The idea of saving money when you move house – a notoriously expensive time – might sound impossible. Of course, you will want to but how can you? You’ve got a deposit to pay. You need to hire a moving van. Often you’ll have to take time off work (which is even more expensive if you’re self-employed). You’ll need to pay off your old utilities, and so the list goes on. Saving money just isn’t on the cards. Or is it? 

The truth is that although it’s still going to cost you a decent chunk of change, it is possible to save money when you move house, and here are some of the ways you can do it. 

GET A GOOD MORTGAGE

First and foremost, your new mortgage is going to be the most expensive part of your move, perhaps more expensive than at least a few of the other costs added together. And because you’ll likely have to have a mortgage, it’s a big expense that might be playing on your mind. 

Luckily, there are ways to reduce that cost and make sure you’ve got a good mortgage that’s just right for you and your particular situation. Please speak to a mortgage broker before you decide on a mortgage deal because they might have access to mortgages you don’t, meaning you’ll have a lot more choice, and even the difference of half a per cent on your interest rate could save you a bundle as the years go by. 

COMPARE QUOTES

There are various people you’ll need to get help from when you move, including professional movers. It’s tempting just to pick the first company you see and book them in, especially if you’ve chosen a particularly busy period to move like just before Christmas or over the summer holidays. Of course, it’s not always your choice when you move and depends on how the negotiations go and how quickly – or not – the process unfolds. Yet if you don’t do your research, you might end up paying more than you need to. 

Instead, it’s better to compare at least three different moving quotes because you’ll be able to see whether the price you’re being given is fair (if they’re all about the same, then you can be quite sure that’s the right price) and choose the best price for you. Remember that it’s not always good to choose the cheapest if the service isn’t what you want and if the company’s reputation isn’t good – paying a little more can be sensible at times like that. 

DIY IT

If you want to save money when you move, you can do as much of the moving as possible by yourself. You could save hundreds or perhaps even thousands that way, but it’s not going to be easy, and it’s important to know that you’re still going to need friends and family to help you unless you happen to be able to carry heavy pieces of furniture all by yourself! 

But if you do have people who can help, enlist them for jobs like packing and loading and unloading. You’ll save a ton of money on labour, and it might even make the move more enjoyable and less stressful if you’ve got good people around you to help.