costs.
We hope that this article can help you plan for your next move with greater financial finesse. All the best in your moving journey!
