How long (roughly) does it take to move house?

[Boohoo123456]

This would just be to get an offer completed? We’d then go into rental.

were hoping to be moved in time
for second deadline school applications in December and will be going in the market a few weeks after my baby is born next week?

Thanks 🙏

How long is a piece of string? I have done it in 6 weeks (pre covid) and also have done it in 4 months. I know others it has taken 9-12 months. All depends how long the chain is, any issues that crop up and everyone in the chain wanting to complete ASAP.

I thought secondary school application date was October though.

I would say a minimum of three months.

12 weeks would be really, really good going.

From experience three to four months.

theres a second deadline end of Dec for those moving house

I have never heard of this! In England the date is end of October and any application after that is classed as a late application no exceptions for people moving.

It depends on how fast your house sells. At the moment, the market is not moving. Neighbours have had their house for sale since February. They've had maybe 5 viewings and just reduced by 7%. Their estate agent is a friend of mine, and I asked her generally about the market and she said, some places are getting viewings, but nothing is really moving on to accepted offers at the moment.

If you have an offer accepted, and it all goes smoothly, you could conceivably exchange/complete in 8 weeks. When we moved and had to do in-year admissions for school, we needed to show that we had either exchanged on the new property or signed a tenancy. You don't necessarily need to physically move yet to submit an application.

I also haven't heard of a second deadline for secondary admissions. We don't have that here. But if you've confirmed with your local authority that that's how it works where you are.

It took me 3 years, we did have some pretty bad luck with chains though

I've known people get it through in 2 months and a relative's just took 5 months.

Unless I am reading it wrong?

Maybe it's a local authority thing and they have chosen to do that. In the 3 authorities I have worked in they have never had this. I have just checked our local one now and it is basically after 31st October it is late application only.

3 months if there are no hitches.

Totally depends!!

I’ve done it in 6 weeks when it was an empty house and our 4 chain move took almost exactly 2 months this time around.

The current average is 6 months from offer to completion.

https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-buying/how-long-does-it-take-to-buy-or-sell-home/

Here’s something based on conveyancing numbers from the end of last year.

https://todaysconveyancer.co.uk/average-time-takes-sell-home-falls-8-1-days/

Impossible to say really, ours took 3.5 months from offer to completion, we were 1st time buyers. It was supposed to be all done as quickly possible as that's what both parties wanted but there were a few issues around the survey which delayed things a bit. Also our solicitor was a bit slow so I would ask around for recommendations for solicitors who have turned things around quickly.
I think even straightforward sales will take a couple of months by the time you've had all the surveys and lane searches done.

Offered in February.
Mortgage approved May
Got the keys October

No chain

We had no chains ft buyers buying a vacant property and it took 5 months to get to completion it then took us a month to clean, decorate and move all furniture in.

Once offer is accepted. Can be done in 14 days.

to get offer? Depends on market and pricing.

to pack? While pregnant!!!! - depends on size if house, but just hire people.

to pack? While not pregnant. Then it depends on house and you as a person. Me, probably about three years. With 90% being done in the last three days. But that first 10% man, would be stellar, last 90% would be family shoving shit into boxes to be questioned later.

8 weeks from offer to conpletion is doable with a short chain and if everyone uses decent solicitors, not the cheapo conveyancing companies that give rise to all sorts of delays and drama.

Did the late application address change thing myself, but applied for schools in new area on standard form by normal deadline then December deadline was to notify of new address. Note of caution, took a few weeks after moving into rental to get evidence required in terms of bills, council tax etc, moved in November and just met December deadline. Also didn't realise until offer day the following March that because all the late deadline address info was additional and not on original form, we did not get online or email notification of school place ( like all my child's friends) and had horrible few days thinking we had no school until letter arrived by post.

We are on week 12 at the moment....all correspondence from the solicitors indicates we will move in the 'next couple of weeks'. Unfortunately they have been telling us 'the next couple of weeks' for about 3 weeks now so who knows when it will be!

Ours took 7 months. Our neighbours took 8 months and so did friends of ours. All short chains.

Am in similar boat and getting anxious as we’ve been on market 8 weeks, no offers and have dropped price. We went with the local respected agent but wishing now we went with one of the young hustlers.

I’ve just sold and purchased in 6 weeks 2 days, but I was v proactive chasing the solicitors.