Cost of moving house.

jeff_chandler

We are looking to buy a Dorma Bungalow further down our Street. We have been here since we bought it in 1977 and have forgotten what's involved. I do understand there is solicitors fees (why a solicitor should be involved beats me) we than have search fees plus the Estate agents fees which is 1% of the sale price. We don't know anyone who has moved recently to explain what it could actually cost us on top of the price of the property. 
Regards Jeff ( name taken from a character i played )

HouseMartin567

Stamp Duty is the biggest cost by far! Also removals if you aren’t going to do it yourself.

housebuyer143

Have you lived in a dorma bungalow before? I have and I don't recommend.

mebu60

Unless you are capable of doing your own conveyancing, proof of id, liaising with sellers' and buyers' representatives, etc, I would suggest using a professional conveyancer or solicitor.

Your estate agent's fees for selling your property will be plus vat. There will be stamp duty to pay on the purchase.

Even moving just a short distance you might want to budget for removal people, the lifting and carrying is the hard part regardless of the distance in between the properties. 

And worth having a budget set aside for all the inevitable surprises after you've moved in. 

booksandbikes

We are in the process of moving and these are our costs

 - estate agents - 1% plus VAT
 - removalists  - £1,700
 - survey - £675
 - legal fees - for selling - £2,160
 - legal fees - for buying (including searches) - £2,800

Then there is stamp duty, which is a hefty chunk.

Our legal fees were a bit higher than other firms, but well worth the money, as they have really pushed things through quickly. 

Slinky

Someone in our street moved from a rental to a purchased property 4 doors along - about 25 meters in a straight line across the corner of the street. They sensibly used a removals company who shuffled stuff along in a small truck.

EssexHebridean

Yes, remember that in most cases you still need to be entirely out of one property before you can access the new one - this is why a removal company makes it all so much easier! 

youth_leader

This short video is very informative. The cost of buying a home explained - Zoopla


I definitely recommend paying a removal company.  I wasn't moving far but I had many boxes of books, and just taking them down the stairs I felt exhausted, let alone stepping up into a hired van.   I also couldn't lift my mattresses.  The removals men took my beds apart and put them together again for me here, I did have a 'diagram' but not the strength in my hands. 

As you have been in your house since 1977 you might like to add the cost of a few tins of paint to  freshen it up, some flowers in the front garden for kerb appeal, etc.   

jeff_chandler

Thank you for all the above replies. I'm still baffled regarding "Stamp Duty"? 
I can now see the real picture and the hassle of moving. Both myself and wife are approaching 70 and a move would probably be a bit too much for us. 
It was the thought of having a bit more space like a garden for which the property has, I really would like a large shed or even a frame pergola. 
Thanks again Jeff.

HouseMartin567

Stamp Duty Land Tax is its full title, and as it says on the tin is a tax. There is a calculator here which tells you how much Stamp Duty you will need to pay: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#!/intro

Slinky

In addition to using a removals company, can I also recommend using the removers to do the packing also. A lot younger than you, I learned many years ago in my late 30s, that this is a task well worth the very few hundred quid extra to do for you. What will take you (it did me)  several weeks, most likely, they will do in a couple of days at tops.

If you've been in your house since the 70s, now's the time to start concentrating on getting rid of what you won't need in your new home.