Selling guide
Cost of Selling a House: What to Budget For
The amount you keep from selling a home is the sale price minus the outstanding mortgage and secured debts, estate-agent fee, conveyancing costs, any early-repayment charge, required EPC, agreed repair costs and moving expenses. Ask for VAT-inclusive written fees and your lender's current redemption figure; an asking price is not money you can assume you will receive.
Applies to: UK overview; requirements, taxes and conveyancing practice vary by nation.
Estate agency fees
Check the agency contract carefully: the percentage or fixed fee, whether VAT is included, when the fee is payable, notice periods and any sole-agency or withdrawal clauses. Fees depend on the service and agreement, so compare written quotations rather than relying on a generic national average.
Legal and administrative costs
Budget for a conveyancer or solicitor, ID checks and any leasehold management information or additional disbursements. Ask for a breakdown upfront and check what happens if the sale falls through. You may need a redemption statement and there can be mortgage early-repayment or exit charges; ask your lender for a tailored figure.
Energy Performance Certificate
You normally need a valid Energy Performance Certificate before marketing a residential property. An existing valid EPC may be reused, and EPCs are generally valid for 10 years. GOV.UK provides exceptions and a register to check existing certificates. Rules differ across the UK, so check your location.
Practical checklist
- Check whether an existing EPC is valid.
- Request a written quote from an accredited assessor if a new EPC is needed.
- Prepare property documents and any leasehold records.
Moving and completion costs
Removal charges depend on property size, vehicle and crew, distance, floors, parking access, packing and the final moving date. If buying another home, also budget for purchase-side tax, survey, mortgage and conveyancing costs. Arrange enough flexibility for delays in the chain.
Make a realistic net-proceeds calculation
Start with the expected sale price, subtract any mortgage balance, agency and legal costs, repairs and moving expenses, and retain a contingency for unexpected charges. This is a budgeting framework, not a binding estimate or tax advice.
What to read next
Continue with the most relevant next step, or explore the selling journey.
References and further reading
These are the original legal, regulatory and professional sources used to inform this article. MMG explains the key steps above so you do not have to follow external links to find the answer. Circumstances and UK jurisdiction can affect the rules, especially for legal or financial decisions.
- GOV.UK: How to sell a home(opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: Energy Performance Certificates(opens in a new tab)
- MoneyHelper: Selling a property(opens in a new tab)
My Move Guide publishes general information, not personalised legal, tax, mortgage or financial advice. Estimates and requirements differ by location and circumstances.