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If you’ve been thinking about buying a house, you’ll be daydreaming about how many bedrooms you need, what the garden is like or if it’s in the right school catchment area and has a garage.

These are all important factors when deciding on a new home, and it’s probably the case that the emotional heart will rule.

But, sit back and work out the financial implications of moving house – it may be the head rather than the heart in this case, but it’s important as you plan the next chapter in your life.

Here at Warren Powell-Richards we have the expertise to take you through some of the critical factors when thinking about the money side of moving house.

The Legal Fees

Aside from the actual cost of the house and the mortgage repayments, one of the first things to do is think about the legal fees. Conveyancing companies and solicitors are the ones who focus on property. Many have almost instant conveyancing quotes on their website. You will need to key in basic financial figures, and they’ll tell you roughly how much it will cost in legal fees.

They will also look at searches that will be needed, such as local authority searches, existing planning permissions and specific things such as mining reports and building regulations. Your legal people should also highlight other costs such as the Land Registry fee which comes in when the property is registered in your name.

Estate Agent Costs

If you’re selling your house, then your estate agents’ costs will need to be factored in. The fee varies, depending on the level of service that will be delivered to you or whether you choose an internet-based agent, but you can expect to pay between one per cent and three per cent of the sale price plus VAT which is 20 per cent. Please talk to us for our competitive fees.

Removal Companies

The chances are that you will need a removal company to help you, particularly with the big items. The cost of this will vary because companies will calculate such things as how many bedrooms, the distance between houses, and whether specialist services are required. It could be as little as £400 to well over £1,000. Our advice is that you decide precisely what you need and then shop around to get quotes and see what the customer service is like. Have a look at online review sites too as these could give you a good indication of how good a company is.

Stamp Duty

If you buy a property or land in England that’s over a certain price, you have to pay Stamp Duty. How much you pay depends on several factors, but you should expect to pay a certain percentage of the value of the property. For example, a £255,000 property would mean a Stamp Duty payable of £2,750. There are a number of websites that offer a Stamp Duty Calculator, and the Government website (www.gov.uk) will tell you what it’s all about. If you need help, we’ll help you work out how much to “set aside”.

Mortgage Fees

Most people will have to obtain a mortgage to buy a house. Rates and payments will vary depending on the lender, but there are a number of typical costs associated with a mortgage. There will be booking fees and arrangement fees, and because the lender will need to know the value of a property, you’ll need to arrange for an independent valuation too. Booking fees can be between £150 and £300, arrangement fees might be around £2,000, and a mortgage valuation fee could be anywhere between £150 and £1,500 depending on the lender and the property. It’s worth noting that low rates might not mean low fees, so be careful to look at the details.

Insurance

When you’ve completed, chances are you’ll quickly get the keys. It’s an exciting time, and you’ll have packed everything, the removal van will be ready, and you probably can’t wait to get in. Something you need to do straight away though is the insurance. Once the property is yours, it needs to be insured. You’ll need buildings insurance to cover the bricks and mortar, and contents insurance too as this will cover your belongings and possessions. The cost of this will vary because no two properties are the same, and you will have different possessions. The key is to do your research and get everything in place before the day, and then it should be a case of pressing the button.

For no-obligation advice on buying or selling a home please contact our expert property team at Warren Powell-Richards. We look forward to assisting you.