Moving Costs You May Not Consider
Hidden Costs of Moving Houses
April 29, 2022 By Moveogo ConciergeMoving to a new home can be a time-consuming and costly endeavor. Our number one piece of advice has always been to stay as organized as possible. Hidden costs that appear when we least expect them can be one of the most stressful aspects of moving. The best thing you can do is sit down and start making a list of all the possible outcomes that could happen and cost you money. This list of our top hidden moving costs should help you prepare to keep your budget on track and your move as stress-free as possible.
Maintenance Fees are number one.
So you’ve gotten all the difficult stuff out of the way. Cleaning and repairing your space after your belongings have been moved out is one of the costs that may come as a surprise. Now that you can see your walls and floors without any obstructions, you may notice minor details such as a separating (and filthy) baseboard, nicks in the walls, and streaky windows. Depending on whether you’re renting or selling, you may be required to make some repairs and light (or heavy) cleaning before leaving. Make a list of all necessary cleaning and supplies, and set aside money for any unexpected repairs. Here’s a list of things you might be overlooking:
- Paint
- Paper Towels
- Bags for Trash
- Gloves with a lot of grip
- Cleaner for All Surfaces
- Cloths made of microfiber
- Vacuum
- Cleaner for the Oven
Movers
The first item on your to-do list should be to find a reputable moving company to assist you with your move. There are many reasons to hire a moving company to assist you with your move, including accountability for your belongings – knowing that your items are being moved safely and efficiently by professionals can reduce stress during your move, efficiency – saving you time and getting you into your new home faster, optional insurance, and more. There are no hidden costs or fees associated with your moving quote when you use Moveogo. Use our 30-second guaranteed quote service to ensure that your budget is accurate and free of surprises.
Meals
Planning your meals during a move is often overlooked, and eating out frequently during a move can quickly add up. You should sit down and plan out your meals for the next few days, whether it’s a small grocery list to keep your fridge or cooler stocked, or a budgeted amount for take-out meals, regardless of whether you’re on a smaller budget with your move. In addition, moving into a new home will necessitate going through your refrigerator and discarding any expired condiments that you may no longer require. With this in mind, set aside a small amount of money ($100-$150) to stock your refrigerator when you move into your new home.
Yard upkeep
If you’re moving to a new home, whether it’s a single family home or a townhouse, there’s a good chance you’ll have a yard to maintain! Lawn maintenance is frequently overlooked in most budgets, and it can quickly add up. Due to homeowner’s associations, you may be required to keep your lawn up to a certain standard and within a certain time frame. You’ll need to budget for things like a lawnmower, lawn fertiliser, a garden hose, a garden hose holder, and so on. If you live in a region of the world where the weather is colder, you may need to invest in additional maintenance equipment such as a shovel, snowblower, ice scraper, and so on. To keep things simple, consider hiring a lawn care service to handle the necessary upkeep.
Utilities
If you’re moving into a new home after renting and aren’t used to paying for utilities like electricity, water, and heat directly, you’ll need to make sure these costs are factored into your budget and contact your local utility company to get these services set up. Pro Tip: Call ahead to set up a date or time, and if possible, schedule services to overlap so you aren’t left in the dark or without running water or heat. This will prevent you from being charged a fee, which can occur when a utility company is required to reconnect services that the previous owner had turned off. You can shop around for the best rate from a utility company of your choice if you get started early enough.