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Moving house can be an expensive affair. When we think about the money involved it’s usually in the context of the cost of property itself. Raising enough cash to buy a property outright can be a bit of a pipedream, and even making the money for a mortgage deposit can be a bit of a strain.
But being so involved in the process of funding the house, we can all go blind to the other costs to the rest of the process. There are moving fees, insurance contracts and any new furniture you may want to install in your new place. You will also no doubt lose a fair bit of cash in the process of the move, as it is unlikely that you will move in at the exact time that your old rental contract expires. Well, lucky for you we’ve been keeping an eye on these little things. While you keep your eye on the prize, we’ve been putting together a little list of ways to budget the move itself.
Firstly you should be thinking about the biggest costs in moving. You probably have your heart set on a certain house, and that’s absolutely fine. But if that perfect new home is miles and miles away then you should be factoring the costs of moving into your budget. Think about what stuff you’re definitely taking with you, and what you’re going to leave behind.
If there’s a huge disparity in size between your old place and the new one then you should consider leaving furniture behind. If you’re moving out of a rental you can sell them on to the new renters at a reduced price. If you’re moving on from a house that you previously owned, then listing it as furnished will mean that you get a bit of extra cash on top of the regular price. This way you won’t have to use your own cash to fork out for movers, and you can use the money you made to furnish your new place with appropriate gear.
You should also think about any fees that are going to be incurred as you move into your new home. Maybe you’ve started a family and so you’re moving from a city flat to a suburban home where you can get more space and security. You may have moved to an area with HOA management specifically because it provides a sense of security and community. This is certainly a worthwhile choice, and you should be budgeting it into the general cost of your new house. Similarly you should look into any monetary expectations that the new community might have of you. Maybe there are certain services that everyone pays for or upkeep of common areas that is contributed to by everyone.
In a more practical sense you should also be looking into costs like parking spaces. If you’re moving to a place in the city then parking will no doubt be at a premium. Many local authorities are now charging residents for the right to a parking space. This can be a relatively small amount, but it will be one of many incremental costs that you should incorporate into your big move.