Moving homes in 2013, or any year for that matter, is an expensive transition. However, 2013 is perhaps the most expensive date to move, as the global economy continues to transform, and, much like a roller coaster, inflation is rising and falling on an almost daily basis. It is possible, however, to keep costs of moving homes down, and this is how.
Making sure you are aware of the different factors that are involved in moving home is absolutely critical for maintaining your bank account in the black. Forgetting even the simplest of things, such as storage costs, are enough to put yourself in debt, and subsequent issues later on in life, which will lead to complications in mortgages, and possibly prevent you from obtaining one.
To help you understand just some of the most commonly forgotten costs, we shall list them and hopefully, when the time comes for you to move home, a piece of this article will remind you to triple check your estimated expenses.
1. Packers & Packing
Some of us are unable to pack our own homes, whether it be due to age, disability or lack of time, the prospect of packing your entire household’s goods can be daunting to many. Luckily, there are companies out there that will help to move your items from your old house, to your new one.
Whilst this can become a pricey alternative, it will almost certainly cut the amount of time spent in moving the items from house to house down, and give you more time to either relax, or review your expenses and maintain a healthy, stable bank account.
2. Storage costs
Sometimes, it’s impossible to move straight into the new home – there may be additional maintenance, complications with the contracts, or tenancy issues. Forget about keeping your household items on your person, which can be an encumbrance if traveling, staying with friends or at a local motel / hotel. Instead, contemplate using a storage facility, which will enable you to maintain your items in a safe, secure and clean environment, while you focus on your transition.
It should be noted that, while storage facilities can be useful during the move, using them after as well, can be extremely useful. This can be good to keep a clear work space when you are customizing and working on your new home, and enable you to slowly and gradually renovate the house with your own items, instead of being forced to maneuver around everything in one go.
3. Fuel costs
Moving homes can be expensive in terms of gas and fuel as well. If you decide to move your household items yourself, you will be looking at a lot of return trips in your auto-mobile. The prices of fuel can, and will, vary between towns, however, in today’s society, fuel prices are likely to become expensive. Especially when traveling out of state several times.
Whilst many of these prices will become an optional cost, many of us are unable to complete a home move on our own, and as such, some of these option will become a necessity to enable a clean, smooth move.
Richel,
Thank you for this article. It is true that relocating and not managing money in a smart way can quickly get a bank account in the red digits. Expenses do pile up pretty quickly.
Why not try to declutter our homes prior to moving? Give-aways, throw-aways can make a huge difference in our volume of things and the often not-so-necessary storage spaces we end up paying and draining our budgets for things we almost never use!
Plus, unwanted items can get a new life in the homes and lives of others who may desperately need them and cannot afford them. While packing a home it is best to gradually gather those every time we pack something and sort between the Pack-aways, Throw-aways, and Give-aways simultaneously. This saves time, headaches, multiple trips, gas and by segmenting things and grouping smart from the beginning, this takes less trips to deliver all these categories of things.
Best
Lydia