Checklist
Moving house checklist and costs
Every step from offer to keys, and every cost to budget for — written for first-time buyers in England and Wales.
Your moving home checklist
1. Before you offer
- Get a mortgage agreement in principle and note your lender's name.
- Compare conveyancing quotes — your conveyancer must be on your lender's panel.
- Budget for every cost below, not just the deposit.
- First-time buyer? Check whether you qualify for property tax relief.
Do this first: compare conveyancers
See itemised quotes including VAT and disbursements. No contact details needed to see prices.
Get conveyancing quotes2. Offer accepted
- Instruct your conveyancer and give the estate agent their details.
- Complete ID checks and show where your deposit comes from (including any gifts).
- Book a survey and submit your full mortgage application.
3. During conveyancing
- Your conveyancer orders searches and raises enquiries with the seller's side.
- Read the survey, searches report and contract documents when they're sent to you.
- Arrange buildings insurance from exchange (your lender will usually require it).
4. Exchange of contracts
- Sign the contract and transfer deed, and send your deposit to your conveyancer.
- Agree the completion date — the purchase is now legally binding.
- Book removals or van hire, and give notice on any rental.
5. Before completion day
- Tell your council, utilities, bank, employer, GP, DVLA and electoral register about your new address.
- Set up Royal Mail redirection and arrange broadband.
- Pack an essentials box: documents, chargers, kettle, bedding, basic tools.
6. Completion day
- Your conveyancer sends the funds and confirms completion — collect your keys.
- Take meter readings and photos when you arrive.
- Your conveyancer pays any property tax due and registers you as the owner.
How much does it cost to move home?
Costs depend on your property, location and lender, so we don't publish averages. Here's what to budget for:
| Cost | What to know |
|---|---|
| Deposit | Set by your lender — usually a percentage of the price. |
| Conveyancing legal fees + VAT | Varies by firm, price, tenure and extras like gifted deposits or a new build. Compare itemised quotes below. |
| Disbursements | Searches, Land Registry fee, ID and bank transfer charges — paid via your conveyancer and shown separately in our quotes. |
| Stamp Duty (England) or Land Transaction Tax (Wales) | Not included in any conveyancing quote. Use the official calculators. |
| Survey | Optional but recommended; booked separately. |
| Mortgage fees | Arrangement or broker fees, if any. |
| Removals and moving day | Removal firm or van hire, packing materials, time off work. |
| Setting up the home | Insurance, broadband, council tax, furniture. |
For your actual conveyancing figure, answer a few questions — quotes show legal fees, VAT and disbursements separately. See fees explained for what each line means.
Property tax is separate and is not included in any conveyancing quote. Check what you may owe using the official calculators: HMRC Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator (England) and Welsh Revenue Authority Land Transaction Tax calculator (Wales).
First-time buyer tips
- Tell us about gifted deposits — firms usually charge per donor, and we include it in the quote.
- New builds, shared ownership and Help to Buy-style schemes add work; we ask about them up front.
- More detail in our first-time buyer guide.
Looking for conveyancing near me?
Most conveyancing is handled by phone, email and secure portals, so your conveyancer doesn't need to be on your street — but they must cover property in England or Wales and, if you have a mortgage, be on your lender's panel.
Enter your property's postcode in the quote form and we'll only show participating firms that can act on your area and transaction. This is a limited panel of checked firms, not the whole market. Check which firms have confirmed your lender on our lender panel pages, or read more on conveyancing near me, costs, timescales and who to tell when you move.