First-time buyers now face an average upfront cost of just under £33,000to purchase a home—a rise of more than £1,000 (3%) compared to 2024.
But why is buying a home so expensive? How can first-time buyers reduce these initial costs? To help, Compare My Move has released a detailed report on the cost of buying a house in 2025, breaking down where your money goes and offering practical tips to help make your house-buying journey a little cheaper.
The table below outlines the various costs involved in moving house and highlights the changes in these costs compared to 2024.
| The Cost of Buying a House | % Change | £ Change | |
| Property Surveyors | £488 | +6% | £27 |
| Conveyancing | £1,743 | +13% | £195 |
| Valuation Fee | £452 | +45% | £140 |
| 10% Deposit | £29,200 | +2% | £700 |
| Removal Company | £1,044 | -4% | -£42 |
| Postal Redirection | £40 | 11% | £4 |
| Cost of Buying a House 2025 | £32,967 | 3% | £1,024 |
The largest expense first-time buyers incur when buying a house is the deposit. According to the ONS, the average house price in the UK at the end of December 2024 was £292,000. This means that to put down a 10% deposit on the average house, you would have to spend £29,200.
Conveyancing solicitors are the second most expensive part of the house-buying process. On average, it costs £1,743 to hire a conveyancing solicitor to buy a house, up 13% from 2024. The cost of surveying a property has also risen since 2024, with the valuation fee seeing the largest rise of 45%—the property survey and the valuation survey cost an average of £488 and £452, respectively.
How Do I Cut The Cost of Buying My First Home?
There are ways of reducing the costs of buying your first home, to make your property-buying journey more manageable. Dave Sayce, founder and managing director of Compare My Move has put together a few tips that could reduce your upfront costs when buying a house.
Saving on a Deposit
“The deposit is the biggest upfront cost when buying your first home. While a 10% deposit is common, many mortgage providers offer options with just a 5% deposit—saving you around £14,600 based on the average house price.
Some lenders even offer mortgages with little or no deposit, removing this initial expense entirely. However, these typically require a guarantor who would be responsible for repayments if you’re unable to meet them.
While a lower deposit reduces your upfront costs, it also means higher interest rates, making your mortgage more expensive in the long run.”
Saving on Conveyancing
“Conveyancing is the second biggest expense when buying a home. While it’s a crucial part of the process, you do have the option to handle it yourself. However, conveyancing is complex, time-consuming, and requires thorough research—so DIY conveyancing, while possible, isn’t recommended.
To save money, you could choose an online conveyancer instead of a traditional in-person solicitor. Online services are usually cheaper, but they lack the personal touch of face-to-face meetings, which can make the process feel less engaging. That said, the outcome remains the same, so the choice comes down to personal preference—whether you value cost savings or a more hands-on experience.”
Saving on Removals
“Just like conveyancing, hiring a removal company isn’t essential when moving house. If you don’t have a lot to move—such as when moving into a furnished or smaller home—you might find it easier and more cost-effective to rent a van or make multiple trips by car.
If you need some help but don’t have enough belongings to justify a full removal service, a man and van service is a more affordable option, with prices starting as low as £36 per hour. However, if you’re moving from a home with two or more bedrooms, a professional removal company is usually the better choice for a smoother and more efficient move.”
Saving on Surveying
“When you’re deciding on your house survey, you’ll find that there are different types of surveys and that different surveys are cheaper than others.”
Table: Average survey cost by survey type (Compare My Move)
| Survey Type | Survey Cost |
| Level 1 Survey | £380 |
| Level 2 Survey | £445 |
| Level 3 Survey | £629 |
| Snagging Survey (for New Builds) | £377 |
“The depth and detail into which your survey goes will depend on the level of your survey. Level 1, also known as a condition report goes into the least depth and is therefore the cheapest, Level 3, also known as a building survey goes into the most depth and is therefore the most expensive.
You will only need a Level 3 survey if the property you’re buying meets certain criteria, for example, if your property:
- It was built before 1975
- Has had major renovation work
- Has been unoccupied for a long time
- Is built over a cavern or mineshaft
- Is built using non-standard material
If your property doesn’t meet these criteria then it’s possible you’ll be fine going with a Level 1 or Level 2 survey, which have a much lower average cost.”
