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The cost of moving: the complete list
The van is never the main cost. It's the deposit and the double month that hurt.
The real budget, item by item
| Deposit (3 months' rent) | 4,500.— |
| Overlapping rents | 1,500.— |
| Van and help | 600.— |
| Making good the old place | 800.— |
| Boxes, materials | 120.— |
| Change of address, mail forwarding | 80.— |
| Kitting out the new place | 700.— |
| Total | 8,300.— |
The van is 7% of the total. It is nonetheless the only item most people compare prices on.
The three costs that surprise people
The deposit
Up to three months' rent, locked away. The old one is only released after the inspection — sometimes several months later.
The double month
Notice periods and move-in dates rarely line up. Plan for a month of overlap: it is the rule rather than the exception.
Making good
Paint, filled holes, professional cleaning. Charged against your deposit if you don't do it, and always more expensive that way.
The new place
Curtains, lights, one missing shelf. It looks harmless and it climbs to several hundred in the first two weeks.
The cash-flow point: you pay the new deposit before you get the old one back. So you need both at the same time — that is what puts most people in difficulty, not the total cost.
When to start saving
Allow six months for a planned move. On 8,300 of which 4,500 is a recoverable deposit, the real effort is around 630 a month — or less if the deposit can be guaranteed another way.
And as with a trip: this budget does not come out of the emergency fund. Two different pockets.
Common questions
How much does moving cost?
Around 8,000 counting the deposit, a month of overlapping rents, the van, making good and kitting out. The van is only 7% of the total.
What's the biggest cost?
The deposit, up to three months' rent, followed by the overlapping rents. They are also the two most often forgotten.
Why do I need cash on hand?
Because the new deposit is paid before the old one is released: you need both at the same time.
When should I start saving?
Six months ahead, which brings the effort down to around 630 a month for an 8,300 budget.
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