How much does it cost to sell a house?
Budgeting for the costs of selling a house is an important part of the moving process. We’ve listed the costs you can expect to pay in 2025.
What expected costs are involved when selling a property?
So how much does it cost to sell a house? And what do you need to think about before you put your home on the market?
Estate agent fees
The cost of an estate agent varies depending on the agency you use, the price of your house and how much an estate agent charges individually. As a general rule, estate agents usually charge between 1% and 3% (plus VAT).
The good thing is that many estate agents operate on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, meaning that they will drop their commission costs if the sale of your house falls through. But it’s important to always check an estate agent’s policy before moving forward with them. Always ask for the costs upfront, and a full breakdown of the quote.
Remember, you don’t always have to use an estate agent. You can choose to sell your home privately, or even at an auction. However, using an agent brings with it the benefits of market expertise and insights, and they will often conduct viewings and negotiate with buyers for you. They will also work to get you the best price for your property.
Conveyancing fees
While it’s not mandatory to hire a solicitor or conveyancer, it’s not recommended you do it yourself. If you’re also buying a house, you can use the same conveyancer for both transactions and this may save you money. If you are buying and selling, check out our guide on the full cost of moving house.
Average conveyancing fees for selling a home in the UK may cost around £1,000. They include:
- Transfer fees
- Drawing up your property contract
- Money laundering checks (if the buyer isn’t using a mortgage)
Choose a conveyancer wisely, be wary of those who charge particularly cheap or expensive fees. Always make sure they are regulated with a CLC licence or similar.
Removal company cost
If you have a lot of possessions and want a hand with the move, you may choose to use a removal company to collect and transport your possessions. The cost of a removal company will depend on the amount of items you have, the size of your property and the distance needed to travel. But on average a three-bedroom house travelling 50 miles may cost around £806 for a removal service.
Calculating home selling costs
In addition to the above, selling your house incurs a few extra fees you may not be aware of. These cover things like early mortgage exit fees, the cost of multiple valuations and any capital gains.
Mortgage exit fees
If you’re leaving your mortgage early, you may be charged between 1% and 5% of the remaining loan.
If your mortgage is paid off, you may still have to pay a mortgage exit fee. The charge for this is typically a maximum of £300 and will depend on your lender.
If you’re buying as well as selling, you can also consider:
- Remortgaging your current property for a better deal.
- Transferring your current mortgage to your new property (porting a mortgage)
Both remortgaging and porting a mortgage come with their own fees, including:
- Arrangement (product) fee (approx. £1,000-£2,000, but could exceed £2,000)
- This is the charge for the lender arranging the new mortgage product. If you are porting a mortgage, you may only need to pay the arrangement fee if you are borrowing more money on top of your current mortgage.
- Booking fee (approx. £100-£300)
- This is the cost of reserving the mortgage loan and is only applicable to those remortgaging.
We recommend clarifying these fees with your lender as early as possible in the home-selling process.
Capital gains tax
You only pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT) if you own more than one home. You may have to pay (CGT) if your property sells for a profit and it is not your main place of residence. This could include:
- Properties you are renting out
- Holiday homes
- Business properties
- A home you have inherited
If you have held this property for less than nine months, you won’t need to pay CGT.
If you pay the basic tax rate, you will be charged 18% Capital Gains Tax, and 28% if you pay the higher rate.
The government has a useful CGT calculator to help you work out how much you owe.
Valuation fees
Sometimes, a valuation is included as part of your estate agent fees, so you may not have to pay any extra for this. Some chartered surveyors can charge approximately between £300 and £600 for their valuation services.
How do I prepare to sell my house?
Selling your house is a time-consuming process, but can be exciting as you start to look forward to the next chapter of your life in your new home.
Energy performance certificate (EPC)
Before putting your house up for sale, you must get an EPC for your property. An EPC can cost approximately between £60 and £120.
EPCs are valid for 10 years and you may already have one that is still in date. You can find out if you have a valid EPC through the government website.
Your property’s EPC shows the energy efficiency of your home and a positive EPC rating is a great selling feature for a property. This rating can also influence the value of your home.
General repairs and house clean
Before your property is photographed or viewed, we highly recommend that you get any repairs fixed and your property thoroughly deep-cleaned. The average homeowner spends around £848 a year on home maintenance, so budgeting for around this sum may be useful when deciding to move out.
The good news is that a good clean shouldn’t cost more than around £200, on average, for a three-bedroom house. If your property is looking good and in good working order, this may improve any offer you have on the house and entice more buyers.
Home report (Scotland only)
In Scotland, a Home Report is a document issued to provide potential buyers with more information about the property they are interested in. You are required to have a Home Report ready before your property goes on the market.
The Home Report is made up of the following documents:
- A Single Survey
- An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- A Property Questionnaire
The single survey is conducted by a qualified surveyor registered by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and details each aspect and condition of your property.
The survey breaks down your property into the following categories:
- Category 1: No immediate action is required.
- Category 2: Action is advised.
- Category 3: Immediate action is required. Failure to do so could lead to further property damage.
A property questionnaire is usually completed by the seller. The questionnaire details information such as the council tax band, parking, right of access, and any property alterations.
Next steps
If you’re looking at putting your property on the market but don’t know where to start, look no further. At Mansons, we are affiliated with the Guild of Professional Estate Agents and the Property Ombudsman Scheme, providing us with industry insight you won’t find elsewhere.
Check out our guide on how to sell your house for a step-by-step breakdown or contact us to book your free initial online consultation.
Our team of highly experienced, reliable agents know your local area well and will work with you every step of the way to find the best possible price for your property.
