Costs of Moving
It’s surprising how many unexpected costs there are when moving into a new home. Whether you’re buying, selling or both, there are a number of things to pay for and be aware of as you get closer to moving day.
Stamp Duty costs
If you’re buying a property in England or Northern Ireland, you’ll most likely be paying Stamp Duty Land Tax. If you are in Wales, you’ll pay Land Transaction Tax, and in Scotland you’ll pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. These taxes are all fairly similar – they are a payment to the government when you buy a property, and the amount you pay is based on how expensive the property is, whether you’re a first time buyer and if it’s a second home or buy to let property.
Depending on where you are and how much you are paying for your property, if you are a first time buyer, there are some exemptions.
Conveyancing Costs
When buying or selling a home, you’ll need someone to take care of the legal aspects. So whether you hire a licensed conveyancer, or a conveyancing solicitor, you’ll be paying legal fees. These can vary depending on the price/size of the property and how complicated the sale is. We suggest you always compare prices and be aware of extra costs and disbursements.
Your conveyancing solicitor will be responsible for ensuring the name on the deeds is changed and you officially are the owner of your home, as well as organising the searches on the property, and transferring Stamp Duty to the government.
Surveys
If you’re buying a home, the best thing you can do is get a survey. These will highlight any potential issues with the property and what it might cost to fix them. They give you a better idea of whether purchasing this property is right for you, or if it might be more work than you’re expecting. It also gives you an opportunity to negotiate if there are some unexpected issues.
You have a few different options for Surveys, but the main two are Homebuyers reports and Building surveys. You should compare prices for surveyors and see which kind of survey is suitable for the property you’re looking to buy.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
When you’re selling your property, you may need to check if your EPC is out of date. They last for 10 years. An EPC will assess how energy efficient your home is, and approximate how much you’ll spend on your energy bills. If you’ve done work to your property that might make it more energy efficient, it’s worth getting a more up to date EPC, as a better rating could make it more appealing to potential buyers.
Estate agent fees
If you’re selling your property, you will pay an estate agent to handle the sale and promote it. This could be an upfront fee for an online estate agent, or a percentage of the sale for a high street agent. Whichever one you decide on, be sure to factor it in to your costs.
Removals
The more you need to move, the more you will pay in removals fees. So, doing a big clear out is the best way to save money. Get a removals firm to do a valuation of your property, which will assess how big a van they’ll need to do the move. Don’t forget the costs of packing materials, and if you want a disassembly, reassembly or packing service, that will cost extra. If you need to put your items in storage for a while, it’s worth considering that cost too.