As most of you probably know, moving isn’t cheap, but it’s been somewhat of a goal of mine to explore living in different cities in the US, and I definitely don’t feel like settling down just yet.
So about a month ago, I got to experience the joy of moving yet again…and all the unexpected expenses that come with it.
I’ve moved a few times now, but each time has been a different experience with different expenses.
If you’re thinking about relocating anytime soon, here are 7 hidden moving expenses I encountered that you should include in your budget.
1) Deposits on Utilities
This one admittedly took me by surprise. Every city is different; if you’re moving within the same city (or state) and are keeping the same provider, you likely won’t have to pay a deposit.
Unfortunately, I got hit with a $100 deposit for my electric, and a $75 deposit for my gas. Oh yeah, there were installation fees along with that. Yikes!
While I’m generally very mindful about how often I use electric and gas, my bills for the first month were over $100 for gas and $240 for electric, and I definitely wasn’t expecting that. My actual usage was a tiny fraction of that.
Same thing for my internet – I had to pay an installation fee. All of my utilities were quite inflated that first month, and along with all the other moving expenses you might face, it can be hard on your wallet to balance it all! You’re better off budgeting for higher utilities beforehand.
2) Apartment Fees…Everywhere!
Not all apartments have the same fees, as I quickly learned after searching for a new place to live. My former apartment complex didn’t have monthly pet fees, for example, but 90% of the new places I looked at did.
That was in addition to the non-refundable or refundable pet deposit. If you wanted to bring a pet with you, you were easily looking at $10-$35/month pet rent, and a $300ish deposit.
I also chose to live in an area where inclement weather is common – enough to warrant a premium on covered parking. That’s another $20-$30/month.
If, like me, you don’t own a washer and dryer, you may also be looking at a $30-$50/month rental fee for a set. This was another fee my previous apartment didn’t have. You can at least take your clothes to a laundromat or the on-site laundry room.
There were also some apartments who forced valet trash pick-up on you for another fee of $15-$25/month.
Let’s not forget the standard fees you’ll most likely end up paying during the leasing process: the application fee, the administrative fee, and the security deposit.
Obviously, the monthly fees are ongoing and not exactly part of the moving process itself, but they’re still something you must be aware of if you’re a renter as they can easily catch you off guard.
I had to directly ask some places what their fees were because they didn’t explicitly state them. If the base rent of an apartment is very close to your target budget, assess how much the fees will put you over before signing a lease.
(If you’re renting a house, or buying a house, the fees to watch out for are, of course, going to be different. The point is, do your research beforehand so you know what to expect!)
3) Transportation
Transportation may not be a “hidden” fee… until you start thinking about the implications of whether it’s better to rent a truck, use PODS, or sell your stuff and move with only what will fit in your car.
This is a decision I weighed a lot. I wanted to move with my car because I didn’t feel like dealing with a truck. The last time I moved, the truck actually died, and that was a fiasco I’d rather not go through again.
This was fine as the majority of my furniture had been obtained for free through hand-me-downs. Except for my bed. A bed I purchased just three years ago for around $1,000 (yep, won’t be doing that again).
Unfortunately, renting a truck for the mileage I was traveling likely would have cost close to that. I also would have had to tow my car, which was another $300-$500. And while I believe that a decent bed is required to get quality sleep, I was willing to buy a memory foam mattress off of Amazon for less than $300 and call it a day.
My situation may be a little different than yours, especially if you’re moving from a house or have a family. I couldn’t sell anything I owned easily because the stuff was old (I doubt anyone would buy it off of Craigslist – especially a used mattress), and my apartment complex didn’t allow “yard sales” of any type. I also didn’t have a lot of time to figure the logistics out.
You may find that the cost of renting a truck and moving your belongings is cheaper than having to furnish a new place. I’m happy being a minimalist and having little to no furniture in my apartment, and all my old furniture was free, so I didn’t think it paid to transport it.
Plus, trucks use a lot more gas, and tolls (if you encounter them) can be more expensive. The drive I went through was bad enough in a car; adding a truck into the mix would have been a nightmare. When you’re moving, it’s worth considering both the hidden expenses to your wallet and your sanity!
4) Restocking Your Supplies
My car is a little coupe, and while many of the essential items I wanted to bring with me fit, that meant leaving some practical things behind.
When I got to my apartment, I had to make a few trips to Walmart, Target, and the dollar store to replenish my pantry and fridge, and get some basic appliances.
For example, my unit (surprisingly) didn’t come with a microwave. Healthy or not, I wanted one, so I had to buy it ($60). I also had to leave my coffee maker behind ($18), and to say I needed one is probably an understatement!
Another thing I chose to purchase was a modem ($80), as renting one would have cost me $10/month. My previous apartment had supplied one.
I also needed simple things that are easy to forget, like aluminum foil, spices, oven mitts, and dish soap. (Yay for dollar stores!)
All in all, I spent way more than I thought I would on the basics, and then I had to add a grocery store trip on top of that, which included getting items that normally last me months.
It was a lot to buy all at once, when purchases like that are normally spread out throughout the year.
5) Car Registration
This gets me every time, as every state is different. When I moved last time, I had to pay property tax on my car, which isn’t something I’m used to, being from NY. Thankfully, my car being old worked in my favor, and this amounted to $35.
In my new state, you’re required to pay a flat sales tax fee of $90 just for the privilege of bringing your car there. The entire registration process is around $180, plus inspection, and getting a license is $25. And you have to have all of this done within 30 days of moving.
When I got the inspection done, I heard from the mechanics that some people wait until their current registration runs out to register their car, but unfortunately for me, mine was up that month.
6) Shipping Costs
Since I elected to take only what I could fit in my car, my parents were generous enough to take the rest of the items that were important to me, including my TV.
I don’t actually watch TV, but I do use it for gaming or as a third monitor (I know, I’m spoiled). Along with a few other things my parents shipped me, it cost about $80.
Had I known it would be that much, I might have decided to buy a new TV considering how cheap they are. I’m bringing this up for others who are considering doing what I did. It’s essentially the same dilemma as the moving truck – is an item worth the cost of shipping, or are you better off replacing it when you move?
7) Food
Last but not least, I want to mention food, because it’s not something that’s going to be on your mind in the middle of moving.
Once your kitchen is packed up, it’s kind of hard to cook. You’re left with microwaveable meals, leftovers, or (more than likely) fast food.
Depending on how far you’re moving, you might incur food costs along the way. A friend helped me move, so I treated him to dinner one night, and we ordered out again once we got to my apartment as we were exhausted after 24 hours on the road.
If you’re unpacking an entire house, with kids, things might get hectic enough to the point where you give in and order pizza. None of us are perfect during intense times like these, but it’s best to budget in advance so you don’t have to feel guilty about it.
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As you can see, moving costs, whether unexpected or routine, add up very quickly. I remember getting upset the last time I moved because my budget didn’t even out for a couple of months. Something was always popping up that needed to get taken care of.
It’s best to plan for your move in advance and take into account as many expenses as possible so you’re not blindsided. I had been saving up for my move for months, which helped take the sting out of it, but I was still surprised by how much it cost.
Have you ever encountered hidden expenses while moving? What has been the biggest unexpected expense of moving you’ve faced?
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Thanks for the article! I plan on moving (out of state) in the next year or two; so I need to consider these things. I agree that pet fees are becoming more and more prevalent! I have a cat; so I don’t like that very much. :-)
Glad to help! There are definitely a lot of things to take into consideration when moving out of state. It can be pretty overwhelming…but at least you have plenty of time to plan!
Yep, it can be really hard to find a place that allows pets if you’re looking for a rental by owner, too, which sucks. I had two cats at that point and the *very* last apartment I looked at allowed them.
It is pretty expensive to move, we’ve already moved twice and are not in a rush to do it again. All the connecting and disconnecting fees are extremely annoying. We are staying put for as long as we can now. We’ve found a very nice place :)
Tristan
I’m glad to hear that! The fees and deposits are horrendous. While I still want to move around and explore, I can’t argue that it isn’t expensive or a headache.
For sure! You never know what will come up. And if you don’t use it all, then you can redirect the money toward another savings goal!
I hate moving…packing stuff up is so tedious and time consuming. But as to the hidden expenses, I’m not sure if others encounter this but in NYC many apartments charge a broker’s fee which is pretty steep. It can be one month’s rent! I’m surprised that there are pet fees, I’ve seen where they ask for an extra security deposit for pets but not a monthly fee.
It’s really interesting to see an American perspective on this. In the UK we don’t get charged differently for our car in different cities…well apart from London you have to pay an emissions fee if you go there.
And deposits on utility bills, I’m pretty sure we don’t have that anywhere here either. I could be wrong though :-)
I used to move quite a bit so I’m happy moving is not on the agenda any time soon, but these are all good expenses to keep in mind. Food is one that always gets us which is why I wait until the absolute last minute to pack up my main pots and dishes so we can still at at home for as long as possible and I always unpack the kitchen first whenever we move in.
It’s insane!
I remember thinking that I was being so frugal while moving, but little things kept coming up… lots of little convenience aspects that I didn’t realize until I physically moved into a new space.
Our old apartment and our house were only 20 miles apart, but even then there were moving expenses here and there. Just glad I got my security deposit back quickly!