what time will i get the keys?

tudorfan22

i am due to complete and move this friday (15th) and was wondering what actually happens on the day. i have an idea ill be loading the van from 9am onwards (we are self-moving) and then the EA phone with the news they have the keys ready to pick up about lunchtime and then you pick them up, drop your old keys to the EA on the way and spend the arvo unpacking in your lovely new house.

is this generally how is goes or am i living in la la land! is lunchtime about right timing - wise??

cheers!

brock-cruse

Hi
Generally you load up the van, drop your keys off at your EA and then you have to wait at the EA you are buying off until they get notice from the solicitors that your money has paid for the house. Only then will the agent release the keys to you. Think it depends on how many in the chain (money moves upward) but generally it can be afternoon. Hope this helps.

david29dpo

as above, depends how many in the chain. could be anytime between 10 and 4pm

floyd

Ours came through at 5.59pm and the estate agents stayed open until we got there because they knew how tough our chain had been (5 houses) and that we had been sitting in the street in the van since 10am!
As people have said, individual circumstances dictate when you actually get the keys

tudorfan22

crikey floyd!!! id be in peices if i had to wait until 6 o clock!!! i didnt know id have to wait outside the EAs though!! will feel like a hobo with my life in a van!!! would be nice if they invited you in for a cup of tea and to use the loo!!!!!

Nicki

Doesn't it depend on whether you are moving long distances? If you are only moving a short distance, you could pack up in the morning, and drop one set of keys at the EA, then stay in your empty house until you are told that the money has gone through, lock your old house up putting all other keys through the letter box, and head off to pick up your new keys.

If moving a long way, you pack up and start the drive to the new location. Once you get there, you check whether money has gone through. If not, you go and have lunch, coffee, walk in a park, whatever and ask your solicitor to phone you on your mobile as soon as you've completed so you can go and get the keys. Personally I can't see how it could complete at 6pm, as it has to happen during banking hours, so there should be no question at all of it happening after the EA has closed for the night. I suspect what happened with floyd was his solicitor forgot to let people know that completion had happened! In which case, if you haven't heard by mid to late afternoon, phone your solicitor and check on progress.

beachbeth

We aren't going to be moving very far (about 5 minutes drive away) and we are hiring a van which will come back and forth until everything is moved. So this will mean that at one point we will have the keys to our old house and also the keys to our new one. Does this sound right? The people buying ours aren't actually moving in because they are going to let it out so they won't really be champing at the bit to get in at the house. From the looks of it, the person we are buying off could get his whole belongings in one van and he is buying an empty houseso I don't think we'll have to wait long for him to disappear either. Am I being too optimistic here? Is this how it will work?

Imelda

The money will have to be moved by 3.30pm but then there is always a delay between the money going in and the solicitor informing you (or the EA). How long is your chain?
I got my call at 4pm. It was the longest day of my life!

Good luck with the move

Feanor

What happens if you have no chain and the place your moving to is empty? is it just a case of the solicitor doing everything in the morning? Can we then go and pick up the keys? So it could be lunch time?

Thanks.

pinkkaz

Just make sure you don't leave your van unattended... did anyone read about that guy in the Guardian who left his van in the street when he was moving and somebody took off with absolutely everything he owned in the whole world!

brock-cruse

Hi beachbeth
Be careful with your scenario as by rights you cannot have the keys to both houses unless your buyers are understanding and do not listen to their solicitor!! ( I am sure he would not recommend this!). You should not get your new house keys until you have paid for it and by this time your old house is no longer yours as you have used the money from this to pay for your new house! How well do you get on with your buyers ie are you in direct contact with them to arrange this? Be careful of the timings here as in a chain the general idea is that everyone packs in the morning and is out asap before dropping keys off at agent and waiting to pick up next set of keys. Doing numerous trips back and forth just may not be feasible. We too are only moving 10 mins down the rd to an epmty house, are selling to a woman who is currently renting but have decided that its just not worth the hassle of trying to do the move ourself. Just take care that things dont go horrendously wrong.