There are a number of costs that you need to take into account when moving house which we have outlined below. You can also download dot's handy cost of moving sheet to work out the total cost of your move.   Another important issue to bear in mind is the ongoing affordability of your proposed mortgage - use our monthly budget planner to work out where you stand. Clicking these links will open a PDF file - if you do not have Adobe PDF Reader, please click here to download it.

Arrangement fee
A fee charged by some lenders to cover the cost of setting up a mortgage.

Lenders valuation
All lenders will carry out a basic valuation of a property to check that it is worth the price being paid for it. The valuation is commissioned by the lender but paid for by the borrower. The cost depends on the lender and the value of the property – some lenders waive the fee entirely.

Survey
In addition, you can also commission your own survey to find out about the condition of the property you are buying and uncover any hidden issues. There are two main survey products available, The RICS Homebuyers Report which costs between £250 - £500 (+VAT) and The Building Survey (formally known as the Structural Survey) which costs up to £1,000 (+VAT).

Legal fees
A solicitor needs to be appointed to deal with the legal aspects of purchasing a property. It is advisable to get quotes from at least two solicitors before deciding which one to instruct.

Stamp duty
This is a government tax based on the property's purchase price and is calculated as follows:

Up to £125K	Nil
£125-£250K*	1%
£250-500K	3%
Over £500K	4%

* NB - First Time Buyers are exempt from paying stamp duty on any property purchase up to the value of £250,000 until 24 March 2012.  In the case of couples or groups of friends or family members buying a property together, EVERY purchaser must be a first time buyer in order to qualify for the stamp duty exemption.

Land registry fee
This verifies legal ownership of the property and registers the owner at that address. The Land Registry fee varies depending on the value of the property:

Up to £125K	£200
£200-£500K	£300
£500K-£1m	£500
£1m+	£800

Local authority searches
Your legal adviser will carry out a local authority search to discover if there are any plans for future developments that could affect the value and purchase of your chosen property. Allow at least £60 for these searches.

Other searches
These include index map, commons, the coal authority, land charge, company searches and bank transfer fees. Allow about £70.

Estate agent’s fee 
Estate agents fees can either be fixed or calculated as a percentage of the eventual sale value.  They are typically paid in full once the transaction has completed - however some agents will require a portion of the final fee "up-front" to cover some of their marketing costs such as photography or the production of a floor plan or virtual tour.

Home Information Packs & EPCs
On 21 May 2010, the mandatory requirement for a Home Information Pack (HIPs) on every property offered for sale was suspended.  Whilst you can still produce a HIP for your property, this is no longer required by law.  The only document now required is an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which needs to have been ordered prior to you marketing your property for either sale or rent.  EPCs are valid for ten years so if you have only recently moved house or your property has been offered for rent you may find that you still have a valid EPC.  Most estate agents are happy to arrange EPCs on behalf of their clients or you can simply shop around and find your own supplier.

Removal fees
Try and get quotes from at least three different removal firms as prices can vary greatly. Remember to have some cash with you on moving day to tip the crew.

Higher Lending Charge
This is an amount charged by some lenders where your loan amount is more than 75% of the price of the property. Your dot advisor will be able to tell you which products will incur this fee.

Early Repayment Charge
If you are changing an existing mortgage as part of the move, you need to check with your lender whether an early repayment charge will be payable.

Contingency / Miscellaneous costs
It is important to allocate a reasonable-sized contingency fund for emergencies. You do not want to be left stony-broke if you have any unexpected costs.

Other costs to bear in mind
 - Childcare / kennel / cattery costs 
 - Buildings insurance
 - Home contents insurance