Moving house is expensive, even if you are downsizing. When planning your budget, it is important to factor in all the associated costs with moving and not just the estate agent and tax costs.
Removal Company
Once you have a moving date, one of the first things you should be looking at booking is your removal company. Different people will have different requirements depending on the size of property they are moving from, such as the value of the items being transported, whether any storage is required and the distance the removal vehicle will need to travel.
Legal fees
Often, estate agents will recommend a solicitor to handle the conveyancing, but it is always worthwhile obtaining your own quote and making sure everything is included such as stamp duty, fees, and property surveys etc.
Building Survey
Getting a building survey is essential, as it can highlight any problems with the property you are buying and potentially give you the opportunity to negotiate on price, or even change your mind depending on what it shows. Other building survey options can also be carried out depending on the age and location of the property, including structural surveys, which are helpful if you are planning on making structural changes to the property, as well as looking at subsidence, drainage and any issues with damp.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is one of the biggest costs to buying a property or piece of land and so it is essential that you include this in your budget and calculations. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the government has cut stamp duty until March 2021 for buyers who are purchasing properties which cost up to £500,000.
Estate Agent
Second to Stamp Duty fees, the next biggest fee is Estate Agents. Each agent is different and it is always worthwhile trying to negotiate, but the average cost is 1 – 2% of the agreed sale price.
Deposit
Before securing your mortgage, you will need to confirm the deposit you will be making on the property. This is usually a minimum of 5% of the total value. If you are downsizing, or have made a healthy profit on the house you are selling, this can be deducted from that profit, but if you are a first time buyer, you will need to save the deposit in advance.
