Costs to factor in when moving

Moving is stressful, but by being as prepared as you can be, you can take away some of the stress. Planning ahead and understanding the costs involved will help you avoid unexpected surprises and ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible.

There are many costs to factor in when moving, so the best thing to do is put together a budget, this way you can keep track of everything and tick things off as and when they happen. For example, when moving you will almost certainly need a moving company to help you move, which will have a cost attached to it, but you will also need to factor in any repairs you will need to carry out after you have moved in, such as getting some plumbers in to look at the piping. 

Below we have put together a brief guide on three costs to factor in when moving. Keep reading for three different costs which hopefully you have factored in, helping you stick to budget. 

Hire a removals company 

A nice place to start and something you can get ticked off fairly early is booking in your removals company. The sooner you can get this booked in, the better the price you will pay and it means your chosen company won’t get booked out. When getting one booked there are a few things to consider, so make sure you get several quotes and check what is included, as some companies will also offer packing services and insurance for your belongings, whereas others won’t. 

Repairs to your new property

Even if your new home is in good condition, there are often jobs that need doing once you move in. This could be anything from decorating and replacing flooring to having plumbers inspect the pipework or electricians carry out safety checks. Make a list of any urgent repairs that you know will need carrying out as well as a list of things which aren’t so urgent but will need doing – a spreadsheet is useful for this. By putting a list together, you can ensure things are progressing and you can factor in the costs, so that you don’t overspend. 

Budget for furniture 

Whether you’re moving into your first home or upgrading to a larger property, there will likely be furniture and household items you’ll need to buy. You may need a new bed or an additional bed if you have an extra bedroom. Or you may need a dining table if you don’t already have one or some curtains and blinds (this is preference). You may also want to factor in appliances and smaller items that are easy to overlook, such as lamps, storage solutions, and kitchen equipment. If you have a garden and didn’t before, there will almost certainly be plenty of gardening bits that you will need to budget for, like a lawnmower. 

What was the most expensive cost you had when moving in the past? Is this your first time moving and if so, how have you found the experience so far? Which of the above three tips do you think is most important? Let us know in the comment box below. We look forward to hearing from you. 

The Costs People Most Often Forget to Budget For

The three categories above cover the big ones, but there are several more that consistently catch people out, either because they’re not thought about until the last minute or because they’re easy to underestimate.

• Packing materials. Boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes, specialist boxes for mirrors and artwork: these add up more than people expect, particularly for larger homes. Buying new can cost £50 to £100 or more. The free alternatives, supermarket boxes, newspaper for wrapping, borrowing from friends who’ve recently moved, can significantly reduce this.
• Cleaning. Most buyers expect the property to be professionally cleaned before they move in, and most sellers are expected to leave it in a reasonable condition. In practice, this doesn’t always happen, and booking your own professional clean, or doing it yourself before the first boxes go in, is much easier than cleaning around unpacked belongings. A professional clean for a three-bedroom house typically costs £150 to £300.
• Storage. If there’s a gap between leaving your old home and moving into the new one, temporary storage becomes necessary. Weekly fees typically range from £25 to £100 depending on the size of the unit and location. Even a week or two can add up, so building this into your budget if your dates look tight is worth doing early.
• Mail redirection. Setting up a Royal Mail redirection from your old address ensures nothing important gets missed during the transition. It’s easy to overlook and costs from around £33.99 for three months. Given how long it can take to update every account, subscription, and official record, this is one of the more useful things to have running from day one.
• Childcare or pet care on moving day. Moving day with young children or pets underfoot is considerably more stressful and slower than it needs to be. Arranging for children to be with grandparents or friends, or a dog daycare visit, is money well spent and often saves time for the removal team too.
• Utility connections and setup costs. Some properties may require new broadband installation, a period without certain services, or deposits for new accounts. Worth confirming in advance what’s already set up and what you’ll need to arrange from scratch.

Moving Costs at a Glance

Practical Tips for Saving Money on Your Move

• Declutter before you get quotes. Removal companies price based on volume, so getting rid of anything you don’t want to keep before the survey visit reduces the quote. Selling unwanted items on Facebook Marketplace or local selling apps can also offset some of the moving costs.
• Move on a weekday if you can. Fridays and weekends are consistently the most popular and therefore most expensive days to move. Moving on a Tuesday or Wednesday is often meaningfully cheaper with the same removal company, and there’s less competition for last-minute slots if your dates shift.
• Don’t assume the lowest quote is the best deal. A quote that’s significantly cheaper than the others is worth scrutinising. Check whether insurance for your belongings is included, whether packing and dismantling costs extra, and whether there are potential add-on charges for things like stairs, long carrying distances, or parking permits.
• Pack an essentials box last and open it first. Kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, phone chargers, toilet paper, a change of clothes, important documents, and anything else you’ll need in the first few hours. This prevents the frantic unpacking of labelled boxes to find something basic, which is exactly the kind of stress that makes moving days feel chaotic.
• Notify everyone of your new address before you move, not after. Banks, HMRC, your employer, the DVLA, your GP, subscriptions, and any other regular correspondence all need updating. Doing a systematic sweep before moving day, rather than as and when things arrive at the wrong address, saves a lot of hassle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book a removals company?

As a rule of thumb, four to eight weeks ahead is sensible for most moves, though during busy periods like summer and school holidays, the most in-demand companies get booked up faster. If you know your completion date with reasonable certainty, booking earlier is better than waiting. Many companies will allow you to adjust the date with reasonable notice if things change without losing your deposit, but it’s worth confirming their cancellation or rescheduling policy before you commit.

What’s actually included in a typical removals quote?

It varies between companies, which is exactly why comparing quotes carefully matters. Most basic quotes cover loading your belongings, transit, and unloading at the new address. Packing services, specialist packaging for fragile or valuable items, dismantling and reassembling furniture, and comprehensive insurance are often optional extras that come at additional cost. Always ask for a written breakdown of exactly what’s included and what would be charged additionally before signing anything.

Is it cheaper to do a DIY move?

It can be, particularly for smaller homes and shorter distances. Van hire typically starts from around £50 to £150 per day for a smaller van. The trade-offs are the physical effort, the time required, and the fact that your belongings are not insured in the same way as they would be with a professional removal service. For larger homes, longer distances, or if you have heavy or bulky furniture, the cost difference between professional and DIY tends to narrow when you factor in van hire, fuel, packing materials, and the time involved.

What repairs should I prioritise immediately after moving in?

Safety-related issues should always come first: anything involving electrics, gas, or structural concerns shouldn’t wait. After those, anything that affects the habitability of the space, a boiler that needs servicing, a leak, a broken lock, or significant damp, is worth addressing before cosmetic work like decorating. Making a tiered list at viewing stage, separating urgent from important from “nice to have,” means you arrive at your new home with a clear priority order rather than trying to make these decisions when you’re tired and surrounded by boxes.

How do I avoid going over budget when moving?

The most reliable approach is to build your budget around the full list of costs rather than the obvious headline ones, and then add a contingency of at least 10 to 15% on top. Moving costs in the UK regularly exceed initial estimates because of the costs that get thought of late: cleaning, storage, packing materials, small repairs, garden equipment, and the various household items needed to make a new property liveable. Keeping a running total as quotes come in and purchases are made, rather than relying on a rough mental estimate, prevents the situation where the budget looks fine until suddenly it isn’t.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.