Buying a new home is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime purchase so you’ll no doubt want to make sure you get the best deal. The bad news for you is that buying a property is almost certainly going to cost more than you originally thought. Without proper research, even the most critical buyer will likely end up overlooking something. Here are four expenses that people often forget about.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is a requirement when purchasing residential properties over £125,000 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The rate ranges from 2% to 12% of the value, depending on the final value of the home. Since April of this year, there’s also an additional 3% tax if this isn’t your only property (this also applies to homes that cost less than £125,000 too). Take a look at a Stamp Duty calculator to see how much you’ll have to pay.
Mortgage Expenses
If you’re taking out a mortgage to pay for your home, you’ll likely have to pay some additional fees. Arrangement fees can range from just a few hundred pounds to 1% of the final value, which could end up a significant figure. Similarly, if you decide to use a mortgage broker, you may be required to pay a fee equivalent to 1% of the cost of your mortgage, though some brokers don’t charge for this at all.
Legal Fees
You’ll need a solicitor or qualified conveyancer to carry out all of the necessary legal paperwork that goes with purchasing a property. Some solicitors are qualified lawyers, whose training covers many aspects of the law, whereas a conveyancer typically has less training but is specialised in real estate. What you need will be dependent on the complexity of your situation, but regardless you should budget between £500-£1,500 plus VAT to cover the service.
Removal Costs
Finally, another area that people seldom consider is removal costs. If you have friends who like you — and we mean really like you — they may not begrudge you asking them to spend a day hauling heavy furniture. The alternative is to pay a team of professionals, which could set you back several hundred pounds. Even if you have friends willing to help you, you may also need to rent a truck for the day.
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