Proper organisation now can save you trouble later

Moving into a new house is indeed a stressful endeavour. And almost often, it is compounded with numerous hidden costs that can easily overwhelm a tenant. In order to ensure an effortless and hassle-free move, and to avoid falling into a trap of never-ending fees, proper organisation and planning is highly recommended.

Choosing a house

First off, be very careful when choosing a house to rent, as it can impact heavily on your initial moving costs. Before you sign a tenancy contract, make sure the apartment doesn't have any serious plumbing or structural issues.

If a house is semi-furnished, ensure that every single home appliance installed is working. You don't want to spend the first three months in an expensive apartment without a fridge or a clothes washer. Either you starve yourself and run out of clean clothes, or you could end up paying a fortune on takeaway meals and laundry services.

Choosing a house equipped with energy-efficient appliances can lessen your utility bills and translate into significant savings in the long-run, so always keep an eye out for good-quality domestic devices.

Vineet Kumar, head of business development at Asteco Dubai, says one of the key things tenants keep in mind is the property's "close proximity to metro station to save on car expenses used just for driving to work."

Some want to avoid locations where they have to pay Salik just for grocery runs or picking up the children from school, and may opt for areas where house help is easily available at competitive rates.

Another key consideration is whether or not a property offers extra car parking and has better level of security and management services. "Any additional charges paid by the tenants are also key concerns why tenants would consider moving," Kumar adds.

If possible, ask the landlord, property consultant or previous tenant to give you an idea of what to expect from your total monthly bills. "Be especially careful if the new property has a pool or large, landscaped garden as bills will be higher," advises Laura Adams, manager for residential sales and leasing at Better Homes head office.

"If you're moving into an apartment, it's always best to ask who pays the chiller charges. Some are the landlord's service charges which are not the responsibility of the tenant, and some are billed through external companies dependant on usage by either Empower or Palm District Cooling."

Utilities

Installation of water and electricity in the new apartment is always the responsibility of the tenant, so before you hand over your rent, make sure all the outstanding bills are settled by the previous tenant or landlord. According to Adams, Dewa has changed their policies since the beginning of the year and all water and electricity bills for a property must now be cleared before any new connections or accounts can be created.

"A professional consultant will do his/her due diligence to ensure that rental cheques are not handed over to the landlord until they have provided clearance bills. The same applies to small maintenance issues. A property offer is generally dependant on a number of conditions; these should be incorporated within in the rental property contract, to be completed by the landlord before the lease start date," Adams explains.

Check with your internet provider if there are any fees involved in relocating your broadband connection. "Relocation fees are minimal, but are chargeable," says Adams.

Choosing a mover

If it's impossible to fit all your belongings into one car, it may be a good idea to hire a professional mover, but before you book one, do a little market research. "Be wary of one-man shows, as you could end up paying more by the hour," says Adams.

Ensure that a pre-quotation survey is done, as well. "If you don't do it, you could end up paying more. Let's say a mover is halfway through, he has moved everything and he says ‘this is not included in the quotation, so you have to pay me this.' You're far more safer to mutually agree before starting a move," says C.C. Niyaz Ali, managing director at Dulog Removals.

Moving costs largely depend on the number of hours it will take to pack, load and unload your stuff, the amount of packing materials that is required and the number of trips. A typical two-bedroom apartment will cost between Dh2,000 and Dh3,000.