I have to move house. Feeling overwhelmed. Does anyone want to help me?

[BirthdayRainbow]

I currently live in the south and need to move north. I've viewed one house when I was visiting my dc. I'm currently not well so can't think straight. Might be easier for bullet points.
I have cats and a dog and it's five hours so clearly can't go up constantly.
I know roughly the areas so that is the easyish bit. It is more the practicalities of how to plan viewings if the houses are spread out and listed with different agents.
I realise this probably sounds a ridiculous problem but I've had a really crap few months and I'm struggling 😳

I couldn't find a properly topic but I'll look.

Im Not currently working but probably will have to once my health improves. I want to live in the places mentioned due to having friends there.

I think I'm going to have to pack as I expect trying to supervise to say yes or no that's H's would make it impossible for someone else to do it.

When I was moving a few hours away I had a family member do intial viewings for me and then when a friend was moving to this area I did initial viewings for them. Some people like viewing houses so it's totally worth asking

We have done viewings for my PIL before when they were about 4 hours away and moving nearby. I love looking at different properties so would totally do it again for a friend if asked. It's a good way to get an initial feel for a place, scope out the location etc from someone impartial that you trust.

I've found a house. DS said make a viewing appointment so I'm going to try when I take him back to uni.

We moved about 1.5 hours away so not in the same league. We booked a series of viewings for a day when we had childcare and blitzed maybe 7 properties in a day. I’d definitely look to do a version of this once you’ve shortlisted locations and areas. Could you find a sitter for the dog?

I would also not be afraid to rent for an initial 6-12 months to really get to know the area and find a property that met my needs. We were afraid to take a short term rental while waiting for the right house but in hindsight, we would have been better off finding something for six months and holding out for the right property. It could also take some of the pressure off. I appreciate a rental is trickier with pets but I do think it would be worth considering.

Are new builds of interest to you?
We've done 2 long distance moves and did a new build each time, it made life much easier due to no chain. Quite a lot of new builds in West yorkshire (where I live)

Can someone stay in your house to care for pets?
Then this is how I did it.
Choose the area you want to view in. Make first appointment.
Look at other properties online and Google map time from first to second, then to third and so on. Allow 20-25 minutes for viewing each house plus travelling time to next plus a couple of minutes.
Have a notebook with you, address of each house at the top of each page then as you view write comments —- bathroom needs replacing, double glazing blown, garden too big/small or just bloody amazing buy it!
Put a free compass App on your phone so you can see where the sun will rise, set etc.. difficult to tell this time of the year.

I have no one to help if my stbeh won't. I can't rent but I see the benefit. I'm trying to tell myself it will all work out and I've come up with a plan for what I'll say to ex h. Basically if you want the house and/or the money you'll have to help. At the moment my eldest son is doing all the helping but that can't continue.

Not easy for you @BirthdayRainbow uncooperative husbands are bad enough but Steph are even worse.
I hope you like what you have found and everything falls into place sounds like you need a lucky break this might be it.

Oh that made me emotional. Thank you. I'm definitely due some good luck. Just struggling that I need help.

I found two I liked. Tried to arrange a viewing. Waited days to then hear they have been withdrawn form the market.