Things to do before/after completion?

soplum

Hi all,

We have signed all contracts (as have the vendors) and we have been asked for a preference on a completion date!

Now the question is (Sorry for the silly one - FTB's!!).... The must dos!


1. What do you recommend we do before the completion date?

2. What do you recommend we do when we get the keys?

TIA

fiveacre

1. Drink champagne
2. Drink champagne

(Also make sure you have insurance from exchange, appropriate money in the right account like deposit with solicitors and valid mortgage offer in place, and take a pic of the utility meters on completion)

Trynsave2

Before completion:
Start packing, cleaning and writing a list of all you need to advise of change of address. Get home and car insurance quotes. Get comparisons for internet & utilities so you know who to move to. Bear in mind that internet companies can only connect your account once the previous occupants line is clear. Therefore it might take a few days/a week to get service. Prepare any teens you have for the trauma! Don't order via cashback sites until you are sure it's clear as they won't pay up if postponed.

After completion:
Organise postal redirect. Act on insurance quotes and commit to best utility providers. Read the meters. Find the stopcock and practice turning water off to make sure you can. Flush the loos before using to ensure there are no blockages. Try that the lights work before it gets dark. Open the wine. Celebrate!

jazzyja

I'm close to the same position as you! Not yet been asked a date but it's close. And weirdly I just cannot wait to measure up for curtains?! I don't know why this is quite literally the most exciting aspect for me. Also cannot wait to clean it. Not that it was dirty, just to have it smell as I want. 

Toots0293

Same here - hoping to exchange this week and complete the next! So I’m mainly here to have a nosey at the suggestions. I’m a FTB too, and won’t be moving in straight away, so things are a little more relaxed.. however I do need to hurry up and order a sofa (I’m currently stressing whether the one I want will fit through the door) - so I would suggest going again to visit the property (before exchange preferably, you may have done that already though) for one last look over & starting measuring up if you need too. Good luck, enjoy it!  

MaryNB

Toots0293 said:

Same here - hoping to exchange this week and complete the next! So I’m mainly here to have a nosey at the suggestions. I’m a FTB too, and won’t be moving in straight away, so things are a little more relaxed.. however I do need to hurry up and order a sofa (I’m currently stressing whether the one I want will fit through the door) - so I would suggest going again to visit the property (before exchange preferably, you may have done that already though) for one last look over & starting measuring up if you need too. Good luck, enjoy it!  

If you do order the sofa between exchange and completion make sure you don't get it on finance!  A new credit application before completion could affect you getting your mortgage funds.

Toots0293

MaryNB said:

Toots0293 said:

Same here - hoping to exchange this week and complete the next! So I’m mainly here to have a nosey at the suggestions. I’m a FTB too, and won’t be moving in straight away, so things are a little more relaxed.. however I do need to hurry up and order a sofa (I’m currently stressing whether the one I want will fit through the door) - so I would suggest going again to visit the property (before exchange preferably, you may have done that already though) for one last look over & starting measuring up if you need too. Good luck, enjoy it!  

If you do order the sofa between exchange and completion make sure you don't get it on finance!  A new credit application before completion could affect you getting your mortgage funds.

Thank you, but fear not! I’m buying with my savings that might be useful for other readers though, so thank you for sharing!  

TBagpuss

Before : - packing, lists (including a to-do list of things such as taking final meter readings at the current house, and initial readings in the new one) 

If you are doing your own packing, label the boxes with the room they are going into (colour coded labels are great, too -) and keep a separate list of whats in each box. That way, of you don't unpack everything immediately you can still find things. 


Agree a completion date - If you can, I'd always recommending completing on a Wednesday or Thursday, rather than Friday. Fridays re the business days for agents, solicitor nd removals, and if anything goes wrong, you can't fix it until Monday. Move mid week and everyone is likely to be less busy, and if there are any issues then the banks etc are all open and things can generally be sorted out more quickly. 

Once you have exchanged and have a firm completion date, sort out things such as redirecting the post. 

Make sure that you have the appropriate insurance.

When packing, think about what you will need immediately (e.g bedding, food and utensils fo r the fist 4hour, toilet roll, soap and towels, vaccuum cleaner etc) and ensure that you pack them where you can get to them (A box in your own car with essentials such as the kettle, teabags, mugs, chocolate, loo roll etc and cleaning products can be a very good idea!) 

when you get the keys, let yourselves in, take meter readings, do any immediate cleaning before you unpack, if necessary.

Unpack and set up your bedroom first  It always takes a while to get straight, but f you have your bed made and curtains up then you have somewhere to collapse when you are knackered - don't leave it to the last minute. 

Consider ordering a takeaway for the first night so you aren't trying to cook and unpack. (and make sure that you have plates and cutlery accessible)

Notify everyone of your change of address, set up new utilities accounts.

Relax.