How To Save Money When Moving House
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If you’re looking to move home and wanting to save money, now is probably a good time to start the process. The current stamp duty holiday introduced by the government due to the coronavirus pandemic, means homebuyers could save up to £15000!
If you do want to take advantage of this, it’s worth getting started quickly as the process of buying and selling can be lengthy, and the stamp duty holiday is due to end the 31st of March 2021.
However, according to research by comparison site Really Moving, other increasing fees mean that even with this temporary saving, the average cost of moving is still just under £7000.
Ouch.
So how can you save money when moving home? Here are some easy tips and ideas.
Selling your home
Traditional estate agent fees typically cost between 0.75 and 3% of the sale price, so it can cost you quite a lot just to sell your house and that’s before solicitors fees and everything else.
To avoid these costs, consider trying an online estate agent. Due to their lack of physical overheads, they can charge a lot less. Some, such as Strike, will even sell your home for free!
You’ll still need to pay for things such as your energy performance certificate, but they will take pictures, list your house on Rightmove and cover most things a traditional estate agent does. Even if you choose to upgrade their services, you can make a HUGE saving.
Finding a good mortgage deal
There are so many mortgage providers out there and who you can get a mortgage with and for what price will depend a lot on your individual circumstances and income. It’s worth shopping around to find a good deal that suits you. Mortgage brokers such as London and Country offer a completely free service to help you find the best deal.
Working out what you can afford
Sites like Mortgage Calculator UK can help you work out how much your mortgage repayments will be based on interest rates and the length of the mortgage, making it easy to see how much the mortgage and interest payments will cost you over the full term.
A shorter mortgage term may mean a higher monthly repayment amount, but could save you thousands of pounds on interest in the long run.
Before moving:
- Have a declutter
Do you really want to take everything with you? The less you have to pack and move, the easier right?
Having a good clear out of stuff before you move means you’ll need less boxes and will have fewer things to have to move. Plus you can potentially make some money back by selling some of the things you no longer need or want. If it’s saleable you can list it on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree, selling apps…there are loads of different options. If things don’t sell or you prefer to donate why not drop stuff at your local charity shop.
- Ask for boxes
You can buy packing boxes, but why pay out when you don’t need to? If you ask nicely in your local shops they may be perfectly happy to give you some of their cardboard delivery boxes.
- Use up your food
Do a quick stock take and try and use up the food you have before the move. Since your white goods will need defrosting before the move, make sure to eat up your freezer food in time so it doesn’t go to waste.
- DIY your removal
Removal firms can be pretty pricey, so if you can sort out your move yourself you can really save some pennies. Hiring a van yourself is usually much cheaper (or even borrowing one if you can) and if you can enlist the help of friends with the promise of food and drink, all the better!
If you do decide to go down the removal firm route, shop around to make sure you get a good deal, and remember to check reviews to ensure you find a reliable service.
Booking early, and choosing to move on a weekday if possible can also mean you get a better price.
After moving
- Switch suppliers
Check the energy providers for your new home – don’t just automatically stick with your current provider, or the previous on. Search for a good deal and switch if you can make savings.
- Furnish for less
If you need to furnish your new home, consider saving money by buying secondhand. You can pick up some great stuff on Facebook, or in local charity shops. Alternatively, if you really need to watch the pennies, sites like Freecycle mean you can find things people are offering to give away for free, which can be a real help.
Don’t forget:
You’ll need to redirect your mail after moving, which you can easily do through the Royal Mail Redirection service. Save money on having to keep the redirection for a longer period by updating your address for as many places you can as quickly as possible.
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