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

[sev112]

Use the time now to "negotiate" a private deal for fixtures and fittings. last time we bought big TV , amp, some furniture off the people we bought from, and as a result they "threw in really good blinds, curtains, doormats, garage shelving, some internal fittings on the fitted wardrobes etc - very grateful and just shows what you can mutually benefit from.

We used Pickfords - best money I spent; they had packed our house by 10am!!!! And while we were waiting for the bloomin rubbish solicitors to sort out the keys (we didn't get them until 3) we got to the house at 3.30 and Pickfords has "persuaded" the sellers to let them bring the gear in, and when we turned up it was all done. Brilliant guys and good people to buy from - we were lucky.

Because Pickfords were out of our first place so quickly, we spent a good couple of hours spring cleaning the house. We left the new people a box of chocs and a bottle of South African wine (the dad was S Af) - they said to me a week later that they couldn't believe we had cleaned the house top to bottom, and it really made moving into their new home a real pleasure.

So, hope it goes well, and I hope you get nice people to deal with like we did

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

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?

Yes, and if your sale particulars mentioned them you would be liable to reinstate them.

Leave the house as you would hope to find it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

HID and her OCD was still scrubbing the kitchen as the removal men were taking stuff out. We left some wine too and we got a nice bottle from Redrow when we moved in

 

[vkurup]

Tnx for the recommendation on Pickfords and Greens. I have dropped a note to Bisphops (Guildford), Marshall & Macintosh and Bisley Removals (both local)... Might send Pickfords a note too. Greens dont seem to come this far south

 

[MadAdey]

I would defiantly check on the fixtures and fittings side if things. If curtains, blinds, light fittings etc are not parts of the sale then you might be able to negotiate a price like has already been mentioned.

I purchased a house in Scotland when I lived there and I did not check on these things. When we exchanged I found they had stripped the house of things, including the 10' wide vertical blinds that were across the French doors. I was gutted when it cost me nearly £200 to replace them. They had also taken the designer spotlights from the kitchen and the lights from the dining room. They did replace them, but replaced them with some cheap homebase specials, instead of the really nice expensive looking ones.

even if fittings are not exactly as you want, it may be worth it while you move and start changing the house to your own tastes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Tnx for the recommendation on Pickfords and Greens. I have dropped a note to Bisphops (Guildford), Marshall & Macintosh and Bisley Removals (both local)... Might send Pickfords a note too. Greens dont seem to come this far south

Based in Bracknell so pretty sure they will. E mail the owner Stephen Green (firstchoice.greensremovals@virgin.net) or call on 07920 854148. He's moved Henrik Stenson before too

 

[JCW]

Keep everything cross hehe , get up a check list of things to do and need doing and tick them off as you do them

 

[Jensen]

Just to clarify so you know the difference between exchange and completion.
Exchange is the legal term when "exchange of contracts" happen. This stage means that both parties are legally obligated to complete the transaction, ie that the vendor will sell to you and that you will buy. You or the vendor could still pull out but it would mean that the withdrawing party would have to pay for the other parties legal costs. As mentioned as you are now legally committed to purchase you need to ensure that you have buildings insurance for the property that you are buying.
Completion as the name suggests is the legal term for when the property transaction, ie sale and purchase has completed and at this stage you then receive the keys to the new property and can move in at your leisure, ie straight away or later.
If you've arranged life cover assuming you need it and the cover any increased in borrowing if applicable this should be started also at exchange of contracts stage.
Good luck hope al goes well.

 

[daymond]

I am puzzled. Do I take it that you have agreed the purchase and selling prices and don't have lists of fixtures and fittings that will stay or be removed?
This should have been sorted by all parties with the Agents/Solicitors involvement.

 

[vkurup]

I am puzzled. Do I take it that you have agreed the purchase and selling prices and don't have lists of fixtures and fittings that will stay or be removed?
This should have been sorted by all parties with the Agents/Solicitors involvement.

We have agreed on price which is subject to contracts... the solicitors are working on the contracts which will have the fixture lists..

 

[daymond]

Thanks vkurup. That should make things clearer.