Unexpected Costs to Moving House
Some of the most common questions asked by home movers are:
“How much will moving house cost me?“
“How much does it cost to hire a removal company?”
and “Will there be any unexpected costs to moving house?“
Moving house can be costly. In addition to estate agent fees and solicitors’ bills, the cost of physically transporting your belongings between properties is another major consideration.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that every move is unique. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ package, as the quantity of belongings and furniture to be moved varies from one customer to another. You also need to consider if you require extra assistance with packing and if you require furniture to be dismantled. Furthermore, the locations you’re moving from and to may also impact the overall cost.
It would be naive to assume that removals, packing and furniture dismantling are the only potential costs involved when booking a removal company. Unfortunately, the moving process is rarely straightforward. Unexpected moving costs can come out of nowhere and can often occur when you haven’t thoroughly reviewed the terms & conditions.
To spare you from any unpleasant surprises, we’ve compiled a list of the most common unexpected costs you should consider factoring in when moving house.
Exchange and Completion Delays
Ideally, the exchange and completion of your purchase and sale will occur within a week or two. However, increasingly, customers are being pressured into completing both processes on the same day. While this can be accomplished, it’s important to note that when we come to load on the morning of the move, the purchase or sale will not be legally binding. Therefore, if the sale or purchase falls through, the customer will find themselves in the situation of having to either unload their belongings back into their current property or placing them in storage.
Whilst storage fees will add to the costs, the other implication is that you’ll need to rebook the removal company and pay for their services again.
This is why we strongly advise all customers to push for the exchange of contracts to occur before the move day to avoid such complications.
Using Short Term Storage
If your sale is delayed, but your buyer is mounting pressure on you to move, then you may need to consider putting your belongings into short-term storage to avoid losing your sale. In this scenario, you may also need to consider the costs of your temporary accommodation whilst your own sale completes.
Key Wait Charges
When hiring a removal company always check their terms and conditions around key waits. It may be that they charge for key waiting, or will add inflated overtime charges. Some removal companies offer a non-returnable key wait waiver, paid upfront, to cover the additional cost of a delay for keys. However, this is not refunded if you get the keys at a reasonable time.
Delays for the keys can be quite common, but is usually only an hour or two, but in some rare cases, the delay can mean there isn’t enough time to unload everything on moving day, and your belongings may need to go into overnight storage. In this case, you will need to factor in another day’s labour or van hire.
Standard waiting time is included within all our quotations. However, for prolonged key delays, we apply a fair rate for the team’s additional hours beyond the standard work schedule. We maintain transparency regarding these charges and will openly communicate with you on the day if it appears that the key wait exceeds reasonable limits.
Damaged Goods
It’s not something you want to consider when moving house, but damages can happen even with the most highly skilled removal teams. So it is a given that you must check the level of insurance coverage that your chosen removal company offers, and whether any additional cover can be added for peace of mind.
We provide a ‘Goods in transit’ Inclusive Cover to our customers who provide us with an itemised valued inventory, up to the value of £100,000.
Other costs to consider when moving house
When preparing for a move, it’s essential to consider each stage of the process and identify potential areas where extra expenses might arise. Here are some common additional costs to keep in mind:
Packing Materials
A removals company like Casey’s Removals, can usually provide you with all the packing materials needed to move. If opting for their packing service, the cost of these materials may be included in their overall service charge.
Child or Pet Care
Moving Day can be chaotic, making it unsuitable for young children and pets. If you need to arrange childcare or temporary boarding for your pets, ensure to budget for these expenses accordingly.
Meter Readings
Ensure you take readings of all your utility meters before leaving your property to avoid unexpected bills from service providers post-move.
Rental agreements
Renters are typically required to return the property in the same condition as when they moved in. An idea would be to document the property’s condition through photographs before you move out, and invest in a thorough cleaning to secure the return of your deposit.
Professional Cleaning Services
Whether you are vacating rental property, or moving into a new house, you might need the expertise of a professional cleaner to work their magic, so should budget for these services.