Moving home can be far more expensive than you expect. The hidden costs often add up to around 10% of of your sale price. Before you finalise your budget and start searching, it’s important to take the following into account, otherwise you could be in for a nasty shock!

Valuation and Conveyancing Fees

Depending on your mortgage agreement, some lenders may charge a valuation fee before handing out the cash. This often ranges between £150 and £1,500, depending on the property. However, these checks rarely include a full survey. In order to pinpoint issues and identify problem areas, you will have to hire a professional conveyancer to perform a separate check. This adds a further £250 to £600 to the final cost.

Legal Costs

As one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make, making sure everything is legally and ethically sound is crucial. A property solicitor typically costs between £500 and £1,500. However, the peace of mind alone makes them worth it. Imagine you’ve moved into a new home and started landscaping the garden, only to discover further down the line that you’ve gone beyond your property boundaries. This could not only cause bad blood with your new neighbours, but could lead to a potential lawsuit.

Bill Transfers

When you’ve sold your property and are approaching the moving date, you’ll need to transfer your bills: electric, water, gas, Internet. If you haven’t reached the end of your contract agreement, you may have to pay a penalty fee to cancel. While these costs may not seem too excessive in comparison to other moving costs, remember you’ll be in the midst of a financially tough period – every penny counts!

Traditional Estate Agents

A traditional estate agent will typically charge between 1% and 3% of the final value fee, plus 20% VAT. In the UK the average estate agency bill is £5,247. These fees cover everything from the essentials – photographs, floor plans, viewings – to the day-to-day costs of operating a high street business – branded cars, property rental, marketing.

Online Estate Agents

Using an online estate agent can save you thousands. Over 90% of home buyers will start their search online. Even most traditional estate agencies turn to the Internet before looking elsewhere. Online estate agents have little overheads and operating costs, which means they can command lower fees.

At Agent Online you can sell your home for just £995, with no upfront costs. Our package provide:

• Professional photographs and floor plans by a local field agent.
• Listings on Rightmove, Zoopla and Prime Location for 12 months.
• For sale board for your garden.
• Call answering service and viewing arrangement.
• Management of the sale transaction.

The only major difference between a traditional estate agency and Agent Online is that you’ll have to conduct the viewings yourself. However, this can also have a distinct benefit. Nobody knows your home as well as you; therefore, you are the most qualified person for the job.

If you’re thinking about moving and are looking for ways to reduce costs, instruct us here or email us on sell@agentonline.co.uk.