When it comes to moving into your new home, there are ways to make sure you’re not throwing away your hard-earned cash on unnecessary costs, when it might be better used decorating your new property or ordering that celebratory first night takeaway.

Saving money moving house is just as much about taking care of your items and making the most of your time as it is about the cost of services.

We’ve got a bunch of tips to keep costs down from the minute you decide to move, right up to moving day itself.

Before your move

Clear the clutter

Deciding to clear out unused or broken items can save you money in several ways. Firstly, it cuts down on the number of packing boxes you’ll need, which cuts down on the time it takes to load your boxes. It will also cut down on costs if you need to store your items. The less you have, the less you pay.

Sell or give away any unwanted items

You could even make some money by selling your items online using selling platforms such as Marketplace or Gumtree.

Try and get rid of everything you don’t want and take the time to clear it out way in advance of your move.

As your countdown to the move begins, you’ll end up just chucking everything in boxes and promising yourself you’ll deal with it after the move. Newsflash: you won’t. And you’ll end up paying more for the privilege of transporting items you don’t particularly want.

Hire a Van to Move Yourself

Using a removal company can be incredibly costly. The UK average cost of using a removals company to move a 3 bed house is £948, so hiring a van to move yourself can save you hundreds of pounds which may be better spent decorating your new abode. At Hire 2 You Car & Van Hire in Kent, you can hire a Luton Van hire for 1 day for just £89 which is a huge saving.

Book promptly

Booking in advance allows you to ensure you get the best van at the best price.

Don’t miss work

Depending on your work schedules, it may be better to move at the weekend, when you don’t have to miss a day of work or miss out on shifts.

Similarly, if you need to consider the cost of childcare, that might affect your decision. Whilst you’ll have to complete on a weekday, there’s no reason you can’t move at the weekend, so consider which option works best for you.

Cut costs on removals boxes 

Instead of buying removals boxes you could use second hand ones, as long as they’re sturdy enough. Places like Ebay, Vinted and even Facebook Marketplace often have listings for second hand removal boxes.

Cut costs on packing materials 

It’s easy to assume we need to spend lots on rolls of bubble wrap or go searching for armfuls of newspaper, but you probably have a lot more to protect your items than you think.

Using soft furnishings, blankets, towels, clothing, and any other materials to protect your items doubles up as smart packing. Why waste money on lots of bubble wrap that you’re just going to have to get rid of later, when you have lots of clothes you need to pack anyway?

Eat up

When you get ready to move, you realise how much food you have stuffed away at the back of the cupboard, and how much needs to be used up from the freezer. Ignoring your frozen goods will mean you’ll have to throw them away in order to defrost and prepare your white goods for the move.

Do an assessment of how much food you have to use up before your move and try your best to use up heavy tins or anything that isn’t sealed properly.

Eating up the food you have will mean fewer boxes to pack, less waste and saves you money. Also, by preparing some meals in advance you won’t be tempted to spend money on takeaway when a chunk of your kitchen is packed up. 

Packing carefully 

Saving money also means not having to replace things further down the line. Ensure you pack your items with care, label fragile items clearly, and try not to load too many heavy items into one box, or too many boxes on top of each other.

Make sure you know the limits and inclusions on your insurance, so if anything is damaged you can cover the costs.

If you have sentimental items you’re worried about, either make sure the team know, or bring those items with you in your car.

Labelling  

Can you imagine the frustration of having to run out and buy something when you know the item is definitely in a box somewhere?

Consider which items you might need in that first week in your new property and keep those aside. Label your boxes clearly and consider creating an ‘unpacking kit’ with things like scissors, tools, cleaning supplies and anything else you might need.