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
World Sleep Day Tips
4 days ago
There are many people who struggle with getting a good night’s sleep. Having poor sleep hygiene can be the reason for bad sleep quality in adults. Sleep hygiene refers to habits that can help you sleep better.
Here we have shared some tips to create a healthier sleep.
What you need to know about remortgaging
6 days ago
If your current fixed rate is due to come to an end within the next six months, you will want to start thinking about the options available to you.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
13 days ago
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Nationwide is the first lender to allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically and without the need for a witness.
‘My First Mortgage’ from major high-street lender Santander is specifically for those wanting to buy their first property. It allows first-time buyers to purchase 98% of the property’s value. However, certain criteria must be met to be eligible.
Maidenhead, Berkshire – 26th January 2026 – Dedicated independent mortgage experts, Mortgage Required, are delighted to have acquired fellow experienced brokerage, Y-Not Finance.
The acquisition connects two well-respected brokerages, both with a wealth of experience and shared values, to continue providing the best advice on all aspects of the mortgage market.
As part of the UK government’s plans to change the leasehold system to help families struggling with unaffordable ground rent costs.
The Prime Minister announced this morning (27 January) that ground rents will be capped at £250 per year, reverting to a peppercorn rate after 40 years.
Additional borrowing, also known as a further advance, is when you borrow more money on your existing mortgage for a specific reason agreed with your lender.
Here are five of the most common reasons for additional borrowing.
More information
Trusted by
