9 Unexpected Costs Of Moving To A New Home

There are many costs associated with buying a home. These include a mortgage, homeowners' insurance, property taxes, maintenance, and repairs. They are the hidden costs of moving that often take homeowners by surprise when they move. Here are some costs associated with moving services, as well as estimates of what you can expect for each task.

1. Moving supplies are the most important cost of moving. These include boxes, packing tapes, packing peanuts, and moving blankets. These items are necessary to safely transport your furniture and belongings to your new home. You can save money by asking your friends and family to help you find supplies they might be willing to share. To find out if someone is selling these items, or giving them away, you can also check Nextdoor and Facebook community groups.

Costs: U-Haul's new moving boxes start at $0.99 for small boxes and go up to $13.95 per wardrobe box for hanging clothes. 

2. There may be fees associated to moving into an apartment or condo. “Many buildings charge fees for their services” Nancy Zafrani (general manager at Oz Moving & Storage) explains. They have locations throughout New York, New Jersey, and California. This can include services such as supervising the move and setting up service elevators for tenants moving in or out. If your building requires this fee, make sure it is included in your moving budget. These fees should not be confused with condo association or homeowners fees.

Costs: Apartment move-in fees can vary from $300 to $500 depending on the location and building. The number of stories in a building can increase the fees.

3. Professional house cleaning

A deep clean is essential for anyone moving in or out. To save time and ensure a clean job, it is advisable to hire a professional. Cleaning companies typically charge per hour or according to the square footage. Zafrani states that tenants want their apartments to be spotless to protect their security deposit and to avoid any problems with people moving in. It will make it easier to settle into your apartment, townhouse, condo, or condominium by thoroughly cleaning it.

Costs: While the average cost of a housecleaning service is $167 per hour, homeowners spend anywhere between $116 and $235 according to estimates by HomeAdvisor (a home service matching firm). Prices will vary depending on where you live, how big your house is and how long it takes to clean.

4. Movers

If you don't have family or friends who can help you, you will need to hire someone else for the move. It's crucial to verify their references and check their reputation before you hire a mover. It is also important to know how movers charge and how they structure their estimates. Moving companies can charge more than what they contracted. The reason for this extra charge could be that there are not enough movers to move your stuff or there are too many surcharges on the stuff being moved," says Susan Bozinovic, a certified relocation specialist and Realtor at Century 21 Town and Country. You can get a fixed price quote, not an hourly rate, to know what you can expect.

A tip for the movers is another important aspect to consider when calculating the cost of moving. Zafrani states that service workers are often tipped and are disappointed when they don't get any tip.

Costs: A professional mover can cost between $562 to $1,554, with an hourly rate of $25 to $50, according to HomeAdvisor. Local moves of four bedrooms can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,000 A local move of a four-bedroom house can cost anywhere from $800 to $2,000.

5. It's usually easier to paint before you move into a new home because there isn't any furniture or decor that needs moving. Although it is ideal that your new home has been painted before it goes on the market, this is not always possible. To make your new home feel more familiar, you might add some color to old or neutral walls. Although you can save money by doing it yourself and only paying for paint and materials, this may take longer if you have to move.

Costs: Paintzen is a painting company that charges $550 for a standard bedroom. This includes the cost of paint and two coats of paint on four walls. Meghan Stewart, senior director of residential Sales at Paintzen, said this. The price will go up if you add trim, baseboards, ceilings, and trim.

6. Groceries

You might be thinking, "I would have to eat anyway so why is this included as one of my moving costs?" A new move can cause your grocery bill to go up temporarily. When you're unpacking, packing and living in boxes, who feels like cooking? Zafrani suggests that people often see an increase in food costs in the first week of moving. This is because their kitchenware might still be in boxes, or they are busy adjusting to their new home.

Costs: These will vary but it is possible to add $100-200 to your food budget for your first month of living in your new home.

7. If you are moving to a single-family house or a townhouse with a lawn to maintain, be sure to include lawn care in your moving budget. The cost of lawn care is often under-estimated. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that it is a one-time payment to purchase a lawnmower. Wrong," says Bozinovic. She adds that you may need to spray the new law for weeds or fungus and also apply fertilizer or other grub applications. You might need additional equipment if you live in colder areas, such as a snowblower, to make your home safe during snowstorms.

Prices: HomeAdvisor estimates that homeowners spend on average $133 per year for lawn services. However, this can vary depending upon the type of treatment required.

8. Modern conveniences such as electricity, running water and gas are essential for everyone. It's important to consider the cost of these services before you move in. This is especially true if previous tenants or homeowners have disconnected utilities or failed to pay the latest bill.

Costs: Utility companies might charge a fee to reconnect water or gas that was cut off by the previous owner. However, this can vary. For estimates on monthly service, check with your local utility provider.

9. Internet and cable

Access to the internet and cable may be a necessity, especially if your home office is remote. If your home is not properly equipped, you will need to contact these providers to arrange service connection and installation.

Costs: The average internet price starts at $35. However, most Americans pay $60 per month on average for broadband. This is according to Allconnect.com (a Bankrate sister site that Red Ventures owns). Wall-mounting a TV will cost you extra. BestBuy is one of the largest electronics retailers in the country and charges $130 to mount a television to a wall. They also connect your cable/satellite boxes and other devices.

Conclusion

Moving to a new location will bring with it new costs. You should allow for some flexibility in your budget in order to offset unexpected costs as well as those that you can plan ahead. It's possible to save money by doing some work yourself. To ensure smooth and seamless transitions, you need to be realistic about the amount of work you are willing to do.