When to move in

Ag2021

This’ll seem like a silly question to many of you, but I genuinely don’t know the answer. We’re buying our first home, currently renting. There will be an overlap between rental ending and our completion, my question is do we need to move on completion day or can we take our time? It’s mortgaged if that makes a difference. We’re talking maybe two weeks overlap in which we’d clean our new home and start moving bit by bit. 

Mizydoscape

You can move in any time after completion. We completed in September the year we bought and moved in November. Just be aware you'll probably be paying full council tax on the new property and there will be minimum of standing charges on utilities.

moneysavinghero

Someone asked the same question a couple of days ago. This thread by by of interest to you:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6267989/when-to-move-into-your-new-house

nimbo

Your insurance policy may also say something about leaving it unoccupied for 30 days. But if the overlap is only two weeks you’re golden. 

Take day one to scrub and then move when you can get men with a van or whatever...

Ag2021

Thanks for the quick replies! @moneysavinghero thanks for the link, I must’ve missed this (been lurking a lot!)

Slithery

You'll want to at least visit the day you get the keys so you can change all of the locks.

Sunsaru

I gave it 5 weeks for my move to get the boiler replaced, place decorated etc.

You should be fine

Barny1979

I rented for 6 months and put an offer in around month 1, completed 18th January, moved 3rd March when rental contract ended.

DD265

We moved in the day after we completed (we'd arranged a van/help for that weekend, weren't using a removals firm) - had a 2/3 week overlap. I regretted it - in hindsight we needed longer to clean as it was a right state, and I wish we'd borrowed money from family to get everything replastered so we could've painted it all; much more awkward once we were in!

MaryNB

On completion day take photos of the water, gas and electricity meters and set up accounts.

I had a month overlap (moving from renting). First day I took meter readings and set the heating on low to prevent freezing (this was in November). I then moved my stuff bit by bit, and properly moved in after 2 weeks - once I had a mattress and internet connection (needed to WFH during lockdown). Definitely get any painting done in those first few weeks. I did quite a bit but didn't plan on touching up all the off-white walls right away. Unfortunately I didnt realise how much I hated the almond colour until after I had all my furniture.

Sandtree

It all depends on what you want to do to the property instantly?

On the day of exchange on our first purchase (that was only a few doors down from where we were renting) we spent the night in sleep bags in the property just because it was ours. We'd stretched ourselves so weren't doing anything immediately to the property so had cleaners in the afternoon/evening, fridge/freezer delivered the day after that and moved in day 3.

With more funds would have changed floorings, maybe repainted etc before moving in as its so much easier when there is nothing in there but wasn't in a position to do so.