When you’re already a homeowner you understand that buying a new home means you need enough for a deposit and an income to cover the new mortgage repayments. These are the expenses you’ve prepared yourself for, but have you considered the real cost of moving home?

It’s important you are fully informed on the realistic price of moving, so you can avoid unexpected costs and set your budgets accordingly. When you were a first-time buyer, your costs would have been minimal. You’re unlikely to have had many belongings to move in. Even if you started off in rented, it’s common for new buyers to want new things to place in their very first home.

Now you’re ready for the next step. Whether the family has extended, or you’ve moved up in your career and you’re affordability is higher, moving home is an exciting time. That’s why we want to help you be fully prepared from the beginning…

So, how much does it really cost to move home?

The average cost of moving to a new house in the UK is currently around £10,000. While the cost of your new home is covered mostly by a mortgage, these costs will need to be paid upfront. You need to make sure you have the budget set aside for them.
Let’s take a look at what is included in those costs.

 

Upfront Costs

  1. Stamp Duty
    Stamp duty is the tax you pay when you purchase a property. If you’re not sure how much this will be there is a handy calculator on gov.uk
  2. Legal Fees
    Solicitors will handle all the legal aspects of your sale and purchase. They will check for any planning issues that could affect you and register your ownership with the government. The fees for solicitors can vary between £800 – £1500. We definitely advise getting a few quotes and checking if these include VAT.
  3. Surveys and Valuations
    It’s highly recommended you have a survey carried out on your new property. This will highlight any potential issues. You can arrange this yourself through The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, or your solicitor can help.
    Your mortgage lender for the new property may also want to carry out a valuation to ensure the price is realistic. Fortunately, you’ll rarely find there is a cost for this.
  4. Estate Agents Fees
    If you’re selling a property then you will need to pay an estate agents fee. This will usually be on the sale of the property and around 1-3% of the sold price. Some agents will offer a flat fee.

 

Moving Day Costs

  1. Removal Company
    Think about how much heavy furniture you actually want to take with you. If you don’t have too much in regards of wardrobes, beds, sofas, then a self-drive van may be a more affordable option.
  2. Storage
    It’s worth thinking about if you’ll need to temporarily store anything. This could be if the property needs some renovations for example.
  3. Redirect Post
    You should first contact any company you have a direct debit with, doctors, workplaces and schools to let them know your new address. However, you can also arrange to have your post redirected for up to 12 months for around £70.
  4. Cleaning
    If you’re renting then it’s likely you’ll need to thoroughly clean the property you’re in. Have it left as you found it to avoid any loss of your deposit. You may also wish to have the property you’re moving in to cleaned.


Our top pieces of advice before purchasing a new home:

  • Look into the average energy costs of the property
    You may scan over the energy certificates, but this is really important information. It could be the difference of £100s every year. Or the cost of expensive jobs like insulation or a new boiler.
  • Additional space in the home
    If you are moving to increase the rooms in your home then you need to consider the additional furniture you may need for these.
  • Council tax band
    You are more than likely to have investigated the rise of your mortgage repayments, but have you looked at the council tax band? Again, this could be a rise in £100s each year.

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