Don't Let the Little Costs of Moving House Surprise You
It's not just the cost of a removalist you have to consider when you move house, many other smaller costs can creep up on you ... and add up
Houzz AU
11 September 2014
The act of moving our belongings from A to B can seem a like a simple journey, but many of us forget to think beyond paying for a removalist when we pick up and move our life holus-bolus. In actual fact, the furniture we own, the state in which we leave our current property, along with extra labour surprises, can all take their toll on our hip pockets if they aren’t considered upfront.
Here is a checklist of those un-thought-of costs to look out for along the way, so you can sail into your new home with a little extra cash to spend on new curtains and other luxuries.
Here is a checklist of those un-thought-of costs to look out for along the way, so you can sail into your new home with a little extra cash to spend on new curtains and other luxuries.
The price of packing boxes can pile up quickly
When you start putting all your worldly possessions into boxes you’ll quickly realise you need a LOT more boxes. As well as a few bundles of packing paper and many, many rolls of heavy-duty packing tape.
Many removal companies now offer boxes for hire or to buy outright. Bought new in bulk packs, they cost from about $2.50 each.
BONUS TIP: If you really want to keep box costs down, or even at zero, you can flatten and save any boxes you receive in the months leading up to your move. You can also visit your local supermarket to find out the days and times they crush their used boxes and pick up a bundle in all different sizes before they are destroyed.
When you start putting all your worldly possessions into boxes you’ll quickly realise you need a LOT more boxes. As well as a few bundles of packing paper and many, many rolls of heavy-duty packing tape.
Many removal companies now offer boxes for hire or to buy outright. Bought new in bulk packs, they cost from about $2.50 each.
BONUS TIP: If you really want to keep box costs down, or even at zero, you can flatten and save any boxes you receive in the months leading up to your move. You can also visit your local supermarket to find out the days and times they crush their used boxes and pick up a bundle in all different sizes before they are destroyed.
Cleaning costs are often forgotten
The more cleaning you can do yourself in advance, the cheaper your empty nest will cost to have professionally cleaned. So pack up as many cupboards and drawers as you can well in advance, and wipe them out – think rarely-used items in linen cupboards, good glassware and opposite-season clothing.
Don’t forget that you will need to clean decks, windows and sills, flyscreens and light fittings, and tidy the yard. If you’ve been renting your abode, not cleaning these things can cost you your bond. Cleaners start at about $25 an hour, so cleaning costs can easily reach a great height if you aren’t on top of things early in the piece.
The more cleaning you can do yourself in advance, the cheaper your empty nest will cost to have professionally cleaned. So pack up as many cupboards and drawers as you can well in advance, and wipe them out – think rarely-used items in linen cupboards, good glassware and opposite-season clothing.
Don’t forget that you will need to clean decks, windows and sills, flyscreens and light fittings, and tidy the yard. If you’ve been renting your abode, not cleaning these things can cost you your bond. Cleaners start at about $25 an hour, so cleaning costs can easily reach a great height if you aren’t on top of things early in the piece.
The cumbersome and fragile cost more to move
Even if you don’t have a golden harp or grand piano, shifting large or delicate pieces can add to the cost of a removal. Nicole Schramm of Elite Moves on Sydney’s northern beaches says an expert duo is called to the scene when a piano needs to be carried any distance, uphill or down dale. “There are additional charges for over-sized items,” she warns.
BONUS TIP: Pack and carry your best wine glasses and any other very fragile pieces in your car to prevent accidental damage when they are bundled in with your other belongings in the moving truck. If you do pack these items in boxes for the removalists, remember to clearly mark the boxes with red and white ‘fragile’ tape.
Even if you don’t have a golden harp or grand piano, shifting large or delicate pieces can add to the cost of a removal. Nicole Schramm of Elite Moves on Sydney’s northern beaches says an expert duo is called to the scene when a piano needs to be carried any distance, uphill or down dale. “There are additional charges for over-sized items,” she warns.
BONUS TIP: Pack and carry your best wine glasses and any other very fragile pieces in your car to prevent accidental damage when they are bundled in with your other belongings in the moving truck. If you do pack these items in boxes for the removalists, remember to clearly mark the boxes with red and white ‘fragile’ tape.
Inclines add to labour time
It makes sense, how long a move takes equates to the number of hours you’ll be charged for.
With Schramm’s business operating across the very hilly North Shore, she admits that inclinators at many houses are no novelty. That’s one extreme, but even a driveway that’s too narrow for a moving truck, or has poor overhead clearance, or has a tad too much slope, can add time (and expense), as removalists will spend more time walking from truck to house.
BONUS TIP: If you know the access to your old house, or to your new house, is awkward, ask removal companies for a quote for the moving job rather than paying the men by the hour. Keep in mind that hourly rates range from about $110-$180, depending on ‘how many men’ and whether trucks have hydraulic lifts.
It makes sense, how long a move takes equates to the number of hours you’ll be charged for.
With Schramm’s business operating across the very hilly North Shore, she admits that inclinators at many houses are no novelty. That’s one extreme, but even a driveway that’s too narrow for a moving truck, or has poor overhead clearance, or has a tad too much slope, can add time (and expense), as removalists will spend more time walking from truck to house.
BONUS TIP: If you know the access to your old house, or to your new house, is awkward, ask removal companies for a quote for the moving job rather than paying the men by the hour. Keep in mind that hourly rates range from about $110-$180, depending on ‘how many men’ and whether trucks have hydraulic lifts.
Moving more than you need to move
Too many people don’t have a ‘spring clean’ until they are unpacking their boxes. But wouldn’t it make more sense to do your de-cluttering before the event? Failing to clear out the unused contents of your cupboards and garages could add a lot of labour costs to your move.
BONUS TIP: Organise a personal local council rubbish collection and get rid of large items, such as old mattresses, filing cabinets, chairs, gym equipment and drawers. That’s at least one hour less you’ll have to pay the removalists!
Here is the ultimate cleaning rundown
Too many people don’t have a ‘spring clean’ until they are unpacking their boxes. But wouldn’t it make more sense to do your de-cluttering before the event? Failing to clear out the unused contents of your cupboards and garages could add a lot of labour costs to your move.
BONUS TIP: Organise a personal local council rubbish collection and get rid of large items, such as old mattresses, filing cabinets, chairs, gym equipment and drawers. That’s at least one hour less you’ll have to pay the removalists!
Here is the ultimate cleaning rundown
DIY is not a free ride
If you decide to call in favours with your mates, you will probably have to budget for more than just the truck hire. Add in petrol for the truck, trolley hire, plus food and a good supply beers to keep the troops happy. And if you have very heavy pieces of furniture to move, you will need to keep in mind that your mates don’t do this sort of thing every day and may just cop a bad muscle or back injury. We’re pretty sure medical bills weren’t considered in your ‘moving house’ budget!
If you decide to call in favours with your mates, you will probably have to budget for more than just the truck hire. Add in petrol for the truck, trolley hire, plus food and a good supply beers to keep the troops happy. And if you have very heavy pieces of furniture to move, you will need to keep in mind that your mates don’t do this sort of thing every day and may just cop a bad muscle or back injury. We’re pretty sure medical bills weren’t considered in your ‘moving house’ budget!
Insurance can trip you up
Don’t assume your normal home contents and public liability insurance covers your belongings and any people on moving day. Check exactly what is included for breakages at each home and on the road, caused by your volunteer helpers or at the hands of removalists. Take an ‘accidents do happen’ rather than a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude on this one. An upfront cost could save you big time.
Don’t assume your normal home contents and public liability insurance covers your belongings and any people on moving day. Check exactly what is included for breakages at each home and on the road, caused by your volunteer helpers or at the hands of removalists. Take an ‘accidents do happen’ rather than a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude on this one. An upfront cost could save you big time.
Takeaway dinner and bath salts
Keep a bit of cash spare to give yourself a warm welcome to your new abode. Try to feed your horde without fuss and without having to unpack 10 boxes to find where you stashed the plates. Pizza works a treat! You can also pack a bag in the car filled with items, such as plastic cups, plates and cutlery, for easy access to get you through the evening.
And since unpacking (and arranging and rearranging) notoriously takes longer than packing up, take a little time to prepare yourself for the week ahead with a soak infused in reviving Epsom salts.
TELL US
Do you know of any other hidden moving costs? And were you prepared for them or totally caught out? Reveal all in the comments section.
MORE
Relocation Stations: 8 Top Tips for a Smooth Move
Moving House: 12 Sanity-Saving Tips to Relocation Heaven
Vital Things to Think About Before Moving Into a Smaller Home
Keep a bit of cash spare to give yourself a warm welcome to your new abode. Try to feed your horde without fuss and without having to unpack 10 boxes to find where you stashed the plates. Pizza works a treat! You can also pack a bag in the car filled with items, such as plastic cups, plates and cutlery, for easy access to get you through the evening.
And since unpacking (and arranging and rearranging) notoriously takes longer than packing up, take a little time to prepare yourself for the week ahead with a soak infused in reviving Epsom salts.
TELL US
Do you know of any other hidden moving costs? And were you prepared for them or totally caught out? Reveal all in the comments section.
MORE
Relocation Stations: 8 Top Tips for a Smooth Move
Moving House: 12 Sanity-Saving Tips to Relocation Heaven
Vital Things to Think About Before Moving Into a Smaller Home
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Moving internationally I had all the boxes ticked on the leaving side... well almost.. however..... on the arrival side I have probably yet to face some hidden costs.. eg. license fees, power bond, telephone and internet connection fee and no doubt other things.. also factor in purchasing a car and the registration and roadworthy costs and insurance. I hadnt quite planned for all that.. not that it's an issue but hadnt really thought about it.
I work for a company (called The Finishing Touch - in Melb -but staff in every capital city) which packs & unpacks people moving house - in fact our motto is "we turn a house into a home in just one day". There are many firms providing this kind of service & some removalists can provide their own packers.
Personal interest aside, after 6 years & about 250 moves under my belt I can certainly make a few suggestions.
Shameless promotion - but - Call us!!!! That way everything is packed up correctly & unpacked the other end - kitchen first as it takes longest, make all the beds then move through the house doing the rest. If you factor in the extra cost into your moving budget & long afterwards, you won't remember the cost, just the ease & removal of stress that all i's done. I can tell you grateful clients are reassured seeing our method of packing & usually thrilled at the other end when the boxes are all unpacked & out of the way. You can get as much or as little help as you want. One client said it's like having your favourite aunties come over and do their magic!
Everything is correctly wrapped using plenty of paper as cushioning. Boxes are clearly marked with name, room & contents (sorry Anouska, that suggestion's fine till you lose the notebook!)
On every box, write ON THE TAPE, not the box. Write the room, and contents of the box, eg 'Kitchen - electrical, or bakeware; or cutlery. If the contents are fragile or delicate, as well as 'glasses', write 'fragile' or 'top load' so the removalists know to stack them on the top layer of boxes. Always pack platters, plates & china on their side - it's the strongest part. Pack glassware upright.
Cull cull cull before you start packing. 2 months out gives you plenty of time. It's impossible & time consuming to add a clear-out onto the pack/unpack. The volume of childrens' clothes and toys can be astonishing. The op shop becomes your best friend. You do NOT need 3 soup ladles, 5 can openers & 15 wooden spoons, You do NOT need those electrical appliances that you were going to use "one" day.
It is especially important to do this if you are downsizing or moving to a house with less storage.
Check your pantry chucking anything past use by date. This applies to medicines too. Be ruthless in the bathroom, piff all that manky makeup,hotel bottles of shampoo etc.
Snaplock bags are terrific to corral bits & pieces in cutlery, junk and bathroom drawers
To keep costs down, you can find used boxes at storage places, most removalists can supply either new or used. I'd suggest not getting odd boxes from supermarkets etc - it's actually quicker to pack when standard size boxes are used. Tea chest size for larger items, the smaller book boxes for books (obviously!) but for alcohol, pantry, bathroom and laundry supplies.
Family &friends can be a great help but with the best of intentions have way too much to say about what goes where & drive you mad! If people are insistent, suggest they make a meal, afternoon tea, or take the kids for the day or overnight (an excellent job for the mother in law....)
Offload the kids- they get underfoot & usually go a bit crazy with the upheaval.
Ditto husbands.
90% of men HAVE to get the tv & Foxtel working before all other tasks.
Keep a box out for last minute items & essentials- kettle, mugs, tea & coffee, remotes, keys, paperwork relating to settlement/rental/legal/ gas& electricity suppliers, medicines, rubbish bags, toilet paper
Esky & cooler bags for freezer & fridge items.
Make sure you eat & drink. You'll be busy all day - it's easy to get dehydrated & hungry.
Good luck!