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Original poster

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

44 replies

Boohoo123456 · 31/05/2024 09:17

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 🙏

OP posts:

SlebBB · 04/06/2024 06:27

TootGoesTheOwl · 04/06/2024 06:17

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!

Be proactive, they’re working for you! Chase chase chase.

Pitstop1986 · 04/06/2024 06:41

We had an offer accepted, it took 2 weeks until the first appointment was available at the bank to apply for the mortgage. It's been another week and still no news from the bank. They haven't told us that mortgage is approved or instructed a surveyor yet to do the mortgage survey!

I sold my house earlier in the year and from offer accepted to completion it took 16 weeks (buyer selling their place to a first time buyer with no chain, so vhain of one overall). My friend has just moved and from her offer being accepted to completion (no chain) was 7 weeks!

It really is a mixed bag!

Nw22 · 04/06/2024 06:42

It has just taken us a year as our first chain collapsed days before exchange so we had to start again

hendoop · 04/06/2024 06:42

From up for sale to offer can be any time to be fair

From offer if you are not buying- cash buyer / no chain 3-4 months

In a chain 4 months plus

BigDahliaFan · 04/06/2024 06:44

Ours took 6 months. Into an empty house and sold ours to FTB. Should have been easiest chain I. The world.

you have to keep pestering people. Have all your information ready. Get your mortgage sorted…etc etc.

TootGoesTheOwl · 04/06/2024 20:58

SlebBB · 04/06/2024 06:27

Be proactive, they’re working for you! Chase chase chase.

Show quote history

Believe me I am chasing! Unfortunately the people we are buying from haven't received the survey back on the property they are buying so we are stuck....the joys of a chain unfortunately.

NewName24 · 04/06/2024 21:07

Typically 5 months from offer being accepted.

Like others, I thought secondary deadlines were October.
I come across a lot of people who have missed (admittedly Primary) admissions through work, and I'm another that has never heard of this.
When we moved, we could not be admitted until we were in the house - if the deadline was missed, then you were a late application and had to wait until places had been accepted (or not) and go on waiting lists.

SallyWD · 04/06/2024 21:27

We moved a couple of years ago. Offer accepted in early December, moved in late March. We were lucky to have a really short chain and everything went very smoothly.

FieldsOfFlours · 04/06/2024 21:40

First time buyers, empty, chain free property and it took from May until the first week in December! Ugh.

cockadoodledandy · 05/06/2024 14:59

Depends entirely how long it takes you to get an offer. Our last (very reasonably priced, nice area, attractive house) took 2 years. Some houses around us have been on the market for a year and changed estate agent several times.

user1471538283 · 05/06/2024 15:03

My last move was no chain either side and it still took 12 weeks. That was with me, the estate agent and my solicitor pushing it along. The house I sold prior to this took 4 months.

Sometimes it can take longer. With my house the buyer had a cheaper online solicitor who was so slow I threatened to pull the plug.

I think at the moment it's getting a buyer that could take the longest. Very little is moving in my city. I think if you can price it reasonably you should get a buyer in a couple of months hopefully.

Coconutter24 · 05/06/2024 19:52

We’ve just been given a date that we can move, from the offer accepted to the date given it will be just short of 15 weeks

Roselilly36 · 05/06/2024 19:58

Took 7mths.

BG2015 · 05/06/2024 20:01

I've just completed on the 28th May. It took 13 weeks. My buyer was living with parents so no chain.

However we're now living with parents as the onward purchase is only 5 weeks in. Hoping to have completed by mid July. Chain of 2, neither of us need a mortgage.

It's the searches that are holding us up, not due back until 18th June.

YourNimblePeachTraybake · 05/06/2024 20:03

I managed it in nine and a half weeks this April (chain of 4), but that was very lucky.

UnravellingTheWorld · 05/06/2024 20:05

Our sale took 5 months (no chain either side). Our purchase took 2 months (no chain either side, lived with relatives between)

My parents had a 5 house chain and took a full year to complete.

The UK has a really stupid system for house purchases.

TootGoesTheOwl · 06/06/2024 12:59

BG2015 · 05/06/2024 20:01

I've just completed on the 28th May. It took 13 weeks. My buyer was living with parents so no chain.

However we're now living with parents as the onward purchase is only 5 weeks in. Hoping to have completed by mid July. Chain of 2, neither of us need a mortgage.

It's the searches that are holding us up, not due back until 18th June.

I spoke to the lady arranging my mortgage yesterday, she said searches are taking forever at the moment. Not sure why but it is adding an extra layer of stress when I don't need it!

Sage71 · 06/06/2024 15:34

Boohoo123456 · 31/05/2024 10:30

Unless I am reading it wrong?

Show quote history

You would still need to apply by 31st October initially but then I have heard of people who are applying to grammar schools from out of catchment moving before 31st December and notifying council they applied to and council they are moving to so they are then in catchment and then stand a better chance of getting in.

Mimimimi1234 · 07/06/2024 13:15

I think it depends on your location, the property, you need to find someone who wants to offer on your house so it will depend on the market in your area for your types of houses. You would be best to ask a few local agents how long typically for properties in your area, how long are they on the market for. I would say to plan your move to rental regardless and expect you may be paying mortgage and rent for a period. One you have an offer it can take from one month to 6 months to complete, also if the buyer pulls out and you have to start again. We rented out our family home and moved into a rental near the secondary school to guarantee a place ( also we moved for other reasons to that area) but we ended up paying our mortgage plus our rental for 5 months as tenant pulled out then we had to wait for a long time for another tenant.

Also be aware that some boroughs will require you to have lived in your new address for a certain period prior to the secondary application. I would carefully study the admissions policy within your borough to understand this. We moved in the july prior to the october appication deadline to ahow we were there for the three months previous. Each local authority has differing requirements around this

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