Cutting the cost of moving home
The average cost of moving home has increased dramatically in the last year, in London it has risen by nearly twice the rate of inflation. Everything from LBTT (once known as stamp duty) to removal firm costs have crept up making it more important than ever for home buyers and tenants to try and save on moving costs where they can.
Why is this happening? Well both estate agency fees and LBTT are based on a percentage of a property’s value, so as the property market recovers, and house prices go up, these costs increase too. The good news is, in Scotland, the cost of moving to a new property is one of the cheapest in the UK! Our estate agency fees, and overall LBTT costs are lower than any other country in the UK, even though our property market is recovering faster.
Still, moving home is not a cheap exercise but with a bit of planning and research there are many ways of reducing the bills associated with moving. Here are a few ideas for how you can cut the cost:
Work closely with your Estate Agent
If you choose an estate agent with specialist local knowledge like Joyce Heeps Homes, you can be sure that the properties we have on the market are competitively priced based on our knowledge and constant market watching. If you are looking to purchase a property in East Kilbride and surrounding areas, we can let you know what other houses have recently sold for in the area and help you to find your dream home without paying over the odds.
DIY Packing
It can seem like a dream to imagine a team coming in and packing up your things for you, but it will cost more money. Doing it yourself will save you some cash, as will being smart about your packaging materials. Save old newspapers, supermarket carrier bags and packaging to wrap up your valuables; and collect boxes at supermarkets and larger stores rather than buying new boxes and bubble wrap. Use your bedding and towels to pad smaller items of furniture and larger ornaments.
Be smart about removals
If you decide to do the removal yourself, be aware that the speed that a professional team can empty and fill a house in will not be the same speed that you and your family and friends can do it – my last move took four of us nearly 8 hours! The lesson is, don’t hire a van for just a couple of hours, be sensible and book a day at least.
If you decide to go with the professionals, see if they will give you a deal for booking during the week rather than Fridays and weekends (if it suits with your exit and entry dates of course!) and book as far in advance as you can. Get as many quotes as you can and be sure you are comparing like for like on the services including insurance coverage.
Finally, remember to clear out the clutter before the removal firms come around to quote as most will price the job based on volume.
If you are thinking of moving home, get in touch with Joyce Heeps Homes today to find out about our competitive fee and commission structure.
