Amazing time lost buying, renting or moving house

STAMP duty, legal fees and mortgage repayments are all the obvious costs of buying and moving house, but research has revealed a hidden cost which could equate to millions a year.

Australians spent an average of 208 days over their lifetime searching, settling or moving into a rental or bought property.

They also spent up to 133 days on hold on the phone while trying to organise things such as moving home and other services such as getting a new mobile phone or calling the bank.

Insights from REA has revealed that Christmas and summer were two of the most popular times of the year to move house, but about three quarters of respondents felt like it was one of life’s most stressful situations.

The research, from Origin Energy, was based on an average of 13 moves per lifetime.

Time management expert, Kate Christie, director from Time Stylers said if you worked out what you were paid an hour and how much time you spent researching, cleaning and moving, it made sense to try and cut the costs and time involved.

Kate’s tips for reducing moving costs: Outsource

Your time is money — work out your personal hourly rate. "With this sum in mind, identify the jobs you are happy to pay someone else to do for you either because it will be cheaper or they will do a better job than you.’’

Insource

If you more than one person is involved in the move, or you have helpful family members divide up the jobs, to lessen everyone’s load.

Batch it

Don’t just jump from task to task. Ms Christie said this could reduce productivity by up to 40 per cent. Bunch your tasks together for example sit down and connect or disconnect all your utilities in one go.

Streamline your tasks

Use your time wisely. Don’t be driving around to do everything and don’t be stuck on the phone. Get online as much as you can. "For example, don’t go to every open for inspection in your area of interest. Rather, when you search online look at all the photos, the floor plan, the street scape and then make a short list of the top want to visit.’’