When we realize that changing home or office is unavoidable, our minds fill with worries.
Finding the ideal place and property, working through the changes this move would bring to our own life and to everyone sharing it, and the cost it adds to our budget.
Buying or renting the new property is the first thing that comes to mind.
But moving from one place to another, however close it is, always brings a few expenses we need to estimate carefully so we don’t wreck our finances.
We have to be realistic and plan step by step, in advance, so the end of the move doesn’t catch us with empty pockets.
Plan ahead
It’s very useful to spend some time pinning down the different areas where you’ll spend money during the move, so you get as close to reality as possible.
Of course surprises happen, but we’ll try to keep them to a minimum with a solid to-do list and the costs attached to it.
Among the things you can include in your spending plan are the following categories.
Removals company
Leaving the job to a company that specializes in the kind of move you’re planning means putting a lot in expert hands.
That convenience comes at a price, so it’s worth reaching out to your chosen company to explain what you want included and to agree on the cost of each service.
Many companies include a packing and crating service, with all the materials needed.
You can also take out moving insurance to protect yourself against accidents and surprises.
Every service included will change the overall cost.
Think about how much you want to spend and adapt your needs to that budget.
Costs tied to the move itself
Depending on the deal you strike with the removals company, or if you skip the service altogether, you’ll still have costs to cover when moving furniture and belongings from one place to another.
Renting a moving truck is also an option for the transport. Keep in mind that the longer the distance to cover, the higher the rental cost.
Other factors that make this rental fluctuate are the weight of the load and the number of trips you’ll have to make.
Organize everything well to bring these costs down.
If you go this route, be clear that the cost of boxes and packing tape, protective material and the rest will be on you.
You can ease these expenses if you get organized early and collect every box you find at the entrance of shops and supermarkets.
Ask your friends to save you newspapers, boxes and any material that can help with packing your belongings.
You’ll also need some help loading things onto the truck and unloading them at the new home.
Sometimes the truck rental includes this labor. If not, ask family and friends to pitch in and get the job done faster and more cheaply.
The property
This is the cost we usually expect to face.
The picture will differ depending on whether you buy or rent the property you’re moving into.
If you’re renting, ask them to clarify which costs will fall to you.
Knowing clearly which services and maintenance tasks are your responsibility and which stay with the owner will give you a sense of your ongoing expenses.
You should also factor in the costs of processing the purchase or rental. Add legal fees and any paperwork you need to handle to the moving budget.
Cleaning and setting up the property will likely bring extra costs. Even though you’ll usually receive it in good condition, you’ll always want to tailor it to your taste, and that carries an implicit expense.
More than fits
If the home or office you’re leaving holds more than fits in the new place, you’ll need to find storage or a space to keep things while you decide what to do with them.
One solution is to rent a storage unit, and removals companies commonly offer this service.
Talk to them and get the best deal you can.
You’ve moved, now what?
If you’re moving from your parents’ house to your own flat, or you’ve decided to start your own business, you’ll run into a few extra expenses once you reach the new place.
Setting up the property for your purposes will mean a few purchases and a few changes.
Blinds for that window letting in more morning light than you’d like, or swapping out bathroom fittings that aren’t to your taste, are the kind of expenses that illustrate this stage.
Keep a list of everything you want to change and map out a medium-term plan so you can tackle it all without ruining yourself along the way.
