Savvy ways to keep moving costs down

Experts share savvy ways to ease the financial strain for people upping sticks.

- By LISA SALMON

THE cost of moving house has hit a record high, putting additional strain on homeowners already struggling with the cost of living.

The latest Cost of Moving Report from home move comparison site reallymoving found homeowners buying and selling a property in 2025 had to pay £17,831 in upfront expenses a 27% increase on last year, when the average mover paid £14,045.

Rob Houghton, founder and CEO of reallymoving, says: "Moving costs are continuing to rise, partly due to policy changes such as the lowering of stamp duty thresholds, and partly due to inflation. In 2025, conveyancing fees, survey costs and removals charges all increased year-on-year, adding to the financial strain for movers."

Angela Kerr, a director at the HomeOwners Alliance, which provides advice on buying, selling and owning a property, says: "When you're buying and selling a home, the sheer number of costs can feel overwhelming. Surveys, estate agent fees, mortgage charges and legal bills stack up quickly and it's easy for the cost of the move itself to get lost in the noise. But it's not small fry."

So how do you keep the costs to a minimum? Here's Rob and Angela's advice...

Don't just compare quotes

The experts recommend getting three quotes for each of the services you'll need to use, including legal, estate agent, survey and removal fees. But while it’s vital to compare quotes, perhaps using a comparison site, remember that using the cheapest might not be the best idea.