You should understand the real expenses to be aware of when moving home – especially if you’re a first-time buyer.
Whether you’ve recently purchased your first home or even if you’ve bought property before, it’s essential to keep yourself informed and avoid any expensive surprises!
What is the average cost of moving house?
According to the UK removals service, Compare My Move, the average cost of buying and selling a house in 2026 is £15,108.
Of course, not every house move will cost this much, but it’s important to understand there’s a wide range of fees that can quickly add up.
The best way to ensure you have the necessary funds and can accurately answer the question ‘how much does moving house cost for me’?
Do your research!
What costs do you need to consider when moving house?
Removal company fees
When moving home, the likelihood is that you’ll need to hire a removals company to help move furniture because not everyone has access to transport or vehicles equipped for the job.
The costs for removals naturally varies depending on the service you choose, but Checkatrade outlines the average cost of removals as between £500-£700.
Some people prefer to pack up their belongings themselves and the removal company will simply come to the current address, safely load the belongings and then deliver them to the new address – this is usually the most cost-effective option.
Another possibility is for the removal company to offer a full packing up service and unpacking at the new address, where they provide the materials and safely pack your belongings before taking them to the new location and unpacking as required.
This is a more expensive option as they supply the packaging, and spend more time and resources on the removal.
The cost of moving house also varies according to the distance between the two addresses.
Cost of Home Buyers’ Protection insurance
In short, home buyers’ protection insurance (also known as ‘gazumping insurance’) means you’ll be reimbursed for any money spent on legal costs, property surveys, and mortgage fees should your property purchase fall through due to no fault of your own.
At UKMC, our expert advisors recommend that anyone purchasing a property in the UK should safeguard themselves against losing potentially thousands of pounds with home buyers’ protection insurance.
Generally, basic home buyer protection policies start in the region of £70, but can be more depending on the required level of cover.
This insurance can be particularly reassuring for high-risk situations, such as being involved in a long chain, having concerns about adverse survey results, or cases there’s a high chance of ‘gazumping’ – where a seller accepts a higher offer from a new buyer after previously accepting your offer.
You can find out more about getting insured here or speak to one of our experts to discover how we can help with tailored advice.
Conveyancing costs
Conveyancing fees are incurred both for buying and selling property in the UK and must be paid to the solicitor for handling the legal side of the purchase and sale.
According to the land and property company, Sheldon Bosely Knight, the average cost of conveyancing in the UK is around £850, but these fees can vary depending on the property value, type, and location.
These costs include bank transfer fees, any searches that are required, ID checks, land registry fees and stamp duty costs.
Your solicitor will be able to provide you with a quote for the legal and conveyancing fees once you have agreed a sale and purchase.
Mortgage and lender valuation fees
The type of mortgage you obtain, and who looks after this for you, will determine these fees, but they can range anywhere from £1000 to several thousands of pounds.
Some mortgage lenders will also charge for a lender valuation within their fees.
Lenders will require you to have a RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Homebuyer Report done to ensure the property is worth the valuation given, that it’s structurally safe, and they’re not at-risk lending money against the property.
Home buyers’ reports vary a lot depending on how in depth you want the survey, and what’s required by your lender. We can advise you on the level of report needed should you obtain a mortgage through us.
Need a clearer idea of mortgage fees? Speak to one of our experts today to receive impartial, honest advice and access to the best possible deals.
Paying for home insurance
If you buy your home with a mortgage, you must be able to prove that you have obtained home insurance.
The exact cost of home insurance varies significantly depending on your age, the type of property you’re insuring, and the size of the home.
For example, according to Go Compare, the median cost of a combined buildings and contents insurance policy for a two-bedroom home is £174 with the price increasing substantially to £272 for a four-bedroom home.
Still unsure how much home insurance is likely to cost? You can obtain different quotes online to ensure you get the best deal and cover for both you and your family.
What is the cost of moving house with UKMC?
We’re not a removals company, but we can help you to obtain competitive quotes for many of the key costs associated with moving house in the UK.
Whether that’s getting affordable insurance or securing lower arrangement fees, our experienced team will work with you to ensure the cost of relocating remains realistic and doesn’t put a damper on your property purchasing experience – especially if you’re a first-time buyer!
For tailored advice from our friendly, professional team, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
We welcome calls made to 01925 573328, email enquiries sent to hello@ukmc.co.uk, and all queries submitted via our convenient online contact form.
Disclaimer
UK Mortgage Centre Limited is an Appointed Representative of Refresh Mortgage Network Limited. Refresh Mortgage Network Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are entered on the Financial Services Register under firm number 1019794.
As a mortgage is secured against your home, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up the mortgage repayments. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate some forms of buy-to-let mortgages.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate will writing and taxation and trust advice.
You may be charged a fee for your advice. A typical fee is £495, which would be payable when you receive your mortgage offer. Your dedicated advisor will discuss this further on your free initial phone call.
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