Between exchange and completion

ellsbells97

After 16 months since starting our journey as FTBs (including one purchase falling through after a YEAR of waiting), we’ve finally exchanged to complete on Friday! 

We’ve already booked our WiFi installation but was just wondering what else we can get sorted and booked in over the next few days? I’m assuming we need to wait until we’re in to sort out our utilities as we’ll need the opening meter readings?

We will have a 2 week overlap with our current rental so won’t be moving in immediately - we’re just going to take over the essentials like our decorating bits, tea making stuff,  loo roll etc for the first few days. 

Also, is it normal that we haven’t had any communication from the EA or solicitors since the confirmation of exchange about what to expect on Friday? We’re not worried and happy to chase with them on Thursday afternoon/Friday morning, just more curious. 

EssexHebridean

Congratulations!

You already have buildings insurance in place presumably - unless it is a leasehold property where the freeholder does this. You can potentially turn this into a buildings and contents policy though by means of using the cooling off period on the policy to cancel it and then immediately starting a new one that covers both things. 

Not massively unusual not to have heard from the solicitor, particularly if you have already sent them the deposit money for the exchange and the balance of the funds are coming from a mortgage company. As a rule, if there is anything they need from you, they'll be in touch. 

Do you already have a list of folk to send change of address details to? If not, get that underway.

Post redirection? 

Flugelhorn

all that happens on Friday is that you collect the keys (usually from the EA) - they will release them when they get a call from the vendor's solicitor and then they will call you

Bigphil1474

As you are first in the chain, you have it the easiest, in theory. We were bought by a FTB when we moved last year and we were out by 11am and dropped the keys at the estate agents who got in touch with them. We didn't see them at all. Our vendors were still moving out when we turned up at their house and about 5 minutes after we arrived the house was ours on paper, but they took another hour to move out. 

Most of the stuff is once you've moved in - meter reads, don't forget water, let council tax know etc. Definitely get the postal redirect put in - i think it asks you when you want it to start so could leave it a week. We went for a year just in case we got any mail once a year. A lot easier as you will have 2 properties for a while. 

ellsbells97

EssexHebridean said:

Congratulations!

You already have buildings insurance in place presumably - unless it is a leasehold property where the freeholder does this. You can potentially turn this into a buildings and contents policy though by means of using the cooling off period on the policy to cancel it and then immediately starting a new one that covers both things. 

Not massively unusual not to have heard from the solicitor, particularly if you have already sent them the deposit money for the exchange and the balance of the funds are coming from a mortgage company. As a rule, if there is anything they need from you, they'll be in touch. 

Do you already have a list of folk to send change of address details to? If not, get that underway.

Post redirection? 

Thank you! 

Home insurance was sorted when we exchanged. We’ve started compiling a list of things to change addresses over from Friday - banks, GPs, subscriptions etc, and we’ll put post redirection in. I’ve deleted our current address from Apple Pay and Amazon and things so I don’t get things accidentally delivered to the rental already! 

I don’t think anyone’s mentioned anything that isn’t on our to do list yet so good to know we’ve not missed anything obvious! 

We also have direct contact with our sellers who have been really lovely throughout in case any change of address stuff falls through the cracks at their end. 

KittenChops

Change address on both driving license, and on V5C (vehicle log book) if applicable - 2 separate things

m0bov

Maybe arrange a deep clean. Leasehold sometimes means having own buildings insurance. Book post redirect, trades while house is empty.

singhini

A friend sent me this list recently (to update meter readings and/or change of address with)
1 – Gas     

2 – Electricity      

3 -  Water     

4 – TV licence      

5 -  Broadband   

6 – Council Tax   

7 – Get insurance  

8 – Mobile phone   
9 – Banks Accounts  

10 – Car insurance  

11 – Call your company HR Dept   (give them your new address for (1) wage slips  (2) Pension

12 – contact all your old pension companies and give them your new address  

13 – DVLA    (you need to get a new V5C Log book with your new address)

14 – Inland revenue  (call them and give them your new address)

15 – Contact your doctor   (give them your new address if applicable)
16 - update your address with others i.e. supermarket loyalty cards
17 - Passport
18 - Driving licence 
19 - Redirection of post via Royal Mail 

Myci85

You may already have it in place, but life insurance is a good thing to put in place once you own a house. 

And get together some easy meals to live on for the next few weeks whilst decorating your new place and cleaning up the rental to hand back. I think we pretty much lived on pot noodles and soup last year when we were in the same situation, a few weeks overlap to decorate and move, and I never want to see another ready meal again!

ellsbells97

Myci85 said:

You may already have it in place, but life insurance is a good thing to put in place once you own a house. 

And get together some easy meals to live on for the next few weeks whilst decorating your new place and cleaning up the rental to hand back. I think we pretty much lived on pot noodles and soup last year when we were in the same situation, a few weeks overlap to decorate and move, and I never want to see another ready meal again!

Life insurance is on the to-do list - our mortgage broker sent over a quote but felt very expensive compared to some other price comparison sites, so something we’re planning to do ourselves. 

We’ve been saving some freezer-centric meals for this very reason hahaha! 

Albermarle

singhini said:

A friend sent me this list recently (to update meter readings and/or change of address with)
1 – Gas     

2 – Electricity      

3 -  Water     

4 – TV licence      

5 -  Broadband   

6 – Council Tax   

7 – Get insurance  

8 – Mobile phone   
9 – Banks Accounts  

10 – Car insurance  

11 – Call your company HR Dept   (give them your new address for (1) wage slips  (2) Pension

12 – contact all your old pension companies and give them your new address  

13 – DVLA    (you need to get a new V5C Log book with your new address)

14 – Inland revenue  (call them and give them your new address)

15 – Contact your doctor   (give them your new address if applicable)
16 - update your address with others i.e. supermarket loyalty cards
17 - Passport
18 - Driving licence 
19 - Redirection of post via Royal Mail 

Regarding point 14.

Calling HMRC can mean a long wait, and you might well get cut off before getting through.
OP - you can change your address with HMRC online ( a lot easier) IF you have a personal tax account set up with them.
If not you should set one up anyway as they can be useful.