What to do between house contract exchange and completion...

[vkurup]

House move looks increasingly likely... Before this one, we have gone from rented to own, so had little furniture and not much baggage. We exchanged and completed on the same day, but did not move in as we did some work in the house while we continued renting.

This time looks like there will be a two week gap between exchange and completion. I know what the solicitors would be doing, but not sure what WE are supposed to do. Our stuff will not move in one trip and am keen to avoid any storage costs. The new place is about 10 min drive, so could potentially make a few trips if needed. But we will a
So be having someone move into ours.

Expert advice anyone.

 

[fundy]

Are you moving yourself or getting a firm to do it for you?

2 weeks between the 2 is ideal as gives you time to get packed after exchange, personally would hire a decent removal firm and leave it to them to get it sorted on the day, they'll do it in 1 load!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Sorry but a bit confused ?

Surely what you do in between the two is pack and then move your stuff on the day you get the keys ?

Unless I have missed something

 

[Foxholer]

That's a reasonable time to get things sorted.

Means there's no panic about whether exchange/completion will actually happen, while you are doing preliminary packing. A reputable removal firm will provide all the kit for your packing and there may not need to be any/much storage charges - as everything can be moved in a single go.

Get more than 1 quote!

 

[vkurup]

ok... so it is only packing and moving then.. never had the experience before and hence the question..

I was going to use a removals guy, as need to fit a couple of beds, sofa, dinning table etc. I was going to be a bit cheeky and see if I dont need a big removal guy and do a couple of rounds instead.

but given that we may need to quit by noon and handover I think it will be a case of 1 load only. I was thinking if it is wise to ask the vendors if we could start moving earlier

 

[fundy]

ok... so it is only packing and moving then.. never had the experience before and hence the question..

I was going to use a removals guy, as need to fit a couple of beds, sofa, dinning table etc. I was going to be a bit cheeky and see if I dont need a big removal guy and do a couple of rounds instead.

but given that we may need to quit by noon and handover I think it will be a case of 1 load only. I was thinking if it is wise to ask the vendors if we could start moving earlier

Vendors solicitor will tell them not to allow anyone to move in before formal completion, not likely to happen. As for removals, not worth trying to scrimp a few hundred quid on, pay a proper firm and get the job done properly (make sure you understand their insurance cover before agreeing to go with one)

 

[PhilTheFragger]

we moved ourselves 18 years ago 3 miles down the road, hired a big van, self drive

Blooming hard slog

Prob saved a few quid, but if I was to do it again now, i'd get the professionals in,

 

[vkurup]

We have things fixed to the wall e.g. flat telly, bed head board etc. When I take these off, it will leave some ugly scars on the wall. Do i need to fill these up? Even if I put some polyfilla in it, it may be a different colour as the wall. This is unlikey to come up in the survey. But can the buyer come back and ask these to be made good after the sale (I am assuming not)

 

[fundy]

We have things fixed to the wall e.g. flat telly, bed head board etc. When I take these off, it will leave some ugly scars on the wall. Do i need to fill these up? Even if I put some polyfilla in it, it may be a different colour as the wall. This is unlikey to come up in the survey. But can the buyer come back and ask these to be made good after the sale (I am assuming not)

We've always left a house as we'd hope to get it, with repairs done as best they can be to walls and the house cleaned properly, we have bought houses where nothing has been done at all by the vendors, not sure theres a legal requirement as such but always seems the right thing to do (ps dont pack the kettle, black sacks or cleaning products, you'll need them to hand!)

 

[vkurup]

We've always left a house as we'd hope to get it, with repairs done as best they can be to walls and the house cleaned properly, we have bought houses where nothing has been done at all by the vendors, not sure theres a legal requirement as such but always seems the right thing to do (ps dont pack the kettle, black sacks or cleaning products, you'll need them to hand!)

We will try what we can, but some holes that we dug into the chimney to feed the TV cables are too big to fill.

On another topic... just looking thru the solicitor fees, and cant believe what a rip off scheme it is. Sample...
1) More than 3 contacts per day via email/phone may be charged!!!!
2) Money will be paid by Cheque. If you need it electronically BACS that would be about £35 and by CHAPS about £60!!!! I thought electronic was free!!!

What world do solicitors live in?

 

[Rooter]

i would ensure you go round and remove every light bulb, toilet roll holder, curtain rail and anything else that is not on an itinerary. that should keep you busy!

 

[vkurup]

i would ensure you go round and remove every light bulb, toilet roll holder, curtain rail and anything else that is not on an itinerary. that should keep you busy!

I might leave my 3 iron behind... they might have a better use of it as a washing line or so...

 

[North Mimms]

Take out buildings insurance to run from exchange date

 

[vkurup]

Take out buildings insurance to run from exchange date

Bldg insurance for which property... Currently owned or the new one? The current one does have insurance which I will have call and cancel (and listen to them ranting..)

 

[North Mimms]

Bldg insurance for which property... Currently owned or the new one? The current one does have insurance which I will have call and cancel (and listen to them ranting..)

The new one.
You have signed a contract to buy it . What happens if it is damaged by fire in the interim?

Most people don't bother doing this, but we always have when moving

 

[vkurup]

The new one.
You have signed a contract to buy it . What happens if it is damaged by fire in the interim?

Most people don't bother doing this, but we always have when moving

Good point.. but is it legally yours (as it has not completed yet) and can you get an insurance on something that you dont own?

Assuming that the vendor still has his insurance active, the chain could still collapse and his insurance still be able to cover it...

 

[daymond]

Keep your house insured until you move to the new one and have insurance in place before you move into the new property.
Read the gas,electric,water meters on the day of the move and agree the readings with the other party.
Have you agreed a list of fixtures and fittings which will remain as part of the sale contract. ( it's very mean to leave the house without light bulbs)

 

[vkurup]

Keep your house insured until you move to the new one and have insurance in place before you move into the new property.
Read the gas,electric,water meters on the day of the move and agree the readings with the other party.
Have you agreed a list of fixtures and fittings which will remain as part of the sale contract. ( it's very mean to leave the house without light bulbs)

As luck would have it.. Just sitting and drawing this up... HID is keen on keeping the bedroom fixtures (the downstairs are all recessed fittings, so included). Now I need to go and get some cheap ceiling rose flex from homebase (or negotiate). We dont know what we will get at the other end.

Another one are light switches. Current house has footballer style chrome switch & sockets all along. I might need to swap it out with plastic ones, since the new house has some ancient switches that could do with some swapping.

Am I being too much of a scrooge?

 

[DCB]

Light switches, Sockets shouldn't be removed unless you specified they were going to be replaced at the time of the move. If I moved in to a new place and found switch plates changed I'd be kicking off via the lawyer. I'd also be seeking an electrical test certificate for the work done in replacing them. Not worth the potential hastle IMO leave switch plated and sockets as they are. Buy new if you need them at the other end,

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We moved from a two bed mid-terrace and had chucked loads of stuff out but still got a removal firm in. Three or four Poles under the supervision of the owner of the company (Greens if the OP is interested... highly recommended) took less than an hour to move everything. Very professional and took the same time to unload the other end and took all the hassle out of trying to move stuff between the wife and I