The Hidden Costs of Moving House
Nothing compares to the excitement of moving into your new house, ready to realise your vision and to make it feel like home. However, as we navigate the unprecedented cost of living crisis, moving house in 2022 might be more expensive than ever before. In this guide, we’ll cover some of the maintenance issues you might face if you’re about to make the big move.
The reality of moving house
Whether you’re moving house to upsize, downsize, or simply relocate to a new area, the move itself is often decided in pursuit of a better long-term outcome. However, getting settled in a new house and place almost always causes frustrations.
In fact, according to an exclusive study by fitted furniture experts Hammonds, over a third of 2,000 surveyed Brits admitted that the process of moving house was one of the most stressful events they’ve encountered in their lifetimes.
From faulty cables to blocked drains, unexpected issues can arise, leaving many new homeowners facing unanticipated repair costs. So where do things start to go wrong?
What are the most common problems with new houses?
In Hammonds’ study, Google search data was analysed to identify the most challenging, widespread home maintenance issues that Brits have attempted to remedy online. The top five most searched-for household complaints include:
- Blocked drains, with 151,700 monthly searches
- Wi-Fi problems, 36,660
- Wall cracks, 30,200
- Leaking roof, 29,200
- Window condensation, 26,770
How much do household repairs cost?
Blocked drains: Unfortunately, along with being one of the most frequently reported household concerns, blocked drains could potentially be one of the most expensive to fix, too.
Boiler repair and replacement also comes with a hefty price tag. New boilers typically cost up to £1,000, and if you need a major repair on an existing boiler, it could still be a few hundred pounds.
Hot water: If you’re unlucky enough to move into a house and find out that the hot water isn’t working, this could be a costly repair. Hammonds spoke to Thomas Goodman, a property and construction expert at MyJobQuote, who added that replacing damaged components could cost upwards of £400.
Leaking roof repairs are also expensive, confirmed by the experts. According to Goodson, the cost of repairing a leaking roofcould range from as little as £50 to a stifling £6,000 if the entire roof needs replacing.
Choosing a reliable contractor
Whether you’re looking for a plumber or a specialist engineer, it’s important to use someone who has the right qualifications to do the job safely and to a high standard.
Finding a qualified trader online could be a sensible idea to arrange your repairs quickly. Always remember to use only a Gas Safe Engineer for any works on or around gas pipes or mains.