What is the average cost of moving house? 5 key factors to consider

What is the average cost of moving house? The average property buyer is left more than £6,000 out of pocket after failing to budget for all the costs of moving home. Research by Aviva shows a typical buyer sets aside £12,143 for the moving process, but actually needs £18,624 in order to meet all expenses.

Kevin Shaw, Group Managing Director, Sales at Leaders Romans Group, says: “With many people saving hard to raise money for a deposit, it can be easy to forget the numerous other costs associated with moving home.

“But if you want to avoid having to ask family or friends for a loan to bail you out or starting life in your new home saddled with debt, you should identify all the expenses that await you and work out exactly how much they will each set you back.”

Can I afford to move house?

If you’re asking yourself questions like ‘can I afford to move out of my parent’s house?’, ‘how much house can I afford?’, 'what is the average moving house cost?' then the main thing is to do as much research as you can before you start investing time into viewing properties.

In addition to a deposit, we’ve listed below our guide to the top five costs that all buyers should factor into their average cost of moving house calculations, prior to buying a property.

Stamp duty

If the property you are looking to buy costs more than £125,000, you will have to pay stamp duty upon completion. This levy is charged as a percentage of the selling price between the following thresholds:

£0 - £125,000 = 0%

£125,001 - £250,000 = 2%

£250,001 - £925,000 = 5%

£925,001 - £1.5m = 10%

£1.5m-plus = 12%

For example, this means buying a home for £300,000 will set you back £5,000 in stamp duty.

Moving house solicitors fees

Moving house solicitors fees vary. You will need to instruct a solicitor or licenced conveyancer to act on your behalf during the purchase. They will complete all of the relevant legal work and carry out local searches. The searches can cost about £300, while the legal fees can be anything from £500 to £1,500.

House purchase survey

A survey will help you find out about the exact state of the property you are planning to buy, potentially highlighting problems that you should be aware of. You can choose from three main types of survey - a condition report, a homebuyer’s report and a buildings survey - and these options range in price from about £300 to £1,500.

Moving house insurance

Once you have exchanged contracts on a property, you should invest in a buildings insurance policy. Having this insurance will be a condition of any mortgage you take out and covers the cost of rebuilding or repairing your home should it suffer structural damage. You should also protect your possessions by taking out contents insurance.

Moving house removal costs

Moving house removals costs can vary but a removals firm is likely to charge several hundred pounds to move your furniture and other possessions to your new home. You could do it yourself, but it will take a lot of time and effort, so if you want to use a professional remember to budget for it. There are a range of services you can choose from and the cost will vary depending on factors such as how far you are moving, how many possessions you have, and whether you want a packing and unpacking service.

What mortgage can I afford?

It’s always a good idea to speak to a mortgage broker before you start looking at properties. They will take into account the deposit you have saved, plus your income and other financial commitments, to assess how much you could afford.

This will help you when you start looking for properties, so you know what is within your budget. It also means you can plan ahead in advance to work out your monthly expenditure will be once you have moved too.

Kevin concludes: “Buying a house comes with a list of expenses, so it is important to investigate every aspect of a property before putting in an offer. The last thing any buyer wants is to find out they do not have enough cash to cover their costs just weeks - or even days - before completion.”

For advice you can trust on buying or selling a property and the local market in your area, please contact your nearest Leaders branch today. Our partner Mortgage Scout will be happy to advise on the most suitable mortgage deal for you.