How to save money when moving house

A perfect move requires plenty of practice and planning, not just to save yourself some serious stress, but also to avoid wasting money. There are so many things that can go wrong in any move, especially if you leave things to the last minute.

One of the best ways to avoid disaster when moving house is to hire a professional removal company. They can offer expertise in more than just packing: their experience can also ensure that nothing slips through the cracks, allowing you to sit back and look forward to settling into your new home. In most cases, hiring a professional remover can even turn out cheaper than a self-move, as it will let you avoid having to rent a vehicle and insure it, buy your own packaging and take time off work to organise everything.

That said, there are still plenty of ways to save money when moving house. All it takes is a few helpful tips!

Money saving tips for moving house

De-clutter

When moving house, a simple, well-tested rule is: the less you have to pack, the easier everything will be.

Getting rid of anything you don’t need will allow you to save money on transport, storage and, of course, packing materials. Start by listing everything you own, then highlight anything to get rid of. You could donate your clothes to charity, sell your furniture or even get rid of your belongings via freecycling websites like Gumtree and Freegle.

Of course, if you do decide to freecycle, ensure you hang onto your account - it could help you stock up on free furniture once you move into your new home!

Move on a weekday morning

It's usually best to carry out your move on a weekday, ideally after the morning rush has died down, meaning less traffic and a smoother, less painful journey for you and your removal company.

It's a good idea to book your removal company as far in advance as possible, as slots tend to go quickly - especially during weekends or holidays. Making your booking in plenty of time will ensure you can move at a time to suit you.

Collect free cardboard boxes

While there are plenty of potential costs to consider when moving house, the packaging is often one of the most annoying. A new set of sturdy moving boxes can easily cost over £20 - a needless waste of money, considering the number of places you can go to get free moving boxes.

Local shops and supermarkets can be excellent places to get free cardboard boxes. Granted, you may need to stop by just before the bins go out, but considering how strong stock boxes are, the inconvenience can be more than worth it. You may also want to check any local recycling centres or tips - or try websites like Gumtree and Freegle.

Don't forget to pick up some strong packing tape, which is relatively cheap and can offer a new lease of life to flattened boxes you may acquire.

Change your information before you move

Nobody likes admin, especially during a stressful move. However, failing to alert your bank, insurance and utility providers about your move can result in fines and redirection bills.

To avoid this, ensure you let everyone know when and where you are moving with plenty of time!

Selling your home

If you are selling your home, you will face estate agent costs. A way to reduce fees from your estate agent is to consider using a fixed-fee agent.

Replace your furniture and white goods

Earlier on, we talked about how you can save time and stress by getting rid of any non-essentials before your big move. Furniture and white goods, such as fridges and freezers, can be cumbersome, especially when you can occasionally replace them for little-to-no cost.

Freecycling websites are an excellent place to find chairs, storage units and even white goods that need a new home. As long as you check the quality of any goods you accept, this can be an excellent way to save money before and after your move.

Don’t throw away essentials - or food

It's usually a good idea to get rid of as much dead weight as possible before a big move, but there will always be a few items you cannot afford to do without, including toiletries and work clothes.

When boxing up your essentials, ensure everything is clearly - and safely - packaged before the move. You don't want to lose anything that needs replacing in a hurry.

As another tip, don't throw away food before you move. If you have the space, why not take it with you and save yourself the trouble of replacing it? You could even use it to make a feast for any friends helping you with the move! Or, if you don't want to take it with you, why not donate it to your local food bank?

Compare suppliers

When you move to a new house, there is no need to take your current utility, telephone or internet suppliers with you (or the former occupant’s, for that matter) - unless you're contractually obliged. Instead, you should treat your move as a chance to look for a better deal. Your current providers may even be willing to offer cheaper rates to retain your business.

Before you make a decision, be sure to check reviews for providers in your local area. Certain utilities and other services may not be as widely available, and you do not want to have to pay for anything subpar, which is particularly relevant for internet and phone providers in rural areas.

Register for council tax

A common misconception is that you can save yourself from having to pay council tax by ignoring it for a few weeks. Sadly, this isn't the case: instead, your fees will likely be backdated, and you'll end up with a hefty lump sum.

To avoid this, let your new local council know about your move in as much time as possible. While you are at it, why not register to vote in your new constituency?

Free insulation

When you first inspected your new home, you should have seen the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which lets you know exactly how energy efficient a building is - and how much you can expect to spend on heating it.

If the EPC rating is low, you could ask your energy supplier if they'll help you out. Most suppliers have high environmental-protection targets to meet due to government initiatives.

Typically, these are met by offering free energy-saving solutions to customers, such as smart meters or even insulation. Depending on your supplier and location, you could be entitled to over £300 in insulation, which can lead to major savings in the long run.

Redirect your mail

While redirecting mail is another piece of admin that nobody looks forward to, failing to do so can lead to serious consequences. At worst, you could miss essential bills, face late fees, or even wind up as the victim of identity theft!

In most cases, the best way to avoid this is to utilise Royal Mail’s redirection service, which is available for 1, 3, 6 or 12-month timeframes, giving you plenty of time to arrange everything else before and after your move.

Hire a professional remover

Hiring a professional removal company might sound counterproductive in an article about trying to save money, but hear us out: there are plenty of perks to consider!

A removal company will have their own insured vehicle to hand, allowing you to avoid having to hire one yourself. They can also supply packaging and insurance to cover your goods during transit. Crucially, this might allow you to avoid taking time off work for your move.

This peace of mind can be valuable during an international move.

That said, you should not simply hire the first removal company you find. Instead, try to collect quotes from at least five, letting them know what you need to transport, where you're going and whether parking will be available once they arrive, offering an accurate idea of the average costs.

Finally, and we cannot stress this enough, do not simply opt for the cheapest option available. If you are looking to save money, you should consider using a man and van, although they may not be correctly insured. Check customer reviews for any of your candidates to guarantee they're fast, safe, reliable and fully insured for their work.