Selling your home and moving is a costly business.
According to Barclays Bank movers in the UK spend an average of £8,885 on the process.
So why is moving so expensive?
Here are the main costs to look out for when you sell your home:
1. Estate agents
Traditional estate agents are the most popular way to sell a home.
Estate agents typically charge a commission of between 0.75% and 3% of the final sale price. The average is around 1.5%. So, for a house worth £200,000 you’ll probably pay £3,000.
Online estate agents charge from £99 for a basic package up to around £1,500.
2. Solicitors
Normally when you sell or buy a home you’ll hire a solicitor to sort out all the legal ins and outs. This is known as conveyancing and is a vital part of the process.
Solicitor’s fees depends on several factors, including the value of your property. (To sell a £200,000 home you can expect to pay near £600.)
So, if you’re buying a property as well that figure could go up to £1,500. This includes the solicitor’s fee and third party costs they will incur with local authorities, the Land Registry and banks.
3. Energy performance certificate (EPC)
Every home in the UK is required to have an EPC which rates the energy efficiency of your home.
They last for ten years so you may have one that is still valid from when you bought your home.
EPCs are carried out by qualified testers, costs vary so it’s worth shopping around but it’s likely to set you back between £50 and £120. If you don’t have one, we can help arrange a test for you.
4. Professional cleaners
Some contracts include a clause insisting you leave your home in a clean and tidy state.
You’ll also have to take all your belongings, even the bits you don’t want unless your buyers agree to let you leave them.
This could mean you’ll have to pay for professional cleaners to sweep your house into shape and storage or disposal for items you can’t move with you. Fortunately, we’ll buy your home whatever condition it is in.
5. Bills
When you leave your home you’ll need to settle all the bills connected to it. This includes:
gas, water, electric, council tax and your phone and internet service, which can really add up when they land at the same time.
If you’re able to it’s also worth setting up a redirection service for your post. This costs £33.99 for three months and is particularly handy if you’re leaving in a rush and haven’t had time to tell everyone your change of address.
6. Removals
Removal costs vary depending on your needs. On average, it could come come to around £1,200.
You should always shop around for a few quotes to get the best price. If you work with us we’ll take care of the rest of the home selling process, giving you a little more time to do this.
7. Your next home
If you’re moving into rented accommodation you’ll need to cover the deposit, which is usually between four and six week’s rent, and your first month’s rent payment.
If you’re buying there are more costs to bear in mind, alongside the extra solicitor’s fees we mentioned above, these include:
Stamp duty
This is a tax the government places on all home transactions and is paid by the buyer.
Homes under £125,000 are not subject to the tax, from there up to £250,000 it’s applied at 2% and the rate steadily increases with the price of the home.
If you’re buying a home worth £200,000 you’ll have to stump up £1,500 for stamp duty.
Mortgage charges
Whenever you make changes to your mortgage there will be costs involved.
If you are transferring your current mortgage to a new property (known as porting) you may only have to pay a small admin charge if the size of your borrowing is staying the same.
If you’re leaving your current mortgage and getting a new one you may have to pay early repayment charges. You’ll also be charged a mortgage arrangement fee and, possibly, have to cover the cost of a broker.
Valuations and surveys
Your mortgage provider will carry out a valuation on your next home to make sure it’s worth the money they’re lending you.
The cost of this increases with the value and size of the home, but you should expect to pay around £150 for a £200,000 property.
For extra security, you can upgrade your valuation to a full survey. This closely inspects the structure and condition of your new home, looking for any potential problems.
Insurance
Your mortgage lender will usually insist you have buildings insurance cover for your new home before releasing funds. As always it’s a good idea to get a variety of quotes before you buy.
You should also consider homebuyer insurance.
