The Real Costs of Moving House
If you need a Removalist in Melbourne, give us a call
March 2018
You’re on the move – how exciting! A new home, new city or new country awaits. Moving house is an exciting time in your life. Perhaps you’ve bought your first home, are upgrading your home, or even moving to a new city for a job. Whatever the reason, moving house marks an important time in your life, but it can end up costing more than you initially anticipated.
There are obvious costs associated with moving house, such as hiring a professional removal company, but there are also several hidden costs that can add up and make the move quite expensive. These added expenses can only compound the stress of moving if you’re unprepared for them, or if they occur unexpectedly.
The overall cost of your moving day will depend on a few things; how thoroughly you plan for your move, how much furniture you have to move, how far you’re moving and how much of the work you can do yourself.
Here’s a Rundown of The Costs Associated With Moving House:
Furniture Mover:
Cost: Varies
The main cost associated with moving house is hiring a professional removalist service. The cost of this varies depending on so many factors; such as how far you’re moving and how many items need to be moved. Both of these factors influence the amount of time the removalist service will be assisting with your move. Overseas relocations will obviously cost more than simply moving suburbs, but there are some low-cost options such as shared container loads to reduce the cost.
Other factors that can impact the overall cost of a removalist are the level of service you require, such as if you’d like them to do all of the packing and unpacking for you, house cleaning, insurance, pet and car valet, and short and long-term storage. To get an idea for how much it will cost you, the best thing to do is call a few removalist companies for a free quote.
Cleaning Company:
Approximate Cost: $200 for a professional, $20 for DIY
When you move out of your home, you should give the place a thorough clean inside and out for the new people that will be moving in. You may also find that at the new place your moving into, perhaps the previous occupiers weren’t as considerate and have left the place in need of some TLC.
If you can afford it, hiring a cleaner is a great way to reduce stress and manual tasks on a day that is already filled with lots of heavy lifting. However, if you’re trying to keep moving costs to a minimum, you can do the cleaning yourself by purchasing a few basic items such as some bleach, multi-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner and a few rags.
Moving Supplies:
Approximate Cost: $80
If you’re giving your moving day the DIY treatment, there are a few things you’ll need to purchase or organise yourself such as boxes, duct tape, permanent marker pens, bubble wrap and more. The bigger or more expensive the item, the more effort you should make in protecting it during transit.
Trailer:
Approximate Cost: $100 (excluding petrol and straps)
You’ll also need a trailer if you’ve decided to do your moving day on your own. This also means you’ll need a vehicle with a tow bar, or you’ll need to borrow one. You should also factor in petrol costs for the car you’ll be towing the trailer with. The longer the distance the more fuel you will need, and the longer you will need to hire the trailer for.
If you’re using a trailer to move house, you’ll also need some robust straps and ropes to keep everything in place during transit. You can borrow these from someone who already owns them, or you can purchase them from somewhere like Bunnings Warehouse.
Reconnections and Redirects:
Approximate Cost: $100
When you move into a new home, you’ll need to get your services and utilities disconnected from your old home and reconnected in your new one. Some companies can charge for this service, particularly if you have decided to change utility providers. You also need to get your mail redirected to your new home, so your mail doesn’t get delivered to your old address.
Storage Solutions:
Approximate Cost: From $250 a month
You may find you require short or long-term storage during your move, perhaps if your settlement dates don’t align. You may need to find somewhere to store your furniture for a several days, or even a few weeks or months.
The cost of this can vary depending on how much furniture you need to put in storage and how long for. Alternatively, you may find that you can store some furniture in a family member or friend’s garage to keep costs down.
Transit Insurance:
Approximate Cost: $150+
It pays to be protected on moving day, particularly if you have valuable or fragile items. Transit insurance can offer protection for your items on moving day and is something to be considered when calculating the overall cost of moving.
Many professional removalist companies offer transit insurance, however if you are moving your belongings yourself you may find your belongings unprotected.
Without careful planning, your moving day bill can really add up. Although a DIY move may initially seem like the cheaper option, factoring in all costs associated with a DIY option and the lack of protection for your furniture can end up costing you more. The best thing to do is gather quotes from all required services; removalist services, storage facilities and transit insurance providers and work out what best suits your budget.
John Ryan Removals are the trusted removalists in Melbourne, offering a full range of services from packing, cleaning, and storage options to suit your needs.
To find out more, contact our friendly team or request a free quote.
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