Costs to Consider When Moving House

When you’re moving house, there are a range of costs to consider. Being aware of these helps you to budget accordingly. You need to decide whether you want to pay a moving company or attempt to move house on your own. Also, you have to factor in moving distance, cleaning costs and a range of miscellaneous costs.

Key takeaways

• Hiring a moving company and moving on your own give you different costs to consider
• Moving costs are mainly determined by the moving distance and how many possessions you have
• Utility costs are not directly related to the moving process but are still important to remember
• Depending on your circumstances, you may have additional costs like child care or pet care

Moving company vs DIY

You have the option of hiring a professional moving service or conducting the moving process on your own. While many people opt for a DIY approach to reduce the costs of moving, they often don’t consider all the things they will need to pay for.

Hiring professional movers

Hiring professional movers is a popular option when you’re moving house. They can take care of the moving process for a fee. This saves you a lot of time and effort while making sure you’re getting professional-level service.

The exact costs of paying for moving services will vary. Different moving companies have their own rates. And they offer packages made up of services like packing, unpacking and logistics. You can choose which ones suit you if you don’t need help with the entire moving process.

As a general rule, if you have more possessions, the costs will be greater. This is because they may require a larger vehicle, which uses more fuel. Sometimes multiple vehicles may even be necessary.

There are many ways that professional movers save you money as well. Firstly, they supply all the appropriate packing supplies like cardboard boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap. Additionally, they have transit insurance, which covers potential accidents during transport.

Doing a DIY move

Some people prefer to move house on their own as a way to save money. However, the DIY approach carries a greater variety of moving expenses than hiring a professional mover.

If you’re doing your own move, you’ll need to rent a moving vehicle. This will likely be a truck and the size will vary based on the size and the amount of the things you’re moving. To use the truck, you will need someone with an appropriate driver’s licence.

You’ll also need to do all the packing and unpacking on your own. This will require you to source boxes and packing materials like bubble wrap to ensure your possessions remain unharmed. And you’ll need adequate help if you’re going to be moving heavy furniture and appliances into your moving truck.

One way a DIY move may help to save you money is if you only use the moving truck for appliances and large objects. You can then return it to the depot and transport the remainder of your possessions using your own vehicle over multiple trips.

Factors affecting moving costs

The specifics of your move have a noticeable impact on its cost. Moving a greater distance or moving more of your possessions will end up being more expensive.

Distance

Distance is important because it impacts how quickly you can take your things from your old house to your new one. If the drive is longer, the vehicle will use more fuel and you will be paying an hourly rate for longer. This applies when you’re renting your own truck or paying a moving company by the hour.

Distance from the depot can also affect costs. Truck rental companies and moving companies will both factor in the distance between the depot and the house in the total amount you’re charged. 

How much is being moved?

The amount of possessions you have will have an impact on how much moving house costs. If you’re taking more with you, you will need to hire a bigger moving truck or use a moving truck for longer. Similarly, a moving company would also need to do the same when you have more things.

Utility costs

Changing your utility services is important to ensure you have essential resources available in your new home. Utilities you have to transfer include electricity, water, internet, and potentially gas.

Changing your utilities may cost you a few hundred dollars, depending on your provider and the services you’re transferring. However, utility providers are often open to negotiation on this front. It is worth contacting them for a chat, as you may be able to get a better deal.

Cleaning costs

Doing your own cleaning or hiring a cleaner both carry their own costs. Additionally, cleaning may be necessary for both the old property and the new one. It’s important to factor cleaning costs into your moving budget.

Professional cleaning services

Many people pay for a professional cleaner to take care of their old home and their new home. This will increase costs, but it will save you time and effort. There will also be a high standard of quality, since you are getting experts to do the job.

Cleaning on your own

Some people may opt to do their own cleaning in order to save money. The exact costs could be influenced by the state of the properties and your access to cleaning products.

The state of both properties will determine how much cleaning needs to be done. Cleaning the property you’re leaving is important, especially if you live in a rental property and want your rental bond back. On the other hand, cleaning the new property is important because many areas will be hard to clean once all your furniture is unpacked.

Cleaning products make up the majority of the hard costs associated with cleaning. You may save a good amount if you already have most of the necessary products on hand. However, it can be quite pricey if you don’t. 

Miscellaneous costs

Some costs will only apply to certain people, based on their circumstances. These may include pet care, child care, storage unit rental, and temporary accommodation.

Pet costs

For pet owners, the process of moving will include some additional costs. For example, you may need to pay for pet accommodation during the time of the move. You may also wish to microchip your pet in case they go missing near the new address.

Child care costs

If you have young children, you may want to have someone watch over them while you go through the moving process. Some people may have friends or relatives who are able to do this. But depending on availability, you might need to pay for a babysitter.

Storage unit costs

Sometimes, you may need to move over an extended period. In these situations, you can rent a storage unit to house your possessions.

The size of the storage unit will be determined by the amount of possessions you need to keep there. If you need to rent a larger storage unit, there will be a higher price. This will be charged across the amount of time you’re using the service.

Temporary accommodation costs

Sometimes, there might be a span of time between you moving out of your old home and moving into your new house. During this period, you need to figure out where you will stay.

Some people may be able to rely on friends or family who happen to have spare rooms in their homes. However, if you don’t, you will need to look for paid accommodation. This will likely be a motel, or potentially a hotel, where you can rent a room.

Tips for reducing costs

While costs are unavoidable when moving, there are steps you can take to potentially save and stay under within your moving budget. If you’re interested in learning how to do that, you should check out our in-depth guide to reducing moving costs.

Who to call for an affordable moving service

If you’re looking for a professional moving service at an affordable price, Perth Cheap Movers is the one to call. We are Perth’s top-rated furniture removal company and we service areas all around the city. We’re dedicated to charging fair rates, to help make sure that moving doesn’t break the bank. So give us a call and we’ll help you move into your new dream home.