Costs to sell a house calculator: How To Use
Our cost to sell a house calculator already includes all the costs. You can easily adjust the resale value of your property, input professional fees such as estate agents’ and solicitors’ fees, and deduct any other costs such as cleaning or the cost of hiring a professional moving company.
Calculating the cost of selling a house can appear a bit complex because some fees are typically charged as a percentage rather than a flat rate. For instance, if your estate agent charges a percentage of the sale price, the amount you pay them will vary depending on the price achieved.
Don’t forget to use our hidden costs calculator to help you work out the hidden cost of moving.
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Hidden costs of selling a house calculator
In our modern society, where all our bills are paid with direct debits, the hidden costs of selling a house in the UK are often overlooked.
These costs can easily run into tens of thousands of pounds over the average six-month period for selling a house. This calculator is designed for ease of use, enabling you to work out the not-so-obvious costs of selling a home.
Hidden Costs of Selling a UK House Calculator
Fixed One-off Costs (£)
Monthly Costs (£)
Total Estimated Cost
What are the costs of selling a house in 2024?
Selling a house in 2024 involves several costs such as estate agent fees, legal fees, and other expenses related to the property sale. These costs are important to consider when preparing to sell your property. We’ll share what costs you can expect to pay when selling a house in 2024.
Selling your home in 2024 can come with unexpected costs, especially with fees based on your home’s value. As property prices continue to rise, be prepared to pay more in selling fees. Understanding the full cost of selling a house is crucial before listing it on the market.
How much does it cost to sell a house?
The cost of selling your house in 2024 will depend on several factors, including the sale price of your property, the size of your home, its location, the chosen estate agent and property solicitor, and your future moving destination.
However, depending on your circumstances, you may have additional costs to cover, such as an indemnity policy, capital gains tax, or home repairs before selling.
The cost of selling a house in 2024
One of your biggest costs will be in the estate agent’s commission. However, picking the wrong agent means it will take you twice as long to sell, and therefore, your hidden costs of selling a property will go through the roof.
Estate agent fees typically range from 0.9% to 3.6% depending on which estate agents you use, how many are selling your property, and how well you negotiate. The average high street estate agent fees in the UK for a ‘no sale, no fee’ sole agency service is 1.42%, including VAT. So, on a £285,000 house, this would mean estate agent fees of around £4,000 would be added to the cost of selling a house.
The Property Ombudsman advises that fees advertised by estate agents must be shown inclusive of VAT alongside a statement confirming that VAT is included. However, we often see estate agent fees quoted excluding VAT (currently 20%). So always check. If you choose to use more than one estate agent, expect to pay a higher fee – 2.4% to 3.6% is typical for multi-agency. So consider whether it is really worth it, especially today when most people look for a property using Rightmove or Zoopla.
Be prepared to haggle on fees; estate agents will expect this. If you’re successful, you’ll reduce the cost of selling a house. If you are going for sole agency, you should aim for a fee of 1.2% (this is 1% + VAT) – or even less for high-value properties.
These tables will give a break down of all costs and an estimated cost against each item:
Basic costs when selling a house
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Estate agent fees | 0.5% – 3% + VAT |
| EPC | £35-£150 + VAT |
| Removal Costs | £250-£4,000 |
| Conveyancing Fees | £550-£1000 |
Additional unexpected costs when selling a house:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Incentives | If your house is struggling to sell, you can offer to pay stamp duty or legal fees for the buyer. |
| Early Mortgage repayment charge | 1-5% loan amount is typical |
| Preparing house for sale | Depends on work needed |
| Mortgage exit fee | £50-£300 |
| Capital gains tax | See below |
| Home report | £100-£100+VAT |
What Do I Need to Do to Sell My House?
The first step to consider when thinking about selling your property is to get a valuation. An online estate agent can provide a general idea, but it’s advisable to seek a local estate agent for more accurate valuations when moving to a new home.
It is recommended to consider obtaining multiple valuations as the prices can vary. You are not obligated to stick with just one seller, as the final price of the house is ultimately up to you. Transferring ownership of a property to potential buyers is a legally binding action, requiring a lawyer to handle the process, known as conveyancing.
Upon receiving an offer, you will need to sign the exchange contracts. This step legally binds you to the sale, and only if the buyer withdraws will the sale not proceed at this stage. Once you have vacated the property within the agreed timeframe, the solicitor will report the transfer of ownership of the land and collect their agreed-upon percentage from the sale.
Energy Performance Certificates
Energy performance certificates are mandatory for anyone selling a home, and you need to order one before your property is listed on the market.
These certificates contain information about your property’s energy efficiency, typical energy costs, and advice on how to save money and reduce energy costs. EPCs can be purchased directly from providers online, or your estate agent can arrange one for you. They are valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
EPCs are important as they allow you to compare the energy efficiency of different properties, highlighting the energy efficiency improvements you could make.
Estate agent fees for selling
Cost range: 0.75% – 2.5% + VAT (of final sale price)
The cost range for an estate agency’s service is 0.75% to 2.5% plus VAT of the final sale price. It’s important to consider these costs when planning your budget. This fee will be applied to the total sale price at the time of sale.
- The average UK estate agency fee is generally around 1-1.5% + VAT.
- All estate agents are obliged to ensure all fees are quoted inclusive of VAT. Using more than one estate agent will have you quoted a higher fee, which is usually between 2 and 3% + VAT.
- 96% of all house sellers use traditional high street estate agents.
- Most of these agents charge a percentage fee based on a “no sale no fee” basis.
Auction
If you are thinking about using an auction to sell your home, there are two potential fees to consider budgeting for:
– £500-£1,000 + VAT – Auction Entry Fee
– 2%-3% + VAT – Commission on sale (No sale, no fee)
Some auction houses who use the Modern Method of Auction may advertise selling for 0% commission, but they charge the buyer. Therefore, the buyer’s offer will account for this fee.
Removal Costs
Moving cost can range from £250 to £4000 + VAT
This cost range varies depending on the following factors:
- Quantity of items to be moved
- Decision on who handles the boxing up
- Accessibility of your house
- Distance to your new home
- Storage space requirements
If you are considering the DIY approach to moving, you must take into account the costs of hiring a van, purchasing goods in transit insurance, covering fuel expenses, and acquiring suitable packing materials. While this method may be cheaper than using a removal firm, it can lead to a significantly more stressful experience from a logistical standpoint.
It is essential to ensure that you have adequate household contents insurance. For instance, does your policy cover you for the move? If not, you might need to pay a premium of £20-£30 to obtain the additional coverage required. Alternatively, removal firms may offer to provide coverage under their own insurance policy for a fee.
Conveyancing Solicitor Fees
Cost Range: £550 – £1000 inc. VAT
Conveyancing solicitor fees can vary significantly from one property to another. Some solicitors may charge a percentage of your home’s value, while others may offer a more secure fixed fee.
When selling a house, solicitor fees are typically lower compared to when buying a house. The cost of conveyancing will depend on whether the property is leasehold or freehold, as well as whether there is a mortgage involved.
If the property has a mortgage and is leasehold, the conveyancer will have more work to do, leading to a higher fee being charged.
| Property Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Freehold + no mortgage | £575 inc. VAT |
| Freehold + mortgage | £612 inc. VAT |
| Leasehold + no mortgage | £768 inc. VAT |
| Leasehold + mortgage | £805 inc. VAT |
When selling your home, it’s important to involve a licensed conveyancer or specialist solicitor early in the process to handle the conveyancing. Finding a conveyancing expert at the beginning of the selling process can help ensure a smooth experience.
Sell with Certainty Without The Fees
At Property Saviour, we offer a quick and certain way to sell your house. We buy any house, and because we pay in cash via solicitors, there are no delays. You can complete the purchase in 10 days or at your preferred time. We will also pay £1,500 of your legal fees and kindly request a positive review upon completion.
Many sellers have shared their success stories with us. Would you like to be our next success story?
Sell with certainty & speed
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
