How to prepare for completion

mm1985

We were initially meant to be completing tomorrow until our buyers solicitor lost their paperwork somewhere in the building.

anyway, we booked our removals company last Friday and cancelled yesterday and lost our deposit. It wasn’t a large amount and we were aware of the risk. We have now rescheduled completion for Wednesday but how late do we leave to book removals and cancel broadband etc. (We work from home and will be working until the day we move). Yesterday my solicitor has said that exchange will be Friday or early part of next week. I’m guessing it’s more likely early part of next week so do we wait until then to book in a removals firm? Will we even get one and then if we don’t we’ll be stuck. 

MFWannabe

What did the removal company say when you cancelled? Ask them how much notice they need 
You can’t really do anything until you’ve exchanged and know your completion date. I would wait until youve exchanged considering it’s just fallen through 

mm1985

When we cancelled we lost our deposit and said we would call back when we knew a new date. I guess we need to see if they have availability for next Wednesday but if we exchange on Monday then booking a removals that date could leave us in a position where we don’t have one and still have to complete on Wednesday or breach contract. I’m finding it difficult to understand which way things should be done when exchange and completion are so close together 

pinkteapot

Broadband - wait until you've exchanged, then cancel. Be aware it may take a little while to get broadband set up at the new property, so be prepared to use your phone as a hotspot for a bit. 

Removals - it's really hard but you're right, you can't be stuck on completion day with no removals or you're in a world of trouble. I would ring removers now (starting with the one you cancelled with) and find out who's available for Wednesday. Personally, I wouldn't risk waiting till Monday and would book with whoever asks for the smallest deposit, but I'm quite risk-averse! Some people would wait until exchange and chance it. What you do may be swayed by how many removers are available on Wednesday (the more choice you have, the longer you can wait to book).

Ask your solicitor why exchange can't happen today. Is it purely because they or others in the chain don't want a week's gap between exchange and completion due to Covid? Or is there an actual reason the chain isn't ready to exchange yet? If the latter, I'd be more inclined to hold off booking removals. 

Tiglet2

You need to be clear that everyone up and down the chain (sellers/buyers and third parties) are actually ready to set a completion date.  There is a valid reason at present to keep exchange/completion as close to each other as possible, in which case the completion date won't change but exchange may not take place until the day before or even simultaneously.  If, as pinkteapot says, there is another reason the chain isn't ready, then don't book removals yet.

mm1985

The chain is ready, everybody is ready for to complete on Wednesday. Our solicitor has requested the withdrawal of funds from Halifax yesterday and our buyers solicitors are saying exchange could happen today, however I know that our solicitor is not keen on a weeks gap between exchange and completion. I completely understand why but at this point I’m tempted to ask them to just go ahead if it can happen. My mental health is struggling, my anxiety is through the roof, my stress levels are high, I am struggling to concentrate on the children and their needs and exchanging would help with that somewhat. I know there is still risks of covid causing issues but I feel like at the moment benefits of exchanging early outweigh those 

Tiglet2

mm1985 said:

The chain is ready, everybody is ready for to complete on Wednesday. Our solicitor has requested the withdrawal of funds from Halifax yesterday and our buyers solicitors are saying exchange could happen today, however I know that our solicitor is not keen on a weeks gap between exchange and completion. I completely understand why but at this point I’m tempted to ask them to just go ahead if it can happen. My mental health is struggling, my anxiety is through the roof, my stress levels are high, I am struggling to concentrate on the children and their needs and exchanging would help with that somewhat. I know there is still risks of covid causing issues but I feel like at the moment benefits of exchanging early outweigh those 

It sounds as though everyone is on the same page and that completion is agreed for next Wednesday.  In that case it is probably safe to book removals.  Just bear in mind that exchange may not happen until Tuesday or even Wednesday, especially if your solicitor doesn't want a week's gap in between.  If you insist on exchanging today, your solicitor may want to add a Covid Rider into the contract, which will delay exchange anyway as everyone will have to agree it.

knightstyle

You are paying your solicitor so just tell them you want to exchange now.  Ask why they are stopping the exchange happening a week before completion as that is what you, their client, requested.

Mineral1

knightstyle said:

You are paying your solicitor so just tell them you want to exchange now.  Ask why they are stopping the exchange happening a week before completion as that is what you, their client, requested.

Because at the minute there is a very valid reason for keeping exchange and completion close together. They may be paying the solicitor and if instructed I'm sure they would follow their clients request but if they have a reason to advise against it why would you not listen to that advice?