Selling a home

Estate agent fees typically range from less than 1% to 3.5% of the final selling price, plus VAT. For a sole-agency instruction on a £300,000 home, expect around 1 to 1.5% plus VAT (roughly £3,600 to £5,400). Online agents may charge a flat fee of £500 to £1,500 instead. Fees are negotiable, and you should check whether advertising, photos and VAT are included.

On a typical £300,000 home, selling costs between £4,500 and £10,500. The main costs are estate agent fees (1 to 2% plus VAT), an EPC (£60 to £120), conveyancing (£700 to £1,200), and removals (£300 to £1,500). You may also have an early repayment charge on your mortgage if you are leaving your current deal early.

High-street agents typically charge 1–2% + VAT (sole agency), online agents a flat £500–£1,500, and multi-agency arrangements 2.5–3%. Fees are negotiable - in a busy market 1% + VAT is a realistic target.

Most high-street agents charge 1 to 2% of the sale price plus VAT on a sole-agency basis. Multi-agency arrangements cost more (2.5 to 3% plus VAT) because multiple agents compete. Online agents typically charge a flat fee. Always ask what is included in the fee before signing the contract.

Yes. You must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before marketing your property - it costs roughly £60–£120 and takes a few days. There are limited exemptions, but for a normal sale it’s non-negotiable.

Most sellers spend around 2.5% of the sale price plus £1,500. On the UK average house price of roughly £270,000, that works out to about £8,250. Estate agent fees are the largest component, typically 1 to 1.5% plus VAT for a sole-agency instruction.

Start by checking which agents are listing similar properties in your area on Rightmove and Zoopla. Ask for valuations from two or three agents and compare not just their fee quote but their marketing plan: professional photos, floor plan, portal listings and their track record of selling similar homes. Check that the agent belongs to a government-approved redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme) and a professional body such as Propertymark.

The six main costs are: estate agent fees, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC, legally required before marketing), conveyancing or solicitor fees, removal costs, any early repayment charge on your mortgage, and Capital Gains Tax if the property is not your main residence. Stamp Duty is a buying cost, not a selling cost, but most sellers are also buyers so it affects your cashflow.

From listing to completion, allow 3 to 5 months: 2 to 8 weeks to find a buyer, 8 to 12 weeks of conveyancing, then 2 to 4 weeks from exchange to completion. The market and your chain can stretch or shorten this significantly.

The process is: get an EPC, choose an estate agent, set a realistic price based on comparable sold prices, market the property, negotiate offers, instruct a conveyancer to handle the legal work, exchange contracts (when the deal becomes binding), and complete (when keys and money change hands). Most sellers complete the full process in 3 to 5 months.

No. Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid by the buyer, not the seller. However, if you are selling and buying another home, you will pay SDLT on your purchase. If you are buying an additional property (not replacing your main residence), the 5% surcharge applies but can be refunded if your old home sells within 36 months.

Yes, but speed costs money. The fastest route is a cash buyer or quick-sale company (2 to 4 weeks), but you typically pay 15 to 25% below market value. The fastest route that does not sacrifice price is: price 5 to 7% under market, target cash buyers through your agent, have all paperwork ready, and be flexible on completion dates. See our dedicated guide to selling a house fast for the full comparison.