Work out your budget
Before you go house hunting, it's worth looking at your finances. Think about:
- Your mortgage balance compared to the value of your current home (this is called your equity).
- The size of the deposit you want to put down on your next home.
- How much you may be able to borrow from a lender.
- Whether you'll need to borrow more money and how much.
- What money you'll need to put aside for moving costs.
As well as the usual costs with buying a home, you'll need to consider estate agent fees. The average estate agent fee in 2025 is 1.42% including VAT. On a £275,000 home that would cost £3,9001.
Sell your current home
If you already own a home, you'll need to sell it before or alongside buying your next one. It's a good idea to get valuations from more than one estate agent to get a better understanding of your home's market value. Each estate agent may also charge different amounts so it's worth comparing what they can offer.
Find your next home
Make a list of what's important to you. This could be:
- The number of bedrooms you need.
- Your ideal location.
- Local transport links, schools or other must-haves you want and maybe never had before.
Once you find somewhere you love, make an offer.
Review your mortgage options
Your house is sold and the offer has been accepted on your new one! Now it's time to sort your mortgage.
First it's important to check whether your current mortgage is portable. This means you can take your existing mortgage with you to your new home. This can make the process of moving home quicker and easier. You may also be able to get a bigger mortgage on top of your existing one - also known as 'borrowing more'. Speak to your lender to find out all the details.
If you want to port your mortgage, but also reduce the size of your mortgage (because you're downsizing for example) early repayment charges may apply.
Prepare for moving day
Moving home can be stressful, but preparation is key. Here are a few things to do before the big day:
- Book your removal company or hire van.
- Get boxes and start packing. Start with the little things and label everything to help when unloading. It's also worth packing a 'first night box' with all the essentials.
- Make a list of the people you'll need to notify when you move. This includes utility providers, phone and broadband companies as well as your bank and local council.
Settle into your new home
Congratulations! The day has finally arrived. Once you're moved in:
- Take meter readings and send them to your supplier.
- Check your smoke and CO detectors.
- Make sure your home insurance covers your new address.
- Update your local council to register for council tax.
- Set up a redirection with Royal Mail just in case you forgot to update someone.
And finally relax and save yourself the hassle of cooking and order a few meal kits while you get settled.