What happens on completion day

jamie_128

So you are all telling me that when people move, they always end up sitting in a van for 1 to 2 hours waiting for the other house to become available? I dont somehow believe that.

AdrianC

jamie_128 wrote: »

So you are all telling me that when people move, they always end up sitting in a van for 1 to 2 hours waiting for the other house to become available? I dont somehow believe that.

And I somehow don't believe you seriously thought you could have access to both houses simultaneously.

Think about how that would work up and down a normal chain...

Slithery

jamie_128 wrote: »

So you are all telling me that when people move, they always end up sitting in a van for 1 to 2 hours waiting for the other house to become available?

Usually, yes.

FTBAngst

jamie_128 wrote: »

So you are all telling me that when people move, they always end up sitting in a van for 1 to 2 hours waiting for the other house to become available? I dont somehow believe that.

Is the house that you’re selling your first purchase? Were you a FTB?

Just out of curiosity, in your plan for tomorrow how long had you planned to have both sets of keys/ access to both houses? I’ve moved a few times (renting) and it always takes me hours. Plus I like to a least wipe down surfaces in a new places before I put my stuff down.

RelievedSheff

jamie_128 wrote: »

If you have to sit in a van waiting for keys what are you supposed to do with dogs and cats?

Cant keep a cat locked in a cage for hours while you wait for your keys.

We took our dog for a good long walk on moving day while waiting for the call to say that we had completed. Tired him out so that we could unpack in relative calm, although he was very excited to explore hie new house.

RelievedSheff

jamie_128 wrote: »

So you are all telling me that when people move, they always end up sitting in a van for 1 to 2 hours waiting for the other house to become available? I dont somehow believe that.

Erm, yes.

Good luck for today. It sounds like you are definitely going to need it :eek:

Skiddaw1

jamie_128 wrote: »

If you have to sit in a van waiting for keys what are you supposed to do with dogs and cats?

Cant keep a cat locked in a cage for hours while you wait for your keys.

Basically, yes.... are you moving locally? If so, I'd book cat into cattery for a few days if at all possible. You can then get the initial bustle of moving over and done with before introducing cat to new home. In our case, we were moving from one end of the country to the other so it wasn't an option. We booked our cat into cattery for the night before completion day and then collected him that morning en route to new house. Believe me, hammering up the M6 (we had to make it to Cumbria to collect keys before EA closed) whilst monitoring two mobile phones (waiting for our EA/solicitor to confirm completion had taken place) and dealing with hysterical cat who spent the first two hours yowling, hyperventilating and trying to break out of his basket is no joke...:(


On previous house move (which was local) we didn't get keys for new house until nearly 5.00 because seller's partner, who was to drop off keys with EA, had an epileptic fit whilst on the way and was taken to local A&E. We were in EA's office climbing the walls and our removal men & van (they'd moved our stuff out quite early that morning) were sitting outside new house. Luckily, new house was opposite a park so at least they had somewhere to go for a wee occasionally!




Honestly, you'll get there in the end but it's nearly always fraught. Good luck!


(And Phil99's post is brilliant!!!)

Lokolo

jamie_128 wrote: »

So you are all telling me that when people move, they always end up sitting in a van for 1 to 2 hours waiting for the other house to become available? I dont somehow believe that.

Yes. It's exactly what I did.

I sold my place, gave the keys in. Waited a couple of hours before solicitor phoned me to say the place is mine...

Then had to wait another 2 hours because the vendor decided to do multiple trips to their new place, take off the front door and not hire a van. Eventually I started moving in whilst they were still moving out, it was my house after all!

hazyjo

My cats get shut into an empty bedroom with their litter tray and carriers.

Removal bods pack and load the majority of the stuff on the van packs the day before moving day.

You will absolutely not have time to fill the van in the morning, go to your new house, and then come back to do a second trip!

If I were you? Cut my losses - see if there's a last minute vacancy with a local removals company. I hope you've packed at least! If not, see if they can squeeze in a packing service too (today probably!).

As mentioned, nobody should be telling you this. It is presumed you know (or work it out!).

My last house completed by 9.30am! My friend had something similar once and the buyers turned up while she was cleaning for them and demanded she move out. Was before midday.

Yes, you may find you're hanging around for keys to your new home. The removal bods usually go for something to eat (it's usually around lunchtime or just after) and then come back to unload.

Do you have all your packing equipment sorted? Boxes? Do you have to disconnect any white goods that you're taking with you?!

oystercatcher

One house move many years ago , we had hired a removal company to help us move 'just up the road' locally. Maybe a half mile it was a long road.

At 9am after I had sent kids to school and pets to family members. The Idiots buying our place turned up with their first small van load of stuff while we were still waiting for our removal men to arrive !! Idiots had to wait until removals had cleared one downstairs room before they could unload and return. I think they put some stuff in the front garden, it was December and cold and wet !

Can you imagine the chaos that ensued as our removal men tried to go up and down stairs and not trip over The Idiots as they tried to stuff all their belongings into the one downstairs room !

Goodness knows what time the First Time Buyers got the keys to The Idiots old place !

We packed all our belongings into the removal van, stopped for fish and chips then collected our keys and moved in as we should do, only to find the boiler didn't work !
That house was already empty, imagine the chaos if we had also used a small van and multiple loads of 'stuff' .

Removals is one area where it's not worth it at all to go MSE and do it yourself.

Good Luck OP I hope you don't drive others over the edge of sanity!