Wanting to relocate but stuck on how best to do it

TrueGreen

Thanks, that is a very good tip re the alerts.

I think settling the cat is one of my main worries! 

MikeJXE

TrueGreen said:

Thanks, that is a very good tip re the alerts.

I think settling the cat is one of my main worries! 

No point worrying about something you can't change, look on the positives

You can't add cats as a preference to alerts but might say in the detail 

If you are asked do you have a pet don't just say yes, say you have a cat, I think landlords are more against dogs 

You might come up against funding issues if you don't have an income. Thats what I was faced with as my pension didn't fit their criteria. A good savings account and an offer of 6 months up front covered that. That was only on my first 2 rentals, now I have history it's easier 

ArbitraryRandom

I rented with cats before buying my first house.

My best tips would be focusing on properties which are rented/managed by the landlord (less likely to have an agent who says 'no' because it's their default answer) and be prepared to offer a 'pet deposit' (landlords are only permitted to take 5 weeks rent as a security deposit, but the norm is a month/4 weeks, so you could offer the extra week towards any damage your cat/s might do). 

TrueGreen

Thank you, very good advice.

So any thoughts anyone on the best order to do things ? Get a job offer lined up, then put house on the market? Or put house on the market and job hunt at the same time? 
Would an employed wait until house is sold, I'd need a job offer in order to rent...just trying to figure out the logistics. I wouldn't have enough to support myself without an income so that's not an option for me.

Martico

It's a tough one. I guess it comes down to how quickly you think you'll be able to find a job. And that's something probably only you can guess at. If you have skills and experience that are in demand, then I'd put the house on the market and see how offers look. Sales take months.
If you're uncertain about your job prospects, then the risk equation is more delicate

Martico

Of course, a job that can be wholly or at least largely done remotely would make life easier

ArbitraryRandom

TrueGreen said:

Thank you, very good advice.

So any thoughts anyone on the best order to do things ? Get a job offer lined up, then put house on the market? Or put house on the market and job hunt at the same time? 
Would an employed wait until house is sold, I'd need a job offer in order to rent...just trying to figure out the logistics. I wouldn't have enough to support myself without an income so that's not an option for me.

Houses can easily take 6+ months to sell from putting on the market to completion, but you know the type of job you will be looking for, how common that type of job is, and the expected notice period.

Worst case scenario you sell your house before finding a job, but in that situation finding a rental generally doesn't take very long, and you won't actually need a job offer to rent; you just need to show you can afford the property. A bank statement with more than a year's rent (the equity from your property) should fit the bill. 

So for me the order would be:

put the house on the market > accept an offer > look for a job > get job offer > set completion for house sale for 2 weeks before start date > hunt for a flat > move > start job > start looking for a house to buy

Worst case that would become:

put the house on the market > accept an offer > look for a job > complete on sale so not to lose buyer > hunt for a flat > move > pay for flat using equity from sale > find job > pay back equity from wages > start looking for a house to buy

youth_leader

Good luck.  Pets and moving are a concern. 

When I sold I moved out of my house into a rental (didn't mention pets but the agency asked the landlord for me and he said yes).  I kept my cat in for six weeks so she could get used to her new surroundings.  When I bought, I paid an additional week's rent after completion as I had to deep clean, and moved in a few days afterwards.  I had the keys and on moving day came to the bungalow very early and set my cat up a large dog cage in the bathroom with a radio, and put a big note on the door so the removal men wouldn't disturb her.  It worked out really well, when they left I transferred her to a bedroom for a week, then gave her free run of the place for another three weeks before letting her out to explore the garden.  

TrueGreen

Thank you all, invaluable advice and it's really helped to help me formulate a plan.

ArbitaryRandom - the orders you mentioned are very helpful, I had been thinking of the job situation mainly, but hadn't fully considered the fact that the house is likely to take a longer time to sell than it will take  to get a new job.

youth_leader - excellent points about settling the cat, glad it worked out well for you, that transition period where they need to get their new bearings is something I'll be more prepared for now.

theoretica

Definitely get your house in order to sell - do all the tidying, paperwork, choosing agents and solicitors, discussing sale timescales and likely prices.

Similarly, start looking at job adverts - looking at what is advertised where.  If a really excellent job is advertised it would be worth applying for it, even if it means scrambling around and not doing things in your planned order and timing.