7 unexpected bills that add to the cost of moving home

There are so many pieces that go into the cost of moving home that it’s easy to forget some. However, these unexpected expenses can add hundreds of pounds to your moving bills. When you’re budgeting for your move, make sure to include:

• Boxes and packaging, including tape and bubble wrap
• Specialist removal services for delicate items
• Storage
• Professional cleaning
• Food
• Getting online
• Agent’s fees

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1. Boxes and Packaging

Most people will remember to buy boxes ahead of the move, but it’s easy to underestimate how many you’ll need. Removalreviews.co.uk estimates a typical move from a 2-3 bedroom home will spend more than £100 buying cardboard boxes and renting plastic tubs.

Don’t forget about the other packing supplies as well! You’ll need a roll of tape for every 7-10 boxes, plus bubble wrap and packing paper. Removalreviews recommends at least 5 meters of bubble wrap, or 10 meters if you have lots of delicate items.

2. Extra removal services

Be sure of everything included in your removal contract and that you include everything in your home when getting a quote. Movers typically won’t expect to help with any packing on the day, and the service will usually add around £250 to the cost of moving home.

Similarly, movers expect you to have all your furniture disassembled and ready to go. Getting help breaking down your flat packs and rebuilding them at the other end can cost around £125.

Mention anything unusual about the property you’re moving to or from when getting your initial quote so you’re not hit with any surprise fees. Depending on the firm, you may be asked to pay extra if there are flights of stairs, delicate items or if the house is difficult to access.

Will you have to store your items between moving out of one home and into another?

3. Storage

In an ideal world, you’d move straight from one property to another, but reality can sometimes get in the way. If you need to leave one property before the next is ready, you might need to stay with friends and family or in a hotel. Make sure to plan for where your boxes and furniture will spend that time as well. Your movers may have an overnight storage option, but otherwise s 200 sq ft self-storage unit would cost an average of £88 for one week’s use.

4. Professional Cleaning

You may have left your previous home spick and span, but you could be arriving at a property that’s a bit less pristine. Depending on how long the property has been empty your new home may be dusty and dirty before you’ve even arrived. Between post-move exhaustion and the fact that your vacuum is still stuck in a box somewhere, many opt for a professional cleaning at the start of their occupancy.

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5. Food

Many moving professionals recommend budgeting a little extra for food into the cost of moving home. Not only will you have to rebuy some essentials to stock your new kitchen, but you’re also likely to opt for a takeaway or convenience meal or two before the kitchen is unpacked.

Budget for a few nights of convenient food, as well as the cost of restocking food you didn’t move with and filling the fridge with perishables. You can help mitigate the expense by packing all of your kitchen essentials in one or two clearly marked boxes and unpacking them first.

6. Getting Online

In 2024 an internet connection can feel as crucial as hot water, so getting this sorted is a priority. It can take as long as a month for a property to be connected to broadband internet in the UK, so we’d recommend placing an order as far before the move as possible. If you’ll still be offline for too long you can opt for a short-term mobile internet package to cover you before the start of your main service.

4G and 5G mobile routers can be used anywhere with a mobile signal with no set-up required. They’re a great option not only for short-term cover but also for homes where broadband infrastructure isn’t available.

7. Letting Agent Fees

Moving home for tenants used to involve a long list of potential agent’s fees. However, since 2019, the ‘Tenant Fees Act’ has meant that the only legal charges your landlord or letting agent can require are a deposit of up to five weeks’ rent, and a fee of up to £50 or costs incurred if you request any changes to the tenancy agreement.

You can read more about which tenancy fees are legal, and what to do if you think you’re being charged an illegal fee, in our article.

Read more moving guides:

• 6 easy ways to save on moving supplies
• What’s the average cost of moving home?