Sometimes in trying to get our home move over and done with as cheaply as possible, we can be tempted to throw caution to the wind and try to cut corners.
Or we are just so overwhelmed with the whole home-moving experience that we overlook things.
But by cutting costs in the wrong places things can go wrong and our home moving budget gets blown out the window.
And even worse still, irreplaceable items get lost or damaged.
Top 5 Home Moving Budget Busters and How to Avoid Them
You will notice a theme running through these 5 things that will end up costing you more money when moving home.
Attention to detail and planning are crucial for a smooth moving day that comes in on budget.
Of course, everyone wants to save money where they can, and there are some easy and safe ways to save money on your moving costs, but there are parts of your home move that you need to invest in.
You cannot put a price on a stress-free home move, where everything is safely delivered to your new home, and nobody has been injured.
Value for money should be your prime target.
So here we identify the things that can cost you more than just a lot of money if they go wrong on moving day, and also show you ways to prevent moving costs from spiraling out of control.
#1 Moving Stuff You Don’t Need
How to reduce your moving costs? Declutter.
It makes no sense to move items that you no longer need in your life.
The proven way to reduce moving costs is to reduce the number of items you intend to move to your new home.
Not only will you save valuable packing time and materials, as well as loading and unloading time, but also space in the removal van.
Referred to as decluttering, this is the process whereby you dispose of any surplus items by means of selling, donating, or recycling before you get a home moving estimate, and certainly before you begin packing.
The more ruthless you are with this process, the more money you will save on packing and moving costs.
As a rule of thumb, if you have not used an item in the last 12 months, and it is not a seasonal item, do you really need it in your life?
You can also use the reasoning of ‘Would it cost more to pack and move the item than it would to replace it?’
You may like to read: The Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move. In this guide, we show you ways to quickly and easily declutter your home room by room. We also look at how to emotionally detach yourself from your possessions, which is often the hardest part of decluttering.
Donating any surplus items to charity is a quick and easy way to declutter, whilst doing a good deed.
Many organisations will collect your unwanted items for free, and many will even do full home clearances.
You may like to read: The Ultimate Guide of Where to Donate Things When Moving Home. In this guide, we list items commonly found in the home and where you can donate those items.
#2 Incurring Additional Charges On Moving Day
How to avoid additional charges on moving day: Be honest with the removal company, declare everything that you intend to move, and ensure you have taken out enough insurance.
There are a number of ways that your moving costs may increase on moving day but these additional charges can easily be avoided with a little planning and good communication.
Failing to declare all the items to be moved
The removal company will charge you extra for any items you want moved that you have not previously told them about, which is only fair and logical.
Bear in mind that as a consequence of trying to move any additional items your removal van may run out of space. A second trip may then be needed and your removal costs will soon spiral out of control.
So be sure to insist upon an in-home removal survey so that the removal company can give you an accurate removal cost based on the actual items in your home that are being packed and transported.
You may also like to read: Why it Pays to be Honest With Your Removal Company. We look at this subject in more depth and highlight what the consequences can be on moving day of not being totally honest with your removal company.
Things like garden ornaments are often overlooked, so create a packing inventory that will help you keep track of all the things that need packing. This will also help the removal company when calculating your removal costs.
Lofts and other storage areas should be decluttered and included in the inventory. Most removal companies will not venture up into the loft for health and safety reasons, so you will need to empty that yourself.
The removal company will also use this visit to create a moving day plan, taking into account access issues, parking, and special packing needs.
Take this opportunity to find out all you can about the removal company and the services they offer, as well as what is, and what is not, included in their prices.
You may like to read: How to Create a Packing Inventory. In this guide, we show you how to create a simple inventory of the things you want to pack. It is particularly important to do this if your home move is over several days or you are having items put into storage.
Delays in getting the keys to your new home
Another potential additional charge on moving day could be if there was a delay in getting the keys to your new home.
In this scenario, the removal company could charge you an hourly rate whilst waiting for the keys to be released.
It is a good idea to consider the key release time when booking your removal company.
You could also consider taking out Late Key Waiver Insurance which would cover you for any additional charges incurred due to the late release of your keys.
Your removal company or insurance agent should be able to help you organise this.
Not taking out a cancellation waiver
There is also insurance cover available should you have to cancel your home move at the last minute, known as a cancellation waiver.
Be aware that if you cancel on the day of the move you will still have to pay the full removal costs if you have no cancellation waiver in place.
Most people underinsure their home move in the hope of saving money, only to find when they do need to make a claim that they are not covered or are underinsured.
You may also like to read: Home Moving Insurance – Do I Need It? In this guide, we look at the various insurance policies available to home movers and look at whether they are worth taking out or not.
#3 Hiring an Uninsured Home Removal Company
How to avoid property damage costs when moving home: Ensure your removal company is insured for any damage to your old and new home, as well as fully covering your precious possessions.
If the removal company gouges the stair walls or rips the carpets, and they are not insured, you could end up paying the repair bill. And you will also have the inconvenience of carrying out the repairs or employing someone who can.
Make sure when comparing removal companies that you are clear about what their insurance covers and does not cover.
It is amazing how many people do not check this aspect of the contract, but it is vital.
Most removal firms will have an insurance policy in place, but usually, they cover only a fraction of any losses you may incur so check the policy very carefully.
You may also like to read: How to Compare Removal Companies. This guide is essential reading for anyone intending to hire a removal company. It suggests questions to ask, things to watch out for, and why it pays to research your removal company thoroughly.
#4 Falling Victim to Home Moving Scams
How to avoid being scammed by a removal company: Research, research, and research.
Underestimating the volume of things to be moved is a common scam that the less reputable removal companies use.
They give you a cheap removal quote to gain your business, then come moving day hold your things to ransom until you pay the additional charges as ‘there are more things to load than quoted for’.
To avoid this happening be sure to get 3-4 quotes for your home move from reputable removal companies.
Should any quote come in significantly lower than the others, this should be a red flag that something is not quite right.
If two quotes come to you that are identical to the penny, this could be a company trading under two names, and again should sound alarm bells.
Research any removal company you are considering hiring thoroughly by reading reviews, checking out the company website, visiting their depot, as well as calling and emailing the contact numbers given on their website.
You may also like to read: How to Avoid Moving Scams. This is a comprehensive guide on how to spot a cowboy removal firm, the most common scams, and how to avoid them, as well as essential information on how to pick a good removal company.
#5 Trying to Cut Packing Costs
How to avoid damages when moving home: Use quality packing materials, and hire professional packers.
If you try to reduce moving costs by cutting back on quality packing materials, or not having a professional packing service, it could backfire and end up costing you more in the end.
Using the appropriate packing materials, of good quality, will ensure that your precious items do not get damaged in transit to your new home.
There are some things that inevitably you will end up packing yourself, especially things like stamp collections that the removal company will not be insured to move.
Ensure that you know exactly what the removal company can and cannot pack for health and safety or insurance reasons.
You may also like to read: How to Pack Fragile Items. Some fragile items such as valuable porcelain collections cannot be moved by the removal company, so you will need step-by-step instructions on how to pack fragile items carefully. This comprehensive guide tells you all you need to know.
Most people moving home would say that packing is the worst job to do.
It is tedious, time-consuming, and expensive, and you end up living amongst piles of boxes for weeks on end.
Hiring professional packers is without a doubt the best money you will spend during your home move.
They will have the skills and equipment to pack everything quickly and safely, often packing the average home in just one day.
You may also like to read: Are Professional Packers Worth the Cost? In this guide, we look at what exactly a professional packing team does, how much on average they charge, and help you decide if hiring packers is right for your home move.
Bonus advice: You may need a contingency fund on moving day for the little add-ons, such as congestion charges, parking fees, and tolls.
With a good home moving plan in place, and by taking the time to hire a reputable removal company, you will be able to move home safely, with the minimum of stress, and at a reasonable cost.
Penny Wise and Pound Foolish is a very old English saying that when it comes to moving home and your precious possessions, is so apt.
For those who have not heard that saying before, it means that often we try to save small amounts of money here and there which in the long term ends up costing us far more.
Hopefully, the tips above will give you the best of both worlds.
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment