How to cut costs when moving house
Are you moving house and struggling to keep the costs down? Discover some ways to save a bit of cash.
Let's face it: moving home is stressful enough without the added pressure of trying to juggle spiralling costs.
When it comes to moving house, unforeseen costs can soon add up – and with stats showing that the average mover can spend upwards of £1,000 on removals alone, it's no wonder that people are searching high and low for ways to cut the dreaded fees.
However, fear not! There are some simple yet effective ways in which you can cut down on those unexpected costs and be able to forward plan with more ease. We think you'll be surprised at how much these simple tips can save you.
1. Declutter
Nothing shines a light on the amount of rubbish you own quite like moving house.
Once upon a time, you may have needed 300 Tupperware dishes, 17 pairs of jeans and the complete works of Alfred Lord Tennyson. But as they've not been touched in a decade, could it be time to part ways?
Not only is this a great way to get rid of unwanted or no longer needed belongings, it will also reduce the amount of space you'll need for removals. This in turn can save you money.
If binning your unwanted things doesn't feel like the right thing to do, why not give them to charity shops, recycle them or post them on an online marketplace for an extra bit of cash?
So before the removal van arrives, ask yourself: have I done all the decluttering I can? You'll be surprised at how much cash you can free up this way.
2. Re-use boxing or source boxes on the cheap
More often than not, someone close to you, whether it's a friend, colleague or neighbour, has recently moved house or knows someone else who has.
Why not ask them if they've got any removal boxes lying around that they'd be happy to donate or sell? Chances are, they'll offer them at no cost at all and you'll be onto a winner, packing up most of your belongings in pre-used packaging.
If you struggle to find someone you know who can help, you could always track down some cheap boxes online. You could, for instance, get yourself a better deal by buying in bulk and selling some back on once you're settled in your new home.
There's no point in paying a premium for boxes. Save a bit of money by borrowing or buying on a budget.
3. Get your deposit back
There's no better feeling than an influx of cash coming your way – and if you've been renting a property, you should have one in the pipeline in the form of your tenancy deposit.
Usually, renters have to pay a bond to secure their stay in a property and reassure the landlord that they'll be able to pay their rent. When your time is up on a lease or you end your rental contract, you'll be due to receive the bond back – an instant win at a time when you need an injection of cash.
So make sure you can arrange for your deposit to be returned sooner rather than later. It will help make a dent in the expense of arranging a house move.
4. Call on friends and family
Your friends and family can be a great resource when it comes to moving house and chances are, they're not going to charge you for their time and effort.
When it comes to moving house, it really does take a team effort to get the job done. Generally speaking, the more hands on deck, the better.
If you have multiple friends and family members that you can lean on at an already very stressful time, you should definitely let them help lighten the load physically, emotionally and financially.
You can always return the favour later down the line – or just get the brews and biscuits out once you've settled into your new abode!
5. Hire a van
Rather than using a removals company, which can lead to hidden costs and additional fees that aren't discussed at the outset, why not hire a van?
This gives you complete autonomy over when you use the van, how long you use it for and how much space you need to complete your move.
It's a much more cost-effective way of organising a move as you cut out the middleman and have all the power back in your own hands.
There are no fees for extra "hands" that may be required from a removal company or additional trips that weren't originally bargained for. You can just hire a van and arrange your pick-up and drop-off dates – it's as easy as pie.
How we can help
An even better reason to hire a van, especially if you're in the North East, is to meet our friendly team here at Metro Vehicle Hire. We can discuss your move with you, decide on the right-sized van to suit your needs and give you a workable timescale in order to get the job done with a minimum of fuss.
We have a wide range of vans and are certain we've got the vehicle for you. It could make the difference between a smooth move and an exercise in hair-tearing.
Conclusion
All of the above tips aren't only small adjustments that could save you a couple of hundred pounds – they can also help cut down on clutter, give back to those in need and drastically lower your stress levels. You can thank us later!
Do you have a house move on the cards but no van to get you from A to B? We've got you covered. Metro Vehicle Hire offers competitively priced
van hire in Newcastle, Gateshead and the North East.
Get in touch today for a quick, competitive quote.
