Buying a house comes with a lot of financial planning and preparation that should be done by a certain timeframe. You will need to have a deposit saved already if you want to buy a house in 2019, as well as factoring additional costs such as conveyancing and surveying fees.
This article will highlight the main costs to consider and factor into your moving house budget, so you’ll be financially prepared to get on the property ladder this year. From the additional costs that you’ll need to factor in, to working out how much you can afford to save, we cover everything.
Save a Deposit
If you want to buy a house in 2019, you should know by now how much you can afford to save for a deposit. You will need to have a deposit of usually between 5% and 20% which you should have nearly saved by now if you’re looking to get on the property ladder this year. Using a deposit calculator will help you set a realistic saving plan to stick to.
Think about Mortgage Repayments
You will need to factor in your monthly mortgage repayments and how much you’re willing to pay each month. The higher deposit you can put down the less you will pay each month. You should look around to find the best deal for your mortgage and your situation. Using a mortgage calculator will help you work out how much you can afford to pay each month.
Conveyancing Costs
You will need to have factored in additional costs to your moving house budget. Once you've found a house and made an offer, you should hire a conveyancer to ensure the buying process is smooth. If you don’t put money aside or budget for the conveyancing costs, you could end up delaying your buying a house process. It’s important that you hire a conveyancer, as they will be in charge of transferring legal ownership of the house to you.
Property Survey Price
You should add in the cost of a RICS property survey to your buying a house budget. Don’t underestimate the importance of a property survey, it may seem expensive now, but the survey will highlight issues in the house, potentially saving you a lot of money in the long run. If the survey returns bad results, you can use it to re-negotiate your original offer to cover the cost of repairs. To keep the cost down, you should compare surveyors to get the best price for your property survey.
Removal Company Fees
If you have a lot of items or just some sentimental or fragile items you need moving, it will be worth hiring a removal company to ensure that no damage is done. Remember to factor in the cost of the removal company and any other specialist services you require when working out your moving house budget. You should create easy access outside your property for the removal company to do their job, this will help to avoid any extra costs too.
Factor in Renovation Work
You may know how much deposit you’ll need to secure your dream home as well as enough for your conveyancing, surveying and removal costs, but you might have to factor in additional costs for the house itself. The house may need some touching up or you might want to carry extension or renovation work. You should factor in the amount that this will cost and add it to the current value of the house during the initial search stage, so this isn't an added cost once you’ve moved in.
If you are financially prepared for all of these costs, then you are ready to get on the property ladder in 2019. By factoring in these costs at the beginning of the process, you won’t be met with any hidden fees when it comes to buying a house.
