What costs you need to consider when moving houses
Whether you’re wanting to understand the cost of moving out of home for the first time or more generally, the average cost of moving house, this article can help you understand what sneaky costs you might find the next time you move house.
Moving can be a stressful time, but if you start planning early, then you can work out the cost of moving house and be ready for when the time comes. Remember, these costs will be different for each situation. If you’re moving interstate, for example, you can expect higher costs than if you’re moving within a few suburbs.
Packing materials
Before you even begin moving, you’ll have to pack up your possessions. Moving boxes can be anywhere from $0-$15 depending on the type of box you use. If you want to go down the free route, you can often get boxes from supermarkets if you ring ahead of time.
If you want to buy speciality boxes like those designed for wine bottles, heavy items or even boxes with a rod for hanging clothes you can expect to pay up to $15 per box. Other items you’ll also need include packing tape, scissors, bubble wrap or newspaper and a pen.
Hiring removalists or a truck
One of the biggest costs of moving house is often the act of moving itself. If you decide to hire removalists, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars. If you go the cheaper route and hire a truck, you can pay anywhere from $95-$200 depending on the size of the truck. There are other options, such as a ute or box trailer.
Along with the cost of a truck, you’ll need to consider the cost of fuel and the insurance deposit that is often required to protect you in the event of an accident.
Cleaning and pest treatments
Once you’ve moved out of your old residence, you’ll now have to make sure it’s returned to pristine condition. Cleaning is not a fun task, and it’s often smarter to hire a cleaning company. Many of these companies have guarantees that if your landlord or agent isn’t satisfied with the clean, then they will come back to make sure they complete the clean to your real estate’s satisfaction.
Along with basic cleaning, you’ll often need to get any carpets specially cleaned, and if you’ve had pets in the home, many real estates will require a pest inspection/treatment to be completed.
Bond and rent
All rental properties require a bond to be paid. The bond is usually equivalent to four weeks rent and is held by your state’s tenancy association as a security deposit that can be used if there are repairs needed when you exit. On top of the four weeks bond, many real estates often require the first two weeks of rent to be paid upfront.
Utility connection fees
Some utility companies may charge you a connection fee to connect your electricity, gas or hot water. This fee is usually added to your first bill.
Mail redirection
If you haven’t had time to change your postal address, it’s a good idea to set up mail redirection. A redirection can be set for 1-12 months, with costs ranging from $32-$160.
Pet relocation
If you’re relocating interstate, you may not be able to safely move your pets yourself. There are specialty companies who can arrange to move your pets, but these can be quite costly.
Grocery items
An often forgotten cost is the cost of re-buying items for your fridge and pantry. We often start to run down our fridges and freezers before we move so that we don’t have to waste food. You may find your first grocery shop after a move is higher than normal.
The cost of moving house can vary greatly. Moving is exciting, stressful and expensive, so prepare early, and you’ll save money.
