Embarking on a new adventure, shifting from one home to another, is a journey we’ve all experienced. But let’s be clear, it’s not just about flexing those muscles—it’s about uprooting your life and settling into uncharted territory. And oh boy, the stress and time it consumes!
Moving is like solving a puzzle, trying to figure out what to keep and what to bid farewell to. But hold on tight, because that’s not all! There are hidden costs lurking in the shadows, ready to catch you off guard. Brace yourself, because we’re about to unveil what you need to watch out for.
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Extra Mover’s Charge
Furniture movers may surprise you by charging extra money for reassembling large pieces of furniture once they’re in your new home. This can add to your cost, especially when furniture includes dressers, sofas, and beds that have to be taken apart in order to be transported safely and easily.
As well, movers may also charge extra for carrying heavier and bulkier objects such as hot tubs or pool tables as they take up a lot of space in the truck. When musical instruments such as pianos are transported, they are carried by a crane, which can cost up to thousands of dollars.
Land Transfer Taxes
A land transfer tax is added on passing the title of a property from one person to another. This type of cost is often overlooked when people consider buying homes. Land transfer tax varies from province to province and is usually based on the sale price of the land and property; in some cases, it can also be based on the fair market value of the land you have to purchase. This is paid by the buyer of the property, and not the seller.
Related Read: Ontario Cities Ranked by Land Transfer Tax: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Moving Fees on Utilities
Whether you decide to move across town or to a different country, it is essential to set up electric, gas, internet and television services.
There are a lot of factors that influence how much these utilities will cost, so it is smart to call ahead and plan according to your budget. On the other hand, terminating utilities from your old home is also an additional cost that you have to concur.
For example, some television companies may require money to permit you to leave your contract. In this case, you must know the secret reason why you should switch telecom service providers when moving to avoid such expenses.
Paying Two Rents at Once
Normally, leases require a 30-to-60-day (depending on your province) notice to move out. This means that if a person has to move suddenly due to some reason, they can file their lease termination on March 1st. However, if they move out on March 10, they still need to pay for the remaining 20 days. This can be disadvantageous, as having to pay rent for the entire month may overlap with rent for the new apartment.
Buying Back
Although it is a good exercise to throw out old stuff that’s been lying around at your home, there are certain things you should keep in your possession.
Many people end up re-purchasing the same items that they threw away because they did not think about the future benefits and uses of that object. These items may include extension cords, tape measures, paperwork or other small electronics. Moreover, some people prefer to get new objects for their fresh spaces.
Renting and Shipping
Often times when people move, they want to renovate their entire new space. They’ll then purchase new furniture in advance, which may result in additional costs such as shipping. Like everything else, renting a truck to move your furniture or hiring professionals won’t be free. This, along with tipping the movers after the job is done is a rather expensive experience.
Moreover, if the distance to your new destination is far, shipping can become very costly. People often make the mistake of overlooking this cost, which is unfortunate.
Repainting
Finding the perfect colour to paint your walls and hiring professionals to repaint your new apartment can be tricky. The best way is to be prepared by calling professionals beforehand to get the estimated costs of the entire job.
A few online services can help to provide these quotes in order to keep you informed regarding such expenses and motivated throughout your moving experience.
Conclusion
Moving isn’t an easy process, and it usually takes weeks to settle down into one place fully. It’s beneficial to think before time and establish these additional costs so you can properly allocate your budget.
About MovingWaldo
MovingWaldo is a Canadian website that makes moving tasks a breeze. The free platform helps users organize their move, save on home services such as telecom, security systems and home insurance and save up to 10 hours of paperwork by completing all their changes of address in one place.
