A Royal Mail report claims 61% of Brits believe there’s nothing more stressful than moving home – and September is one of the busiest months – accounting for one in 10 relocations.
To try to mitigate this, property expert Mehran Charania suggests some simple mistakes to avoid – which could possibly save thousands in fines, double payments and move day mishaps.
The expert from storage firm Ready Steady Store believes the most costly mistake could lie in your home and contents insurance small print.
A property guru has revealed the simple mistakes that could cost you THOUSANDS during the ‘most stressful part of life’ – moving house.
Many policies don’t include cover during a move, particularly for DIY moves, so check and consider additional cover if you’re hiring a van or getting help from friends.
If you’re using a removal company, she recommends buyers always confirm they have liability insurance to avoid footing the bill if something goes wrong.
She adds that another common mover mistake is forgetting to cancel or transfer household bills, leading to frustrating double payments.
Mehran says you should notify utility providers at least 30 days before your move, or even better you could try to transfer services to avoid costly exit fees.
It’s also advised to provide final meter readings and take photos to avoid disputes.
Another one of her tips is to update your address with banks, the DVLA, healthcare providers and insurers to make sure mail isn’t delivered to the wrong address.
Missing important mail could lead to fines, points on your licence or even court action – such as a £1,000 penalty for failing to update your driving licence.
Meanwhile, Mehran suggests that while a mail redirection service is a useful short-term fix, updating your details directly is cheaper and more reliable.
Another mistake that can cost you more than £1,000 is to get caught out with your first month mortgage payment.
If your mortgage completes mid-month, you’ll be charged interest from that date to the end of the month, plus your full payment for the following month.
To avoid this financial shock, she recommends buyers aim to complete at the very start or end of the month, and ensure they’ve budgeted for a potentially larger first payment.
Mehran said: “It’s easy to become overwhelmed when moving house. The average house move takes 150 days, so the process is usually a long one.
“However, through forward planning, you can save yourself hundreds of pounds on what is already an expensive time by making small tweaks and being savvy with payment runs.”
