Completion at christmas - are we mad?!

[stevieknicks]

We have two DCs, 3yo and 3mo, and thanks to delays it is looking increasingly likely that our completion date to move will be 21 December. The house we are moving into is pretty grim at the minute (let to grotty students), heat not great, gloomy and horrid bathroom. The thought of DD's first xmas there before we can work on it is making me

DH is refusing to go to our parents for xmas as he hates having "other people's xmas" so that's not an option.

The couple buying our flat have made plans to have xmas here and as it has taken nearly 6 months to do this deal we are petrified of them pulling out if we try to stay on here.

And we can't afford a short term rental - the plan was that I would take DCs to my folks for a couple of weeks while work was done earlier in Dec or in early Jan and move them in when it feels more like a warm clean home.

Has anyone attempted a move this late on in the year?

[theyoungvisiter]

You could always go to a hotel just for Christmas?

But I have to say, I think your DH is being a bit odd. Everyone prefers their own Xmas, but not if that involves no cooker/hot water/everything in boxes. Plus will you really have time to sort out a meal and stuff in the midst of all this?

[jemimapotts]

We're hoping to do the same with 3 DC 11,9 and 5. We're moving to a town 20 miles away, so the DC will be changing schools. We think it's a good time as they can start a new school in the New Year. We were going to go out for christmas dinner til I discovered it could be upto £50 aheaad!!!! Now not sure what we'll do. I can't face cooking though, as we will have hardly unpacked.
Are you moving far?

[jemimapotts]

Just read a thread where someone is panicking about being ready for christmas. That has made me panic!!!!
Have you started packing yet? I'm going to get some boxes on Monday, and begin the horrid process!

[stevieknicks]

Haven't even thought about packing yet, not moving far, same area of London, but I am still going to get a removal company to do as much as possible. Just had a thought though about VAT rise - if we complete this year we pay less VAT to estate agent, solicitor, etc - hadn't thought about that.

Odd is my DH's middle name by the way! Maybe if I remind him that he may not have Sky in over the holidays he will change his mind...

[lalalonglegs]

Don't worry about it - if students have been living there, even very grotty ones, it means that basic services are in place. Don't try to do a huge dinner from scratch, just buy a stuffed chicken, a few ready-prepared vegetables and a microwaveable pud, stick a tree in a corner and some fairy lights and, believe me, your children will be enchanted (well, the older one, the younger one really won't care about anything as long as his basic needs are met). Take plenty of photos and, I promise you, with a positive attitude, you will look back and remember it fondly - we lived somewhere with no heat and no kitchen for my son's first Christmas. It seems like an adventure we all had together.

[bigchris]

I'd go to your mums for Xmas and leave dh unpacking

[Fiddledee]

We might be doing the same. Just have presents and tree ready to unpack straightaway, order food with M&S all ready prepared to bung in oven.

Kids won't care, I hope mine won't. Our house to be is also very grotty but I'm sure we will manage. Your DH is not being odd is that I bet he doesn't have to cook the xmas dinner.

[NoahAndTheWhale]

My SIL moved last year on 21st December. She may well see this as she is a mumsnetter :)

They did go (along with us) to PIL for Chrustmas but I think they sorted the house out pretty quickly.

[PatriciaHolm]

We moved last year on the 21st! Then had family to stay for Christmas So there was a lot of basic unpacking done quickly, and everything else piled in the dining room (big eat in kitchen so not important). It was fine, though we did end up with a giant tree as that was all that was left

[Wigeon]

Oh hello, I'm Noah's SIL (impressed she can remember the exact date we moved last year). Actually it was fine (apart from there being thick ice on the road in the morning, and a blizzard in the afternoon - it did make the removal men work double-quick to get home!

We did indeed escape the general chaos and have Christmas at the PIL's, and it was very nice to leave behind the chaos for the jollity of their Christmas, but I see your DH has vetoed this.

I have to say, with children so young they surely aren't going to notice / mind. I would pack a clearly-labelled "Christmas essentials" box that you unpack immediately after the kettle-and-loo-roll box, put up a bit of tinsel, maybe have a fake tree too which you can just put up instantly, order a big online shop to arrive the same day you move, and hey presto, instant Christmas. Prioritise sorting out the kitchen, and maybe the sitting room, and the rest of the house can wait. At least you will probably both not be in work?

Much nice IMO to start the new year in your new house. And the solicitors and estate agents will be more motivated to definitely sort everything if they have Christmas as the deadline.

[odetothewestwing]

3 years ago we moved into a grot-hole on December 21st with dd (2) and me 7 months pregnant! The house needed everything doing to it. We had a great Christmas, I think we were just so relieved to have completed that it was all absolutely fine! Your children are very small, they will still enjoy Christmas, just stick a tree up in the middle of all the boxes! Good luck with it all.

[stevieknicks]

Thanks everyone - great reassuring stories. We will go for it, and love the idea of Christmas in a box - and descending on all our friends in the days after to eat their food and drink their wine

[witchinthewindows]

I've moved twice at Christmas, once 22 Dec and then 21st. I would avoid it if you possibly could but like us, you probably can't. The 21st Dec move, we hadn't even done shopping either! Bit stressy to say the least but was into a nice rental place so it wasn't so bad, would have hated to have moved into this house (v poor condition when we moved in) at that time of year. Best of luck...show your dh this thread, it might make him think again.

[picklebutty]

Our neighbours moved on Dec 23rd and went straight to centre Parcs for a few days!