What is the cost of moving house in Australia?

Moving house? Exciting, right? But we also get that it can be stressful, too. There is the anxiety of packing, the unforeseen maintenance issues, the loading and unloading of furniture, and, above all else, budgeting.

Budgeting can be stressful. So much so that it’s one of the most common topics we’re asked about here at DiJones. Everyone’s familiar with the typical costs of moving - real estate fees and home removal vans. But many forget about all of the hidden costs that come with the move.

Moving house is different for everyone. Costs can vary anywhere from $300-$10000. But the average moving cost in Australia usually sits around $3000. Still, that’s just an estimate, and the actual amount you’ll need to pay will vary. That’s why our number one piece of advice is to create your budget well in advance.

So, to help you with that, we will run through the different costs you might encounter. We’ll also reveal on average how much they’ll set you back. However, as always, it’s worth using the information in this guide as a starting point for your own research.

Major cost factors when moving house

The best advice we can give is that diligent preparation means no surprises. If you know every cost you could encounter when moving, you’ll be prepared for everything.

Let’s go through every major cost you could run into as you get ready to move.

1. Upfront costs

Upfront costs first. You’ll need to pay several before you can start packing and unpacking.

For simplicity’s sake, we will assume you’ve already paid the deposit for your new home. But here are a few other common and uncommon costs you should take note of.

Solicitor or conveyancer costs

First things first. You’ll need to fork out for a conveyancer or solicitor. These professionals will handle the legal transfer of your property. They’ll also prepare contracts of sale. Cost will vary, but budget around $1000-$2500.

Lender’s mortgage insurance

Your lender might want you to pay lender’s mortgage insurance. This is their failsafe in case you default on your payments. This usually only applies if you borrow more than 80% of your home’s value. Need to do the maths? Westpac offers a handy stamp duty and LMI calculator.

Stamp duty

First-home buyer? You don’t need to pay stamp duty. Buying an additional property? You’ll need to pay the tax. Cost varies by state and is dependent on the price of your home. In some cases, you can get a concession. Use a tool to calculate this based on your situation.

Mortgage registration and transfer

You’ll also need to pay a fee to register the mortgage and transfer property ownership. Once again, fees vary depending on your state. But you should set aside $1000-$1500 for this. Though, we’ll note here that costs can rise to $5000 in South Australia.

Surveys

Surveyors are essential. These experts will inspect the property you want to buy. They’ll make sure there are no hidden defects that might impact your desire to make the purchase. As always, this process isn’t free. Budget around $500-600 unless your seller is covering the cost.

1. Moving day costs

Next, we have the actual day of the move, which is surely the most exciting (and stressful) part of the whole experience.

The good news is that if you budget right, you can relieve some of the anxiety. Here are the fees to consider.

Transportation

First, transportation. How are you getting all of your possessions from A to B? There are a few approaches, each with its own set of considerations.

• Hiring professional movers: This is the most stress-free option, but it's also the most expensive. Average removalist costs can range anywhere from $120/hr to $300/hr, and this doesn’t include loading and unloading fees.

If you’re travelling long distances, such as moving interstate, and have many belongings, it can make it even more pricey. Local moves are comparably cheaper. It’s worth getting removalist quotes well in advance, and you should also consider getting removal insurance if moving valuable items.

• Renting a truck or van: Getting your own truck for the day is a good way to save on moving costs, but it will make the day slightly more labour-intensive. Also, consider how fuel will affect the cost if you need to drive long distances for multiple house removals.
• Using your vehicle: Lastly, you can choose to use your own vehicle as transport. This is a solid choice if you’re only moving a few doors down. But if you’re driving interstate in a five-seater saloon, consider whether you’ll need to make several exhausting (and expensive) trips to get all of your possessions to your new home.

Packing materials

This is the most overlooked element of moving day. Packing supplies may seem like a small expense. But costs can quickly add up. Budget for packing boxes and packing tape to store your things in. Also, bubble wrap and covers should be considered to help with furniture removal.

Our advice? Set aside a tentative $100 initially for this expense, but be prepared to spend an extra $50 if required.

Temporary storage

Need some temporary storage? We recommend setting aside at least $200-$300 if you want to stash things away for a month. Do this research before your move-in day and factor it into your budget early so there are no surprises.

You could also use a company like Spacer, which is an online self-storage marketplace that lets you rent out people’s spare unused space to find cheap self-storage options near you.

House cleaning cost

Cleaning costs are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you might need to buy them for your old property to prepare it for the new owner. On the other hand, you may choose to buy cleaning services for your new house if they aren’t up to standard. These services will usually set you back around $30 to $50 per hour.

Additional costs

Here are five other quick-fire expenses you may not have considered.

• Connecting fees for setting up or transferring utilities.
• Buying new furniture for your home.
• Relocating pets to your new property.
• Redirecting mail.
• Arranging waste removal.

These expenses may or may not apply to you. But it’s worth ticking each off one by one. Preparing your budget well in advance can take one huge heap of stress off of your shoulders.

1. Ongoing costs

And finally, there’s the ongoing cost of living. These are the costs you should expect to pay after you’ve moved into your property.

• Mortgage payments or rent. Goes without saying, but make sure you have enough in your budget to account for ongoing mortgage or rental payments.
• Maintenance. Average maintenance and repair bills sit at around 1% to 4% of your home’s value. This has the potential to be higher when you’re just moving in. It’s pretty common to find some problems you didn’t see in the initial home inspections.
• Insurance. Every new home needs contents insurance. Factor in how much this will cost, and make sure you have enough in your budget to set it up once you’re settled in.
• Utilities. Gas, electricity, water, WiFi, TV packages, Phone bills, it all adds up. Factor every cost you’ll need to pay once you’ve moved in. Where possible, get quotes from multiple companies for these things before the move-in day.
• Council rates. Council rates differ by property, so check the local rates in your new area before you move.
• Food. No one wants to start life in a new home with a half-stocked fridge. Budget enough for a full shop when you move in.

How to save money when moving house

Now, reading up to this point, you’re probably thinking: “Wow. That’s a lot of moving expenses”.

It is, and it can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are several ways to make things more affordable. Here are a few of our top moving house tips.

• Shop around. Get quotes from several movers. Compare them and decide on the best fit. There’s always a better deal somewhere.
• Do it yourself. Could moving yourself be the right call? Compare prices for removal vans against the cost of hiring a professional removalist company. Remember to account for fuel.
• Declutter. Moving home is the perfect time to purge. Get rid of furniture or possessions you no longer want to make move-in day cheaper and less stressful.
• Search for cheap supplies. Friendly with a local DIY store? Have a friend or family member who’s always ordering from Amazon? It’s always worth asking for free packing supplies.
• Move during off-peak times. Summer is prime moving season, so removal teams tend to raise their prices. Opt for Autumn or Winter for cheap rates. The same goes for the day of the week. Weekends or public holidays are busier, so your removal cost might be lower on weekdays. 
• Plan ahead. Ultimately, planning for your move months in advance will let you secure the best deals and make all necessary arrangements. This will reduce the chance of unexpected costs on the day.

Moving is never going to be easy, but these tips will help keep the costs of moving lower.

Using technology to make life easier

Aside from managing finances, move-in day can also be pretty stressful logistically. Luckily for us, there are now dozens of different platforms and apps that can handle these logistics automatically. Here are a few ideas.

Home inventory apps

Apps like Sortly and Encircle let you categorise items room by room. You can add photos of each item, too, meaning you can prove the condition they were in before the move. Ideal for making claims due to accidental damage.

Moving costs calculator

A moving cost calculator will help you take all of the information in this moving guide and apply it to your situation. It’ll then give you a more accurate estimate tailored to you. There are dozens (literally) of these moving calculators, and they all do a pretty good job.

Home design tools

We love home design tools like Floorplanner and HomeByMe that let you arrange furniture into floor plans. From what we’ve experienced, simply the act of styling your new home virtually can take your mind off the stresses of moving.

How much does it cost to move interstate?

Whether you’re hiring removalists or doing it yourself, moving interstate can be a significant expense, and several factors can affect the total cost.

• Distance and Destination: The total cost of moving interstate primarily depends on the distance being travelled. Typically, the farther the distance, the higher the cost.
• Volume and weight: The volume of your belongings and how much they weigh are also essential factors to consider. A large family home with lots of furniture will demand more labour and transport costs than a smaller apartment or rental property.
• Interstate removalists fees: If you choose to hire professional interstate removalists, the costs of moving house typically fall in the $3,000 - $10,000 range. Make sure you get detailed quotes to have a thorough understanding of what is involved.

The Bottom line

There’s a lot to consider when moving house. That’s a given. We recommend setting aside slightly more than you think you’ll need. Unexpected moving house costs have an annoying habit of sneaking up on you. The average cost of moving house in Australia is different for everyone. It’s worth spending the time to budget for your situation.

Aside from that, try to remember your reasons for the move. It’s exciting, and it’ll all be worth it, though we’re the first to admit it can be hard to see that when packing up boxes and liaising with removal teams.

We know that from experience. Since our launch in 1992, DiJones has helped thousands of Australians buy and sell homes. Reach out today if you’d like to ask us any further questions. You can connect with us here or visit our blog for more insights.