The real cost of selling your home

Traditionally, the biggest cost of selling was the estate agent’s commission, typically 1 to 3 percent of the sale price plus VAT. On a £300,000 home that’s often £4,000 to £10,000, money that came straight off your proceeds.

Listing your home yourself removes that cost entirely. What remains is a much shorter list: a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal work, an EPC if you don’t already have a valid one, and any small spend on presenting the home well.

An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is a legal requirement to market a home. If yours is more than ten years old or missing, you’ll need a new one, usually under £100. It’s worth having ready before you list.

Conveyancing is the unavoidable legal cost on both sides of a sale. Fees vary, so get two or three quotes. Fixed-fee firms make budgeting easier, and a good solicitor pays for themselves by keeping the sale on track.

Everything else is optional and cheap: a tidy, decluttered home, natural light in your photos, and honest, complete material information. Those cost nothing and do more for your sale price than any glossy brochure.