How To Save Money Moving Home

15th December, 2016

For many, the lure of a new location is enough of an incentive to move house. There may be a bigger and better property on offer, better schools within the area or it may simply be closer to work. In our profession we see many people move house, not just within the same postcode but many miles away, effectively starting a new life from scratch. With that in mind, there is more to moving home than initial preparations.

Even if you are moving within the same city, you can still save money by doing a little research first. Just a single mile may make a whole lot of difference to your finances.

What to Look For to Save Money Moving Home

It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning on renting or buying when moving house, there are some facts to consider that could ensure you’re not hiring removal men again just a few months later.

Schools

Experts believe that the cost of a property rises by five or even ten percent it it’s in the catchment area of a good school. If you don’t have children, or if your children have grown up it’s worth looking at the catchment areas and choosing a property just outside in order to save thousands of pounds.

If you are planning a family or already have school aged children, think of the future too. Consider the ideal secondary school as even though it may seem like a long way away if you’re not in the catchment you may find yourself seeking out a man with a van again.

Traffic and the Commute

You can save hundreds of pounds a year depending on your proximity to your work. You can choose to live a little further away which will probably save you money on the property but don’t ignore the cost of extra petrol and commuting fares over time.

Another factor to consider is traffic, for example in York although the A64 has had quite a lot of improvements in recent years it still tends to bottle neck in busy periods around the Sand Hutton or Haxby turnoffs. As with any traffic across the UK, this can cost you a lot of money in terms of your time spent. See what the traffic is like at peak hours and work out if going a little closer or to a place that avoids the rush hour on your commute is more beneficial in the long term.

What You Expect to Pay More For When Moving Home

You can expect to pay more for:

• Cycle Routes close by
• Shops or a Mall within walking distance
• A good sized back garden
• Good access to transport links, whether bus, direct roads into the town or train and tube
• Good views, from views overlooking a park to views of the sea or even a green belt
• Parking off road parking or a designated parking space can push up the price of your property especially within a town or city.

As a general rule, these are factors that increase the price of a house. If any of these aren’t important to you, you can look to save money moving home by choosing a property without.