Buying or selling a house in the UK is not cheap.
If you are selling a house you will incur significant costs including the procurement of an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate), your estate agent’s disbursements, advertising and marketing costs and their sales commission, your conveyancer’s fees and their disbursements, your removal costs and any additional expenditure that might be incurred including, perhaps, all the other costs incurred by you in the purchase of your new home! Most significant of all these costs is Stamp Duty which is now a very significant sum of money for people buying property over £500,000 in value.
The EPC remains valid for up to 10 years and by law it must be applied for before you market the property. Your estate agent will probably be able to arrange this for you, but it’s worth checking first to make sure the property doesn’t already have a valid EPC in force.
Your estate agent’s fees may vary considerably, dependent on whether you have just one or possibly two agents acting on your behalf. On top of their fees you may need to pay for all sorts of marketing expenses including the erection of a for sale board, preparation of details, photographs, newspaper advertisements and mail shots.
At the time of writing, estate agency is undergoing a revolution, with many ‘online agents’ charging a tiny fee in comparison to historic estate agency fees based on between 1% and 3% of the sale price. Time will tell whether this new model will take off, but when deciding on professional advice it’s always worth remembering that cheap advice can sometimes cost you more in the long run. Always make sure you know what level of service you are buying and make sure you read the terms and conditions. Failure to do so could leave you responsible for paying duplicate fees to more than one agent!
With fees from less than £1,000 to over £7,000 for the same property valued at £250,000, it is worth shopping around for a good deal that suits your needs. Remember that, especially with ‘high end’ property, truly professional, local and experienced advice on valuation and how best to market your property might be worth paying a little extra for in the long run.
Conveyancer’s charges will vary but generally a fee of 0.5% of the sale price isn’t unusual. On top of this there will be a variety of disbursements due to pay for any mortgage termination fees that are due, and land registry fees that may be incurred. Removal costs can be substantial, so make sure you build this into your budget, as can short term storage charges.
For more information or to speak to a mortgage adviser contact us on 01628 507477.
Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide
Recent posts
Budgeting over the Christmas Period
4 days ago
The most wonderful time of the year can easily turn into the most expensive time of the year. Watching the pennies doesn’t mean that the Christmas festivities have to stop, following a few budgeting tips can mean you still have a special Christmas and don’t go into the new year in debt.
Preparing your home to sell in winter
8 days ago
December is usually a less desirable time to buy as many people don’t want to move over the holidays. However, prospective buyers do start to look at this time. Selling your home in winter may require a bit of extra attention to showcase your property at its best.
We look at why mortgage rates increased following the Bank of England's choice to reduce the bank rate, and should you fix now?
UK 2024 Autumn Budget: Housing
30 Oct 2024
On 30th October 2024 the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn budget which we had previously been warned would be “difficult”. Below we have summarised the main housing points.
Talking about money with kids
23 Oct 2024
In an increasingly cashless society, money is an intangible concept for children to grasp. In the days of coins and notes, kids could see money as something physical you require to purchase goods and services.
In order to help teach your children about money, we have listed some tips below;
Labour Autumn Budget Predictions: Housing
18 Oct 2024
The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves will deliver the Labour government’s autumn budget at the end of the month, we take a look at what could be announced in relation to housing.
Recent research from Halifax has revealed the most sought-after locations for first time buyers in Britain.
The data which was taken from the Halifax House Price Index looked at areas outside of London where those looking to purchase their first property were buying. Despite high property prices and increased rates, these first time buyer hotspots have remained popular.
How can I look after my mental health?
7 Oct 2024
Taking care of your mental health means looking after your emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. There are several ways we can practice self-care that will help to improve our physical and mental health. This can help to reduce our risk of illness, manage stress, and boost our energy levels!
More information
Trusted by
