Wanted to move for primary application and now covid

[OverTheRainbow88]

So when we moved to our house 10 years ago we didn’t even consider primary schools at all! We like our house, but have been saving for years to move bigger and nearer a better catchment. I won’t go into the reasons why I don’t like our local primary schools but we have always planned to sell our house and buy a new house close to a primary school we like (haven’t got a particular one in mind really). Now I’m worried we won’t get this all done by Jan, I don’t want to rent A house to get into a school as that would be the sole purpose and I don’t agree with that.
I know estate agents are back to business but I don’t want people looking around my house to sell it; and I don’t want to walk around strangers houses either. What’s the likelihood do you think we could move by jan and not cut it too fine? It’s making me quite anxious! Sorry by soN is due to start sept 2021 so we have to apply by jan 2021.

Thank you

[W00t]

Could you rent near the school you want and get your house on the market/sold, then buy once by the school you've definitely sold up? There'd be no pressure on to complete by application date then, and you'd be moving to that area anyway.
No-one knows what's going to happen with the market, and every area will be different.
Some people will be desperate to move for a better garden, more space etc.

[admission]

Not advisable to rent, if you have a house for sale, as most LAs will simply see that as an attempt to get around the system, no matter how correct the actual situation is.
You really need to have moved into a new property by 15th January, so allowing for hold-ups etc, you need really to be looking to move by 1st December.
Most LAs do give a little leeway on the 15th January date for exactly your circumstance of house moves not going as planned. Most allow an extension till a date in February but you need to check with the LA information where is will be specific about when the absolute final date to move in is.

[YinuCeatleAyru]

renting while still owning your house is a definite no, but the OP already knows that.

however you could move into rented right now (not caring too much about the property as its only temporary) and then the house you are selling is empty - massively better from a health concerns and stress levels pov. you will get more viewings as more people will be happy enough to view an empty property. should mean you get an offer sooner. get the sale done, staying in your rented place. then it doesn't matter too much whether you have bought your next house or not come January, there's nothing wrong with applying from your rental address if you don't own another property.

[OverTheRainbow88]

Thank you for your ideas. I would be worried to rent while we haven’t got a buyer as we may be able to cope 1-2 months paying a mortgage and rent but if it took longer it would become a major issue as I’ve lost most my income at the moment! I wonder if we just put it on for sale and ask for one open day and hope for the best and then do a deep clean?!! I wish we had just moved last year now! I guess there are much much worse things happening at the moment. I also wonder if we will have to pick schools without open mornings as can’t imagine schools wanting groups of people looking around any time soon!!

[Happydaysandhappysmiles]

Similar thing for us, are you moving within the same LA? We are changing areas and no idea how it is all going to work and whether we can rent in the new area whilst trying to sell our house.

[OverTheRainbow88]

I think we would be in the same LA! I’m starting to think we put on for sale, then Do a deep clean After each viewing! Tricky, I hate the idea of people walking around the house though touching things! I even watched a YouTube clip of how to fix my boiler to avoid someone coming in!!

[mudpiemaker]

Over get any estate agent to do a decent floorplan, photos of all rooms and a walkthrough video tour. That should help people narrow down whether they want to view your house or not.

If you leave all room doors wide open then you can social distance for the estate agent coming round and they shouldn't need to touch anything inside your house. You have to weigh the risks against the need to move.

We moved for a primary but with time to spare and then moved again for an incredible secondary!

[OverTheRainbow88]

Thank you, yes that’s a good idea! Such a surreal situation being too scared to sell a house!! I think if we do it we will try and avoid renting and will buy another house, but it’s hard without being able to look around a primary school!