What moving really costs: the sum almost nobody does

The most expensive mistake when flat hunting is not picking the wrong area: it is calculating only the monthly rent. On signing day several payments land at once, and it is worth having them in front of you before falling in love with a flat.

The payments on signing

• The current month: the first month rent, in advance.
• The legal deposit: one month for a primary residence.
• An additional guarantee, if agreed: up to two extra months as the legal maximum in contracts of up to five years.

In other words: between two and four months rent at once in the worst case. On a rent of 900 €, that is between 1,800 and 3,600 € on signing day — and you have not yet bought so much as a broom.

The cost of settling in

• The move: from hiring a van to a full-service company with packing included; the range is enormous and rises sharply with large furniture or buildings without a lift.
• Connecting utilities and changing account holders: some are free, others carry a cost depending on the supplier and the contracted power.
• The basics that are always missing: curtains, bulbs, utensils, a piece of furniture. Almost nobody gets away with less than a few hundred euros, even in a furnished flat.

How to soften the blow

• Ask before viewing how much is required on signing: it saves you falling for flats beyond your real reach.
• Negotiate the timing: some landlords will accept splitting the additional guarantee.
• Take advantage of moving and connection discounts: this is exactly the kind of cost the Totukeli sponsored home aims to reduce with brand benefits.