Proceedure on completion day

djm1972

I'm in the middle of a chain of 3, selling to a first time buyer and the place I am buying is vacant possession.

Things are slowly coming together, but it's occurred to me that I don't actually know how things generally work on completion / moving day. Because of my mortgage arrangements I have to complete both transactions on the same day (hopefully shouldn't be a problem) so I'm assuming it goes something like this:

* Phone call from solicitor to confirm completion on both transactions
* Load the van
* Take meter readings
* Drop off keys at estate agent ready for buyer to pick up
~ 12 noon - assuming my vendor has done the same thing ~
* Drive 160 miles to vendors estate agent and pick up keys
* Move in

Is that pretty much how it works? Is 12 noon used as a general rule for handover of ownership regardless of what time of day the financial transactions take place, or does it rarely go to plan like this and you just wait on each other etc. etc.?

Doozergirl

You have to wait for all the solicitors to be available at the same time and for all the relevant monies to hit the bank accounts.

It could happen at any time during the day.

iwilldoitthistime

Hi

Personally, I always load the van before you start, so when you get the call you can get going straight away. Also, if you have more than one set of keys, give them to your estate agent beforehand (keeping one set) so that when you move out, you dont have to go round and drop the keys off. The set you had held onto can be posted back through the letterbox for the new owner.

Tiger_greeneyes

If you wait until after completion takes place to load the van, and completion takes place late in the day, you'll probably be liable for paying the removals company overtime rates.

Seeing as you're moving 160 miles away, why don't you think about getting the removals company to load the van the day before? They'll take it back to their base overnight so it will be securely parked. You can drive to your new place and stay in a b&b overnight and collect your keys on completion - ready to let the removals company in when they arrive.

Moving out, driving 160 miles and moving in on the same day is going to be hard going - and probably more expensive than staying in a b&b overnight if you're paying overtime rates for removals.

I've moved to Scotland and back so I've tested the logistics!!!

rosysparkle

Tiger_greeneyes wrote: »

If you wait until after completion takes place to load the van, and completion takes place late in the day, you'll probably be liable for paying the removals company overtime rates.

Seeing as you're moving 160 miles away, why don't you think about getting the removals company to load the van the day before? They'll take it back to their base overnight so it will be securely parked. You can drive to your new place and stay in a b&b overnight and collect your keys on completion - ready to let the removals company in when they arrive.

Moving out, driving 160 miles and moving in on the same day is going to be hard going - and probably more expensive than staying in a b&b overnight if you're paying overtime rates for removals.

I've moved to Scotland and back so I've tested the logistics!!!

If I ever move again, I would do this. Move out the day before without the pressure of having to be finished for 12 or 2 or whatever time the solicitors are ready, get the removals company to store my stuff overnight, stay in a Travel Inn or similar, and move into the new place on completion day.

Debt_Free_Chick

Definitely load the van first - in fact, you should have been packing for about a week beforehand :eek:

It's very, very unusual for completion not to go ahead. If it doesn't, then you often complete the following (working) day anyway, so you lose nothing by having a loaded van. If you're using a removal firm, they will usually store the van & contents overnight for you, but do ask about insurance and be prepared to pay if necessary (check your home contents policy to see if it covers you for storage by a removal company). Tiger_greeneyes makes a good suggestion - you really don't want to be unpacking at the other end in the dark! And .... you don't know if there are any "problems" at the house you're moving into until you get there e.g. if they've taken all the lightbulbs with them :eek:

Will you clean after you've packed? Not necessary, but a nice welcome for your buyers. I am usually packed & loaded by about 10am leaving me time to clean a couple of final rooms while I'm waiting for "that call"

Just plan your day(s) assuming completion will go ahead and either use Tiger_greeneyes suggestion or at least keep it as an option, in case completion is delayed.

HTH

MJMum

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Milky_Mocha

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Will you clean after you've packed? Not necessary, but a nice welcome for your buyers. I am usually packed & loaded by about 10am leaving me time to clean a couple of final rooms while I'm waiting for "that call"


HTH

I think someone started a thread about cleaning the other day. Its only when I moved that I realised how much thought goes into ensuring the house is spotlessly clean for the new owners. Probably because I wasn't super organised due to having a small baby to care for during the whole process. I had planned for hubby and I to do the cleaning ourselves but we forgot to tell the removals packers to leave behind the cleaning materials so we had no mops, brooms, etc. Luckily the packing and removal was done the day before so I had time to frantically start phoning cleaning companies, most of whom said it was too short notice. Eventually I found one that sent out cleaners at 7pm, were done by 10pm and agreed to hand in the keys through the estate agents' door afterwards.