Exchange and complete on same day

Nicki

Following my recent thread on my gazundering drama, its looking like my sale and purchase will end up both having exchange and completion on the same day (in about 2 weeks time)

How have others in the same boat gone about organising things like notifying utilities, phone companies, etc. Obviously I don't want to end up in my old house with the whole thing having fallen through with no services because I've cancelled them all, nor do I want to be in my new home with none because I haven't arranged them! Also mail re-direction where I have to give at least 5 working days notice. What happens if my buyer pulls out on the last day and all my mail is being directed to a house which I'm not then able to buy?

Does anyone have any tips about how to deal with this, and generally useful tips about what needs to be done in advance? I have started phoning people like the phone and gas people up to ask but they just tell me to give them notice in advance of the move, and don't seem to understand that its not quite so straightforward when the whole thing might yet fall through.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm being negative, and clearly we hope and expect it will go through this time round, but having been let down by 5 buyers already and 1 seller (twice just before exchange of contracts), I'm trying very hard not to count any chickens before they hatch

ono_no_komachi

I think with the utilities it is acceptable to ring them with final meter readings and your new address actually on the day of completion.

A suggestion for the mail redirection - could you set it up initially to go to a relative or friend's address? I think you can change it once it has been set up, and would give you an overlap before and after completion.

I've heard some friends have had difficulties lately getting their BT line set up in their name. So maybe making sure anyone who might need to contact you has your mobile number is a good idea.

Hope it all goes well.