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
Contact Andrews Removals to discuss packing, furniture dismantling and reassembly, storage and your move, and request details and a quote.
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.
If your move date changes or you need storage between homes, contact Andrews for details and a quote.
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?”, “Who can I contact about packing materials?”, “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.
Read our guide to moving home. If you need packing services, contact Andrews for details and a quote.