Moving house costs explained

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Whether you’re moving house for the first time, renting with friends, or looking for your dream family home, moving out can be stressful for everyone, particularly when it comes to costs.

While everyone’s situation is different, there are some house moving costs you’ll have to endure regardless of your living situation. To help you with the big move, Canstar Blue has put together a guide on some of the largest moving expenses and how you can potentially save money down the line.

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How much does it cost to move house in the same city?

The cost of moving house will ultimately depend on your individual circumstances, as no two moves are the same. HiPages found that national moving costs can vary from $300 to $3,500. Costs can generally be categorised into upfront (i.e. connecting utilities for your new house) and ongoing (i.e. rent, mortgage and bills). We’ll take you through both types below to give you an idea of how much it could cost to move house.

How much does it cost to move interstate in Australia?

The cost of moving to another state in Australia will of course be higher than moving to a different home in the same city. Austate removals estimates the average cost of moving interstate into a three bedroom house is between $2,600 and $5,850. This number will vary depending on if you are moving to a neighbouring state, across the country or to or from an island. 

Upfront moving house costs

Unfortunately, a lot of moving house costs require you to either pay upfront, or have the funds organised beforehand. But how much do you need, and what exactly are you paying for? Here are some common upfront moving house costs:

• Rental bond
• Rent in advance
• Removalists
• Furniture, fixtures and appliances
• Utilities
• Bond clean

Rental bond

A rental bond, also known as a security deposit, is a one-off payment required when you first lease a property. Your bond is typically held by a third party, and can be used in a variety of circumstances, such as:

• Repairing property damage
• Covering rent if you break your lease
• Covering any unpaid utilities

Although the price of a rental bond varies, the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) states that if your rent is less than $700 a week, you can’t be charged more than the equivalent of four weeks’ rent. If your rent is more than $700 per week, the landlord or agent can charge any amount they deem necessary.

Rent in advance

When leasing, you’ll typically be asked for the first two weeks of rent in advance as another form of security deposit for the owner, meaning you’ll need to factor this into your total house moving costs. Your rent can vary depending on the suburb you live in, and the size and quality of the property, so ensure that you pick a property within your budget.

Removalists

Moving your personal items can be an expensive venture, especially if you’re moving out of a home you’ve been living in for a long time. Movers are often shocked by how much stuff they accumulate over the years, and the more you have, the more you have to move from one property to another.

Without access to a truck or ute, most of us will look to hire a removalist, which doesn’t come cheap. Removalists typically charge by the hour, and can cost between $300 – $3,500, depending on the size of your property and the amount that needs to be moved. To save money, consider donating or selling some of the items you don’t need, or doing some of the heavy lifting yourself.

Furniture and appliances

For first-time renters, purchasing furniture and appliances can be one of the biggest moving expenses. If you’ve moved around a lot in the past, you’ll have a leg up here — owning the majority of your own appliances and furniture will cut down some major upfront costs. However, if this is your first big move, think about checking out garage sales and online second-hand sites to save on your moving costs.

Utilities

One of the unavoidable costs that come with moving is connecting utilities to the new house. When you’re accepted into your new home, many real estate agents will offer to automatically connect your utilities. This includes electricity, gas, internet and even pay TV. While this can be incredibly convenient, you might not end up on the best plan for you and your budget. If you’re tight on money, consider doing your own research to help cut down costs. We’ve outlined what to look out for when connecting utilities to a new house.

Phone and Internet

We couldn’t live without our phone and the internet — that’s why it’s so important to get this one right. First, check what sort of internet and phone connection you had at your previous property, and if your provider is available in your new area. If yes, ask yourself if you still want to stick with that service and provider, or if you want to change.

If you’ve been putting off researching providers and plans, now is the perfect time to see if you’re still getting the best deal. Upfront internet costs could be anywhere from $0 to upwards of $200 depending on the retailer and connection type, as you may need to purchase a new modem to get up and running.

For more help, check out Canstar Blue’s guide to compare internet bundles and NBN providers. For renters, you can also check out our guide to internet plans for renters.

Electricity

Some properties will already be connected to the electricity grid when you move in. In which case, all you have to do is call up your retailer to set up an account and you’re good to go. 

If your property isn’t connected, simply call your retailer or visit their website. The connection fee will generally cost you between $10 and $100 depending on the retailer. However, your ongoing electricity bills can easily spiral out of control, so make sure you research, plan and budget to avoid a large bill down the road.

Gas providers

The process and cost of connecting natural gas to a new property is similar to electricity. Although, not every property has a gas connection, so you might have dodged a bullet.

If you do need gas, call or visit the website of your natural gas retailer and you can arrange a day for them to connect your gas for as little as $10 to $50. Like electricity, your ongoing gas bill will vary depending on how much natural gas you use and how many people you’re splitting the bill with. 

If you’re not happy with your current gas provider, moving would be the perfect time to compare your options. Check them out here:

• Compare QLD providers
• Compare VIC gas prices
• Compare NSW gas prices
• Compare WA providers
• Compare SA providers

Bond clean

A bond clean, also known as an exit clean, is a legal requirement that must be met by tenants at the end of their lease. Before you leave, your landlord or real estate agent will inspect the property’s cleanliness. If it’s not up to an acceptable standard, some or all of your bond could be used to pay for cleaning services. To avoid this, you can do the cleaning yourself, or hire your own bond cleaning service.

If you’ve been renting for a while, chances are that an intensive clean will be needed, meaning you might want to consider professional help. Costs for professional bond cleaning will vary, depending on the size of the property and the state you live in.

While not traditionally considered an upfront house moving cost, you’ll have to pay your bond cleaning fee around the same time as the other costs mentioned, meaning you’ll want to factor this into your moving budget.

Ongoing moving house costs

Once you’re settled into your new property, you’ll have to keep on top of a few ongoing costs or risk blowing out your budget. Some of these costs include:

• Rent
• Utility bills
• General living expenses and repairs

While we’ve already covered some of these above, you’ll still have to pay for the ongoing use of these services in addition to the upfront setup costs. You’ll want to keep this in mind, especially if you’re moving to a more expensive post code.

How much money should you save before moving out?

This will vary a lot depending on your circumstances, however the general rule of thumb is that you should have the equivalent of three-month’s living expenses (including rent, utility bills and groceries) saved up before moving to act as a safety net should something happen. 

Of course, everyone’s situation is different, but having a comfortable level of savings can make the prospect of moving house much less daunting, especially for first-time movers.

How to save money when moving

While moving house will require you to get your wallet out, it doesn’t mean you have to overshoot your budget. Ultimately, saving money will come down to your personal circumstances, but here are a few ways you could save:

• Shop around: By shopping around for your utility providers, you can not only save on upfront costs, but save on your ongoing costs too.
• Buy second-hand: While this may not suit everyone, buying second-hand goods can help you save on upfront costs without compromising on quality.
• Get insured: While you might be avoiding spending money, getting home and contents insurance before a move could save you money and heartbreak down the line if something happens on moving day. Just make sure to check the fine print of any insurance policy you take out, and update your details and cover once you’ve finished the move. 
• Do up a budget: While making a budget may take the excitement out of moving, properly budgeting your expenses could help you avoid any surprises that pop up, and potentially reel back some over-zealous decorating expenses.

While it might seem daunting, you can find some great deals out there with just a bit of research. The more time and money you save, the more you can focus on enjoying your new place and organising that house-warming party.

Original reporting by Maddy Morwood
Image Source: Monkey Business Images/shutterstock.com