Moving house - people to make the arrangements?

GustyGardenGalaxy

My ageing, widowed mother is currently thinking of moving house. I would normally handle all of the arrangements, ie dealing with the solicitor(s), estate agents, arranging for someone to move all her furniture, etc, etc, etc - trouble is that my current job (bad hours, travelling, etc) will severely curtail my abilities to help her as much as I would like.

Are there people whose job is to help others move house, ie to do 99.9% of the work involved with solicitors, etc as outlined above?

And if so, do they charge a small fortune for their services?

Thanks

HellsGranny

Can't help, unfortunately, but if you find someone, let me know, because I'm in much the same position.

Cheers, HG

silvercar

The problem is that dealing with solicitors and estate agents means just acting as a go-between between the EA/ legal and your mother, who will then want to discuss everything with you. Far better to give the EA and solicitor your phone number and your mother's authority to speak to you.

Gat a reputable removal firm who will pack, move and unpack and the work on the day will be much easier.

Fire_Fox

I suspect many solicitors will not be happy to liaise with someone who does not hold Power of Attorney over your mother's affairs - perhaps search for a solicitor who is happy to conduct their business largely via e-mail? There are many online solicitors now.

G_M

I've never heard of this service and would anyway be wary. There are already professionals involved to whome you (your mum) has delegated jobs:
solicitor
removal company
estate agent
etc

Selecting and then checking up on them is not something I'd delegate outside a very trusted individual (ie family) and anyway you mum would have to sign everything (unless there's an EPOA).
You really need a sort of project manager to keep tabs, make sure banks, HMRC, pensions, DVLC etc all get written to with new address, advise mum whether to proceed or not at critical points......

Needs to be someone really trusted. Are you at least local to your mum?

GustyGardenGalaxy

Thanks for the helpful replies so far.

Yes, a Project Manager, that sums it up.

Afraid that I don't live near my mother, which of course adds to the problems.

G_M

How about approaching charities? Age Concern? Help the Aged?

I've no idea if they'd help, or put you in touch with 'trusted' people, but it's a thought....

SnowBelle_2

Hi,
As mentioned before power of attorney would be a very good idea if you mum would agree to it,My mum has done it for years for my grandmother, Would it be at all possible to take one day off work and try and fit the EA, and Solicitors on together and worry about the removals when she sells?If you explain to them that you are worried they should be fair to you if they are profesional,explain all viewings must be done in Daylight and with the EA present.
I think meeting a sol in person will give you a "feel" for them as you may end up chasing online sols a bit more as they tend to be a little bit more invisible.
This is just a few of my personal small ideas.
Good Luck

GustyGardenGalaxy

Good idea, thanks.

However, if I was just 'Project Managing' everything then would I need Power of Attorney? My mother is fully in charge of her faculties and can initially tell solicitors, etc that I'm simply handling all of the ins and outs of the sale. She will of course be needed for anything that needs signing, but I (or someone nominated by me) could handle general queries, chase up anything that's required, etc?

Fire_Fox

Why don't you ask your chosen conveyancing solicitor what his view is? My sixty-something parents are fully in charge of their faculties, so much so that they are presently on a several year tour of North and South America in a motorhome! However I have PoA which is active on only one of their savings accounts, this is in case the family quickly need access to money (e.g. fly a parent home, brothers flat burns down). For us PoA is a convenience tool, in twenty years it will be used to help my parents manage their affairs without the suspicion they were coerced.

GustyGardenGalaxy

Good point, I'll ask the CS.