How much does it cost to move house?
October 15, 2018
Moving house is a huge undertaking - most people feel a mixture of excitement at transitioning to a new home and major stress at having to plan everything before the big day.
Unfortunately, stress isn’t all you have to worry about. Whether you are renting or buying a property, there will also be significant costs to consider before, on and after the moving day itself. There is the cost of hiring a vehicle, along with the insurance for it, as well as fees and final bills for changing your utilities over to the new property. You will also likely need a cleaner to get your old home spick and span. Even a small set of new moving boxes can cost over £20!
Paying a fair cost for moving house will come down to careful planning. As well as finding the best prices possible for what you need, you will also be able to save money by organising everything far in advance. This will allow you to avoid paying unexpected or last-minute fees, ensure that you can hire a top-quality remover and save yourself some serious headaches on the moving day.
What is the average cost for moving house in 2023?
Depending on who you ask, the average cost for moving home in the UK generally ranges between £8,500 and £12,000. However, you should not take this at face value; a number of different factors will decide on how much your own move will cost.
For one, the average price for hiring a removal company in your area could be vastly different from the national average. Prices will usually be much higher in London and the south of England, while in the north you can usually get away with paying a lot less.
There is also the size of your move to consider. Packaging, insurance and petrol are not cheap, so the further you have to travel and the more you need to take with you, the more expensive the trip will be overall.
Rather than an ‘average’ cost, it can be more constructive to make a list of all the costs you will have to pay. This modular approach can also make it easier to spot areas where you could use a few tricks to save money.
What are the costs of moving house?
Estate agents costs
Your local estate agent is likely to sell your home for a percentage of the agreed sale price. The cost of selling your home is likely to be around 1.2%. However, with the increase in popularity of services like Purplebricks, you might be able to negotiate a fixed fee with your local high street agent.
Stamp duty costs
This is a government tax which must be paid when purchasing a residential property or patch of land, provided it is worth £250,000 or more.
If you are a first-time buyer, you should be able to avoid the tax provided you meet certain criteria. The purchased property will need to be worth less than £500,000, and everyone connected to the purchase will also need to be first-timer buyers themselves.
To find out exactly how much you will need to pay, try using the HMRC Stamp Duty Land Tax Calculator online. Alternatively, you could always ask your estate agent.
Deposit
Whether you are renting or buying a property, you will usually need to pay a deposit in order to secure it.
- For purchasing a property, the deposit will usually be 5-20% of the purchase price.
- For a rental property, you will usually need to pay the equivalent of 4 weeks’ rent. This must be placed in a deposit protection scheme, so be sure to ask for details of this before sending any money.
Valuation costs
This part is vital when applying for a mortgage. The lender will visit your new property and make an assessment of its value, allowing them to decide how much they are prepared to lend you.
The size of the valuation fee will depend on the value of the property itself. On average, it tends to range between £100 and £1,600, though certain lenders will not charge a fee at all.
Surveying costs
While this is not strictly mandatory, hiring a surveyor for your new property is definitely advisable. This will let you know about any potential issues with the property before you move in, potentially allowing you to avoid serious costs later on.
The exact cost will depend on the thoroughness of the building survey you are purchasing. A basic property survey will usually cost between £400 and £1,500, while the price of a full structural survey will usually range between £500 and £1,500.
Conveyancing costs
Your conveyancer will be able to handle all the legal details of changing the ownership of your new property. This is not something you want to try doing yourself, as there are a lot of details to take into consideration. Remember, you do not want to cause any delays in getting your keys!
On average, you should expect to pay between £500 to £1,100 in conveyancer fees, but this will increase if you are selling and buying a house. If your estate agent offers this service, be sure to collect quotes from local conveyancers too, as they might offer a special rate.
Post redirection
As old-school as post might be these days, redirecting your mail will be absolutely vital. You do not want to miss out on any important bills, or you could be hit with penalties for late payments.
Luckily, you can get everything sent to your new address without any trouble using the Royal Mail’s redirection service:
- Up to three months - £36
- Up to six months - £53
- Up to twelve months - £76
You can read our advice on changing your address checklist when moving here.
Switching providers
This will be relevant for your gas, water, electricity and internet service providers. You will need to let them know your moving date, as well as your current meter readings so that you can arrange to pay your final bills. Remember, failing to do so could result in some serious fees to pay!
It may be possible to stay with your current providers when you move in order to avoid cancellation fees. That said, it can also be worth taking the time to check if there are any less expensive providers in your new area.
You can read our advice on switching utilities when moving here.
Removal costs
If you are interested in saving money on your moving day, it may sound like a good idea to handle everything yourself rather than hire a remover. However, this can often be a false economy.
For one, even if you try to save money by hiring a removal vehicle of your own, you will also need to insure it, along with your belongings for when they are in transit. Together, this can actually cost more than simply hiring a remover who will already be insured.
Professional removers can also provide packaging services for a small fee. This will include high-quality materials, as well as the expertise to get everything packed away quickly. This can save you a great deal of stress, though with the right planning and a few free cardboard boxes you could also do this on your own.
If you want to find a top-quality remover for the right price, try to collect quotes from at least five local candidates. Make it clear exactly how much you want to transport, how far and on what date or the quotes may not be fully accurate.
Once you have a few quotes, you should have a decent idea of the average price for your local area. Having said that, it can also be a good idea to contact removal companies at your destination, just in case, they offer better rates.
Remember, the cheapest candidate is hardly ever the best option, so be sure to read through customer reviews and make a list of exactly what each remover offers before making your decision.