What are the costs of selling a house? 

“What are the costs of selling a house?” is a question that is sometimes overlooked when property owners make the decision to sell. However, it is important to bear the costs in mind so you can be sure you’re making the right decision before you put your house on the market. 

In this blog, we look at the most common costs associated with selling a house in the UK. With this information, we hope you’ll be able to make the right decision and avoid any unpleasant surprises.

1. Mortgage fees

Before you decide to put your house on the market, it’s really important to check your mortgage agreement and/or talk to your mortgage advisor. If you are selling a property where you already have a mortgage, there might be fees to pay for either leaving the mortgage agreement early or “porting” (transferring) the mortgage to another property.  Depending on your existing mortgage, it might not be possible to port it. If that’s the case, you will have to exit your existing mortgage and take out a new one, potentially with a different rate. 

2. Conveyancing fees (solicitor’s fees)

Conveyancing fees vary. They are usually lower for selling than for buying, but do bear in mind that you will have to pay two sets of fees if you’re selling one property and buying another. You should also consider the size of the property and how complex the sale is likely to be. 

3. EPC (energy performance certificate)

By law, you must make your property’s energy performance certificate available to your buyer. If your EPC is less than ten years old, you can use it when you sell your property, not having to pay for a new one. However, if you do need a new EPC, you can expect to pay between £100 and £200 for it. You can read more information about EPCs here.

4. Estate agent fees

Estate agent’s fees depend on the size of the property and the complexity of the sale, so do come and talk to us and we can give you a quote for your specific property. 

Estate agents’ fees usually cover the costs of marketing the property (taking photos, writing the description, posting it online and putting up sale boards), finding a buyer, conducting viewings and negotiating the sale price. 

If you decide to use a fixed-fee estate agent, check carefully what you’re getting for your money. It might be less than a traditional high street agent like Cobbles! Find out more here.

5. Property repairs and redecoration

Depending on the state of your property, you might want to invest in a new coat of paint before you put it on the market. However, in our experience, big investments like new kitchens and solar panels rarely do more than cover the cost of having them installed. On the other hand, if you put your energy into giving the property a thorough clean instead, you’ll probably see a better return on your investment. 

6. Removals

Removal companies offer a range of services including supplying boxes, packing for you, moving your possessions to the new house and even unpacking. The price tag varies depending on how much help you need with your house move. Alternatively, you can do it yourself, in which case your costs will be hiring a van and a thank you pizza for anyone who helps you out! 

Sell property in Guildford

There will always be costs associated with selling a house, but if you know what they are in advance, you can feel more confident when you embark on the sale. If you have any questions about selling your property, the Cobbles team would love to help. Explore our site to find out more, or give us a call on 01483 457 000 – we’d love to hear from you.