Moving home can be a stressful experience. From the initial effort that goes into getting your house ready for viewings, to dealing with the final solicitor enquiries can feel draining, so it’s worth getting your brain in gear when it comes to understanding what the costs will be throughout.
Deposit
The bigger the deposit, the more likely you are to be given a mortgage – also, it means your interest rate will be lower. On average, you need at least 5% to 20% of the purchase price. If you’re selling your current property, you may already have some equity that helps to fund the next home you buy, however, you may want to put more of your savings into the next property to lower the mortgage loan size.
Valuation Fee
You need a mortgage lender to assess the value of the property to establish how much they want to lend you. The cost can be £150-£1,500 based on the property’s value. Certain lenders may have no fee for this but it depends on the type of mortgage you have.
Surveyor Fee
When moving into a new property, you must get it checked by a surveyor. This can range from a basic home condition survey (around £250) to a full structural survey (from £600). A good survey may help you to save money later on down the line.
Stamp Duty
You can use a stamp duty calculator to get a good idea of what you will be paying in this regard. Stamp duty is a government tax paid on homes costing £125,001 or more. First-time-buyers don’t pay stamp duty on the first £300,000 for properties worth up to £500,000.
Electronic Transfer Fee
This is usually around £40-£50 and covers the lender’s cost of transferring the mortgage money from the lender to the solicitor.
Legal Fees
A solicitor or licensed conveyor will carry out all of the legal work when buying and selling your home. The legal fees are usually £850-£1,500 including VAT at 20%.
Removal Costs
Removal costs don’t have to be extortionate – you can do it yourself with a van for a lot less. However, if you’d rather make sure this is properly taken care of, you will need to pay around £300-£600 for a professional service. Make sure any removals company you choose to work with is fully insured and comes highly recommended. Some removal companies will even pack up your home for you for a fee of around £500.
Estate Agent Fee
This is paid by the seller, not the buyer, and will be negotiated when the property goes on the market. It tends to be 1%-3% of the sale price plus 20% VAT.
Mortgage Costs
There are a few various mortgage costs to keep in mind. You’ll need to account for a potential booking fee of £99-£250, a potential arrangement fee of up to £2,000, and a mortgage valuation fee of £150 or more. If you want to pay as little interest back as possible on your mortgage, you should try to pay for this upfront. If you add them to your mortgage, you will end up paying more interest over time.
Repairs
The average repair bill for new homeowners is £5,750. You will know what you need to get fixed when you have your survey, so make sure you invest in a good one to avoid problems later.
Insurance
You will be required to get buildings insurance after taking out a mortgage in order to ensure you are protected from fire, floods, and anything else that may happen. You should also consider contents insurance for all your possessions, and even life insurance to pay off your mortgage should you die before you’ve repaid what you owe.
Council Tax
This is based on where the property is and its valuation band the property is in, so it varies. It’s important to be aware of how this tax may change for a property you’re looking to move in to, especially if you’re moving to a bigger property.
Running costs
Be sure to ask the sellers how much they spend on utilities, as this will give you a better idea of whether this is an affordable buy for you. Enquire about essentials such as gas, electricity, TV, and broadband. Zoopla can also give an estimate on utilities for your property.
Leaseholder’s Costs
If you decide to buy a leasehold property, you’ll have to pay ground rent, which is around £50-£100 a year. You’ll also pay service charges to the person who owns the freehold.
Storage Costs
You may not need to store your items before moving, but if you do, you’ll need to take storage costs into account. Shop around to compare prices and security arrangements.
Cleaning Costs
If you are moving from a rental property you will likely want to have it professionally cleaned to ensure you get back your deposit.
Other Potential Costs To Consider
Will you need kennels for a pet? Perhaps childcare for the day? Consider how you can make the day as hassle-free as possible.
Need Advice On Your Mortgage?
If you’re thinking of moving home, it’s important to make sure you have the right mortgage in place for your house move, particularly if you’re a CIS subcontractor. Many brokers and lenders calculate affordability based on your net profit, but at CIS Mortgage Advice, we work with lenders who base affordability on your gross CIS income.