How long do I get to move?

sundin13

Hi,

We're the middle of a chain. FTB below, people moving into rented above.

We're only moving around the corner, and I'm debating whether to try and do it ourselves, or get movers to do it. I've done most of the packing, so the removals quotes we've had so far have been £480 inc and £500 exc.

Trouble is, I know you can only complete on a day solicitors are open, but OH works in a school, so there's no way he can get the day off to help with the move.

I always thought that you had to be packed and out by the time your keys get handed over - and that you only get your new keys at about the same time. Is this true?

What's people's experience like of this - is it totally unacceptable to ask our vendors if we can get stuff in early?

Thanks

S13

p00hsticks

You can try asking your vendors if they'd let you move stuff in early, but if I were them I'd refuse, and I'd certainly expect both your and their solicitors to advise against it as it could lead to all sorts of complications - for example, what if you move stuff into their property before you've completed the purchase and there's a flood or fire ? And if they still have their own stuff in there as well then you run the risk of your stuff being removed along with theirs by mistake by their removers!

I'd suggest speaking to your solicitor to see what they advise. A better approach might be to speak to your buyer, and ask if for a small rental consideration they would allow you to remain in your current property until the weekend following the completion, although the same concerns apply - you need to check on what would happen in these cases if there was a fire, flood etc,

poppysarah

You need to get two/three blokes removal company.

Pack everything possible in the week up to the move. Leave out bare essentials only. Label boxes.
By the night before you should have only the freezer, fridge, and kettle, two cups and some coffee to pack in the kitchen. Eat takeaway rather than make washing up.
Toothbrush and overnight bag for putting stuff in. Strip beds in morning and put into bags ready to move.

Get some blokes to do all the heavy work of moving everything.

Slinky

From what I've observed with DIY moves they can be nightmares. We watched a moving day from hell unfold opposite us a few years ago. The occupiers of a 4 bed house were doing it themselves. Hired a small box van, got that loaded up, then had to sit and wait to get the keys to the new place. Off they went to unload, obviously not going far. In the meantime the new folk turn up with a removals wagon expecting get in. Cut a long story short the new folk and their removals people ended up helping the old folks load up their box van several times, whilst unloading the new folk's stuff into the garage. Probably cost the new folk a fortune in waiting time for their removal wagon.

Unless you've only got a small house and can get most stuff onto a rented wagon, the idea of you trying to do a DIY move out on the same day others move in really isn't fair on your purchasers.

iamana1ias

I've never moved in on the day of completion. Who needs that kind of stress?

clutton_2

get men in to do it .. its exhausting enough moving without picking up heavy boxes all day.. just do the "pointing" and the "i've changed mind where i want that" routine.. they will love you for it....

Slinky

If we ever move again, I wouldn't even bother packing myself. The last time we moved, I think it was something like an extra £400 to have the removals people come in the day before we went, pack it all up, leave us with a few essentials for overnight, and collect the last of the stuff on removal day. Compare that with weeks and weeks of me packing stuff in boxes before our previous move. Never again..... as Clutton says, it's a heavy job just shifting the boxes into the house. Save your energy for the unpacking when the removals people have gone.

poppysarah

iamana1ias wrote: »

I've never moved in on the day of completion. Who needs that kind of stress?

People who are selling and buying on the same day.

iamana1ias

poppysarah wrote: »

People who are selling and buying on the same day.

I still don't understand why you'd do that! Waaaaaaaay too much stress!

DVardysShadow

iamana1ias wrote: »

I still don't understand why you'd do that! Waaaaaaaay too much stress!

It is the money transfer which usually dictates that it all has to be done on the one day in a chain

iamana1ias

DVardysShadow wrote: »

It is the money transfer which usually dictates that it all has to be done on the one day in a chain

Yes, I understand the process. I don't understand why people would choose to do it that way. I've always bought the next place first and sold the last place afterwards.