Moving home is exciting—but it’s also full of little costs that can add up faster than you expect. Beyond the major expenses like your purchase, mortgage, or removal van, there are plenty of smaller bills that often get overlooked. For example: setting up one or more utility accounts (gas, electric, water, broadband) often comes with connection fees. Survey fees, conveyancing, and stamp duty might already be top of mind, but other charges—like reserving a parking space for the removal van or paying for a permit—can catch movers off-guard and add extra costs when moving home.
You might also want to budget for cleaning both your old place (to secure your deposit or avoid deductions) and your new one (so it’s move-in ready). It’s easy to see how these “extras” quickly become a few hundred pounds when you’re juggling several of them.
Having a realistic budget for all of the smaller line-items ensures you’re not surprised mid-move. The key is making a list now, before the day arrives, so you know what you’ve signed up for and can prioritise what’s essential vs. optional. In this post Andrews Removals Company Sheffield outline how these extra costs may occur.
Costs of Packing and Moving Services
When you book a removal company like Andrews Removals, the headline quote often covers “van + two men + transport to your new home.” But if you want help with packing, fragile items, disassembly/assembly of furniture, or moving in/out of flats with stairs or lifts—those cost extras. Additional services such as unpacking, storage, or building and dismantling furniture are “additional services impacting costs.”
For example, if you have antique furniture, a piano, or bulky wardrobes, a standard removal team may quote you one price—but once they assess the job they might revisit the quote or require extra time. If those factors aren’t discussed up front, you risk “starter” quotes that look affordable but then escalate.
To avoid extra costs when moving home: describe your full inventory in detail when you get quotes. Ask explicitly whether packing materials, stairs, lifts, parking permits or long carry-distances are included or extra. If you keep those conversations on record (email is good), you’ll have greater clarity and fewer “what we didn’t factor in” moments.
Timing, Delay & Unexpected extra costs when moving home
The timing of your move can heavily influence what you’ll pay. If you’re moving during a peak time (weekend, end of month, bank holiday), prices may be higher. The guide highlights that the day and size of properties affect cost.
Also, consider risk of delays: if your move date changes, you may incur storage costs, extra days of van hire, or labor waiting time. If your outgoing and incoming homes aren’t perfectly aligned (for example: you move out before you move in), you may face extra storage or “double move” charges.
Another common “wild card” cost is parking or access. If the removal van cannot park near your front door and the crew has to carry the items a long distance (across rough ground, up stairs or lifts, or through narrow corridors) this can add time—and labour—to the job. Sometimes you’ll need to book a permit for road closure, or arrange temporary parking. Those logistics may cost more than you expect.
In short: thinking ahead about timing, access and flexibility can save you a lot of extra costs when moving home. Build a buffer in your budget for “just in case” costs—say 5–10% of the quoted move cost—so you’re prepared.
What You Can Do to Stay in Control
The good news: while there are lots of extras, you can absolutely manage them and avoid nasty surprises. First step: get multiple quotes, and make sure each one lists the inclusions and any known exclusions or potential extra charges. Use that to compare “apples to apples.”
Next: ask the right questions. Example questions: “Is parking included?”, “Will stairs/lifts cost extra?”, “Are packing materials included?”, “Do you charge for waiting time if there’s a delay?” Also: check if your quote is fixed or subject to change once they see the final volume.
Another tip: clear out and downsize before you move. Every item you don’t move reduces cost (less volume = less time). If you can get rid of unwanted items or hold a pre-move clear-out, you’ll likely pay less for removal services.
Finally: make sure you’ve considered all “other” costs beyond the van: connection fees for utilities, council tax changes, insurance for your new home, maybe even décor or new furniture. The guide noted that building in those smaller costs makes your budget more realistic.
By treating your move like a project (with “knowns”, “maybes” and “unknowns”) rather than just “move van on the day”, you’ll feel more on top of things. When the day comes, you’ll have fewer financial surprises and more energy to focus on settling into the new home.
Moving home is a big step—not just emotionally or physically, but financially too. The big ones (deposit, mortgage, legal fees, main removal cost) are obvious. The trickier part is managing the “extras” that everyone knows might happen, but few budget for properly. Whether it’s parking permits, packing services, timing or logistics add-ons—those can silently inflate your cost.
By planning ahead, asking the right questions, clarifying all quotes and building in a buffer for unexpected costs, you’ll go into your move with much greater confidence. That means less stress on moving day—and more excitement about the new place you’re heading to. Good luck with your move!