It’s a well-known fact that buying a new home and moving is one of the most expensive and stressful things a family can do. It was one of the most stressful things we’ve ever done and we were renting the property at the time From last minute problems and costs to miscommunication from solicitors to expensive new flooring! Luckily, I’m here to tell you about several things you can do to bring these costs down a little! Get rid of unnecessary possessions We are a species who hoard, and most of our homes and filled with an amazing amount of stuff that we just don’t need. Moving house is a great excuse to go through everything you have gathering dust in the loft – be it old sports equipment, clothes or Christmas decorations – and get rid. You may even find that some things are in good enough condition to sell on, so you’ll be able to make a little bit of cash on the side. After all, every little helps to keep the family afloat, right? By reducing the amount of stuff you have, you will also be able to reduce the rate of your moving service, which is calculated depending on the amount they have to move. Get a house survey By getting an independent surveyor to check out your new home before you move, you are making sure that any existing problems in the house are dealt with. A surveyor will be able to detect damp, structural problems, electrics which are not up to par, and any other issues that could cost you money later on. The results of this will give you leverage to either reduce the cost of the house so that you can use that spare money to fix the problems or require the current owner to deal with them. Either way, you will be saving money in the long run! Think about your utility bills It is quite likely that your current energy provider won’t be able to give you the best possible deal when you move. Do some shopping around with a company such as Selectra, who will compare energy providers for you, so that you know you are with the cheapest and best company you can. You may be required to pay a fine for terminating a contract early, but the savings you will make in the long run will greatly outweigh this one-off cost. Search for second-hand cardboard boxes Don’t waste money on buying cardboard boxes; you will be able to find second-hand ones everywhere, as long as you know where to look. Your local supermarket is a great place to look first, as is asking your moving service if they can provide any or let you borrow some. You can also stuff any luggage, pillowcases and duvet covers with items – these things will be coming with you anyway, and will enable you to cut down on money and waste. Stay away from takeout Moving house usually requires gorging on takeaway for several nights in a row, but this can become expensive when you have a family to feed! Do an inventory of all the food you have in the cupboards before you move and try to use everything up – you may need to get creative! But most of all, ensure you’re enjoying yourself as this is a long term commitment and one you won’t want to do again in a while]]>
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