unexpected costs to moving?

2060 Views 19 Replies 17 Participants Last post by Judi Dial, Dec 12, 2010

Sara Noel

Discussion Starter · Dec 7, 2010

I see a lot of people are moving or getting ready to move soon. What are some unexpected costs to moving?

For example, maybe someone would encounter an increased trash or utility bill.

I wanted to list the changes in expenses that maybe someone might overlook as well as just surprise costs in the actual move people have experienced.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

lottaLove

· #2 · Dec 7, 2010

When I moved, it was from one province to another (Ontario to Quebec). My unexpected costs were:

- increased drivers license fees
- passport photos I had to pay for to get my health cards
- paying for long versions of all of our birth certificates to sign up for provincial benefits programs and sign up my children for school
- increased school fees
- replacing items broken/lost during the move
- we don't get as much sun here as in our old place, so we tend to use the heat a bit more
- because of the lack of sun, my container gardening is impossible here, increasing our summer fruit/veg budget slightly
- energy efficient light bulbs. Every one of the lights in our place was an incandescent 100 watt bulb, so we replaced those asap

kattails

· #3 · Dec 7, 2010

these are a few I have experienced in the last 7 years. we are moving after Christmas and I will tell you that it is truly a pain to move during or after the holidays. here goes with the list....

~move into a larger or less insulated home your utility bill will def. go up
~think about the commute to work from your new place, count time sitting in traffic bc that burns gas too
~groceries may be more expensive at the local stores when you move
~utility or water company may charge a higher rate than where you currently live
~gas prices may be more expensive
~changing over your electric and water to your new address will cost a small fee (if you are staying in the same city)

that's all I can think of for now, I'm sure there is more I am forgetting

MissSeetonFan

· #4 · Dec 7, 2010

This isn't a monetary cost - well, sort of - but when we moved, then moved again 6 weeks later (long story), my 5 year old had started Kindergarten at one school on the morning schedule and then had to switch to the afternoon schedule at the new school part way through the first month of school.

So schedule changes can be a cost. This one cost me the afternoon nap of my second child, and the ability to have a couple of hours to sit and do some work from home in the afternoon. I guess that is the monetary cost.

So schedule changes would be a hidden cost of moving.

monkeywrangler71

· #5 · Dec 7, 2010

One of the short term costs that I never factor in is all the extra take-out we always end up getting because we are exhausted and can't find anything, then just can't get settled into a schedule. This might not be the same problem for everyone, but bad habits have a way of popping back up during a move - it's takeout for us, might be shopping or smoking for someone else.

The cost of replacing all the condiments and other perishables that you had to get rid of before leaving, if you moved long distance.

The cost of replacing things you left behind as a condition of your previous sale - curtains, etc. - and things you left behind because they were on their last legs and not worth the price of moving - broken furniture, rusty barbeque.

Painting and redecorating, even if it's minor it still adds up.

Controlling the urge to complement your new start with new stuff.

Reactions: 2

Mom2-3

· #6 · Dec 7, 2010

Pizza night! Sometimes you take on too much during a move and don't realize how tired you are at the end of the day. We put into the moving budget some take out nights.

LuLuBleen

· #7 · Dec 7, 2010

One of the short term costs that I never factor in is all the extra take-out we always end up getting because we are exhausted and can't find anything...

Exactly. Our last move was almost eleven years ago and I had budgeted $600.00 for miscellaneous incidentals (including take-out). Take-out food ended up using the entire amount (over a period of nearly three months). It's not just the actual move - it's the packing, cleaning, painting and just preparing homes to move in/out that suck all your energy. Not only no energy to cook, but no energy to run to the grocery store. And certainly no incentive to buy in bulk with more food to move.

Moving...bleh! I HATE it and hope my next move is to the nursing home or the mortuary.

frooz

· #8 · Dec 7, 2010

Some utility companies charge a bond if you haven't had an account with them before.

I'm moving in a month and if I move into a rental that doesn't provide whiteware I need to buy a fridge and washing machine (I have a dryer). That effects people when they move from rental to rental sometimes.

Cost of movers and moving insurance, sometimes storage too.

Cost to get post office to redirect mail to new address.

Some people may have to refence or fix up fencing to keep pets in, not all homes are pet friendly!

Ali Lee

· #9 · Dec 7, 2010

On moving day, if you have KIND GENEROUS people lined up to help with the move-PLEASE-be PREPARED & have food in plan to feed everybody OR $ saved to feed everyone. Donuts & coffee in the morning, lunch & supper. Then-remember your manners & send a thank you card & maybe & just maybe a 5$ gift card to McD's or $ for gas. SO--DON'T FORGET TO BUDGET $ FOR FOOD TO FEED YOUR MOVERS (bless their hearts!)

Reactions: 1

jas

· #10 · Dec 7, 2010

I am right there with those that said extra eating out costs. Most people don't factor that in, but it is something that is an expense everytime we have moved.

Also like others have said, even basic decorating like curtains to fit the new windows, new shower liners or curtains, trash cans.

monkeywrangler71

· #11 · Dec 7, 2010

Oh, and movers are supposed to be tipped. We didn't know that the first time.

Reactions: 2

dcompton

· #12 · Dec 7, 2010

Windows can cost you. Even if you have taken your curtains and blinds, they may not fit and you may have more windows, or have windows that because of their exposure or location in the house need heavier or lighter covering than you expected.

I agree with the food posts. Budget what you think you will need and then triple it. It is worth it when you are exhausted and buried in packing/unpacking to hit the drive through. It can be a lifesaver. I also find that the only time I use much bottled water is during a move, especially if I am moving in a hot southern summer.

Moving apartment to apartment as I do, the deposit fees are always different. If you have pets they can differ very substantially, and pet deposits, at least here, are non-refundable. Also, some apartments add a monthly fee to the rent for pets in addition to the up front deposit.

Hamada

· #13 · Dec 7, 2010

Depending on when you move compared to the actual movers taking your posessions you may need to find a storage facility or need to pay for hotel or rental till you can move everything into new home.

Don't forget packaging tape. Boxes and newspaper can be easily found but you need tape to close up the boxes. And you need lots of good tape!!!!

MomToTwoBoys

· #14 · Dec 8, 2010

monkeywrangler71 said:
Oh, and movers are supposed to be tipped. We didn't know that the first time.

Wait, really? Like, how much? I didn't know that either.

monkeywrangler71

· #15 · Dec 8, 2010

MomToTwoBoys said:
Wait, really? Like, how much?

Depends on how much you value your stuff

Honestly, I don't know how much it is supposed to be. I read online to tip $20 per mover, but I had no idea if that was outdated or regional. I'm pretty sure we over tipped ours, but we packed ourselves and nothing is insured inside your boxes if they don't pack it - so we really wanted him to like us.

Josephhgoins

· #16 · Dec 8, 2010

For me the biggest surprise was the utilities. I moved from one state to another. At my old place I was on the budget plan with my Electricity provider. I had electric heat and in the winter it really ranked up. When it was time to move, I owed my power company $500.00 that I had to pay at time of cut off. I then had to pay a $200 deposit with my new power company. I also had to pay a $200 deposit with the phone company at my new place as I hadn’t had a land line before. I had failed to account for either of those.

Another big expense was gas in the moving truck. I had budgeting $200.00 but it ended up being about double that.

Then there were the small things I had to buy a new shower curtain, plastic utensils because the good ones where in a box that didn't fit on the truck.

I also was switching positions with my company and had some costs with that. Had to buy a new PC and printer, a new phone and answering machine and upgrade my cell phone plan.

Darlene

· #17 · Dec 8, 2010

When we moved to this home in a new county we found out this area hadn't had a major reassessment in a while. Well not long after moving everyone's home around here did get reassessed and our assessed value went up as did the taxes. Surprise, welcome to your new home!

MomToTwoBoys

· #18 · Dec 8, 2010

monkeywrangler71 said:
Depends on how much you value your stuff

Honestly, I don't know how much it is supposed to be. I read online to tip $20 per mover, but I had no idea if that was outdated or regional. I'm pretty sure we over tipped ours, but we packed ourselves and nothing is insured inside your boxes if they don't pack it - so we really wanted him to like us.

We have insurance on the stuff that's being packed... up to $66,000 worth.

spyzvixxen

· #19 · Dec 11, 2010

We upgraded from a 1 br heat/hot water included to a 1st floor of a 1930's house, 3 br. cold water & trash included. I knew our utilities would go up, but we neglected to check the insulation in this 'ol house. There is NONE under us. Quite drafty. Our first whole month of heat on gas bill was a shock!

We owned a water bed and discovered on moving day that there must have been a leak - the whole inside was covered in ORANGE mold. Had to get a new bed that day otherwise we'da been sleeping on the couch.

Also forgot to mention the cost of replacing food. We only moved a few miles but stupid me put my frozen meat & condiments in a trash bag in the (clean) garbage container. It got thrown out. My grocery bill was a bit hefty!

Judi Dial

· #20 · Dec 12, 2010

Two or three things I don't see here that we've had: loss of my stockpile...many of our moves we've moved across the country, and because I haven't lived in the new space, hadn't considered it too well, I almost always end up ditching part of my stockpile. After I've lived in a place a while, the new location where the stockpile should live is apparent. But the obvious new space never seems to be as big as where we're coming from, so I get rid of part of my stockpile as part of my moving prep., and then have to replace it.

My "last thing packed" bag (TP, kleenex, asprin, allergy meds., a bottle of water) seems to never have enough. If I've got 2 rolls of TP in it, we use them up driving cross country, or one gets used cushioning something precious we forgot, or... the net result is that no matter how much planning I do, it seems we're buying a roll of tp or light bulbs, or asprin, or... at a convenience store right after we move into the new place (And I also don't know where the cheap places are yet!)

That's the last one...finding out what works to live frugally in the new place: where to buy food, figuring out the shortest routes to work, the market, etc. all take time and they're an unbudgetable expense, since you don't really know how long it will take you to replace your old, frugal haunts, or if indeed you can!

IHTH --

Judi

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