Regardless of where you are in the world, moving home is never easy, nor is it cheap. There’s so much to consider once you know you’ll be on the move, and that’s after slugging it out to get a mortgage and purchase a property in the first place. So, lots of people are on the lookout for ways to make the whole process that little bit cheaper.
Luckily, it’s a competitive landscape in all regards, and there are several ways to cut the costs at each stage. Some require a lot more work than others, but overall, you’ll find that the time spent is worth it for the money saved or, in one way, the money gained.
Contents
Use all of the tools to browse the market
House hunting has become a little romanticized over the years, with people depicted as seeing a house, falling in love with it, and then moving in. However, the reality of buying a house is a stark contrast. Ideally, if you want to save money, it’s best to take the time to explore all of your options.
Luckily, nowadays, it’s incredibly easy to get a full picture of the housing market, with several online listing platforms just a few clicks away. You’re bound to find at least a handful of houses with the same specifications, but you’ll likely see them listed at different prices based on their local markets. As Investopedia spells out, house prices are determined by supply and demand, so you could land yourself a bargain by considering areas where houses aren’t in high demand. Be sure to check all of the major listings websites and areas that you may not have considered.
Utilize a leading broker to get the best deal
After you’ve found the houses that you want to consider, you’ll need to set off on the journey of getting a mortgage. It cannot be overstated how much easier the process becomes with a good, fast broker, especially as they’ll give you advice throughout. So, instead of shouldering the responsibility of starting the home-buying process on your own, reach out and make the most of the available resources.
Consider an award-winning broker and take the mortgage advice of Trussle. As the broker is also a comparator, they can quickly find and show you the best mortgage deals and rates at that moment, which is vital in the current climate. They offer free advice, have a filtered mortgage finder on the homepage that’s free to use, and can get your mortgage approved in five days, saving you both time and money.
Make the most of free packing materials
If you know that you’ll be on the move in the coming months, be sure to start saving just about every box of a reasonable size that comes your way. One of the best items to buy before you move, in preparation for hauling all of your stuff between houses, is a new trash can from an online shop. This is because you’ll get the new trash can and its box, giving you two storage items – provided that you don’t use them before the move.
You can also ask your friends and family for boxes, or turn to the internet. Craigslist is a great resource for finding moving boxes, as The Spruce shows, with the free section bound to have what you’re looking for. If not Craigslist, try out Freecycle or head down to your local supermarket and ask someone if you can have the boxes from deliveries that they intend to recycle.
Sell the clutter and stuff that won’t suit the new house
If you don’t need it, sell it. Have a big de-clutter day, or a couple of days, as taking stuff that you don’t need or want anymore will only add more to the costs. Should you be able to put up with lesser solutions for the meantime, even consider selling furniture that doesn’t suit the new house. The best places to sell quickly are Craigslist, the Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Letgo.
There are loads of quite simple ways to save money when moving house, but those above can make the biggest difference.
