How to save money moving home

Moving home is inevitably going to cost money, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the amount you would have been charged. With some effective preparation and planning, you can avoid costly estate agent fees, make some money off unwanted items and find the best deals possible to save money moving house.

Declutter

Decluttering before a move is just one of many moving house tips you should follow. Give yourself enough time before the move to declutter, especially if you are downsizing. Go through each room one at a time and get rid of anything you haven’t used or needed recently. This will significantly lighten your load, saving you time when it comes to packing and money when it comes to your removal company calculating the volume and resulting cost of your move.

When you declutter, try avoid simply throwing your items away unless they are broken or significantly worn down. Give some items to charity, friends or relatives. Make some extra money by selling your items at a car boot sale or on eBay or Gumtree.

Move on a Weekday

When you book a day to move house, keep in mind that weekends and bank holidays are usually more expensive for hiring removal companies. Instead, stick to weekdays, especially a Friday as you have the rest of the weekend to unpack and don’t need to take much leave off work.

Compare Removal Companies

Removal companies can help you with anything from packing your items to storing them long-term. However, price shouldn’t be the only focus when choosing a removal company. Make sure you compare removal companies by looking at their reviews and any additional services they offer that could be useful to you.

Check the Insurance

Make sure your chosen removal company is fully insured so that in the unlikely event your items are damaged or lost, they will be fully covered by insurance. You won’t have to worry about replacing your items! If your chosen company only covers your goods while in transit, it’s a good idea to check your home insurance covers your move at your current and new address.

Pack Everything Yourself

If you are confident in your packing abilities, try and do it yourself! This can reduce your removal company quote, so why not ask your friends and family to help you save time, too.

Compare Estate Agents

Estate agent fees can add a considerable amount to the cost of moving house. If you are selling your home and planning to move, agents usually charge a percentage of the selling price (or sometimes a flat fee) for selling your property. Often there also is a tie-in clause so that if you decide to withdraw your property from the market. The tie-in prevents you from marketing with other estate agents for a specific period of time (the time period varies depending on your area).

With finances being a big factor for those looking to move home, it’s important to make sure your agent is worth every penny. Like any service we purchase (insurance packages, phone contracts), agents should be compared. Though an agent’s marketing and negotiation abilities may vary considerably, homesellers often mistake fees as the main indication of an agent’s reliability. This is because many people find agents difficult to distinguish from one another at face value.

Choose the right estate agent by comparing estate agents in your area. Using our Comparison Tool, you can see how the best performing estate agents rank in your local area according to their:

• Their expertise in selling your property type
• How likely they are to achieve your asking price
• How fast they sell properties in your area

Everyone has different motivations for selling their property. Make your home sale go further by picking the best agent for the job.

Find the Best Deals

Moving house is a great opportunity to find some good utility deals. New customers often get better deals than existing customers, so maybe it’s time to move to a new company.

Moving to a new house is an exciting time, and you don’t need to spend huge amounts of money to do it! Compare your quotes, sell unwanted items, and make sure your items are covered. With some preparation and research, you can reduce many of your costs.

To find out how much your home is worth, visit our Free Online Valuation Tool today and get an instant valuation report sent straight to your inbox.