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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Moving House Hell

37 replies

RedRainRocks · 19/03/2016 10:31

So house sold before Christmas, lots of faffing around by solicitors in a long chain - no dates can be agreed upon, yada yada and then yesterday.... Yes, yesterday they give us a date for the day before the bank holiday. 6 days time! AIBU to be hugely peeved that I now cannot get a removal company anywhere! I must have called 40 companies since yesterday and they've all been booked up for weeks.. How do other people manage to book that far in advance?

Stress levels are stratospheric.

OP posts:
QuiteLikely5 · 19/03/2016 10:32

Go onto gumtree and look for a man and a van or rent your own

MushroomMama · 19/03/2016 10:34

Rent your own van! We paid about £40 for a day

londonrach · 19/03/2016 10:34

I went on local fb page and asked for suggestions. Otherwise your local storage place will recommend a man with a van.

IHeartKingThistle · 19/03/2016 10:37

That is fantastically quick for a long chain IME. When we last moved, we sold the house in March and didn't move into the new one until DECEMBER!!!

Sorry, I do know it's stressful, but it will all be fine. Good luck!

Original poster
RedRainRocks · 19/03/2016 11:45

Thank you, yes - four kids and five bed house wasn't something I had planned on moving ourselves but it looks like it's our only option. I just don't understand how every single company is booked up?! I've never experienced that. It was the six days notice and "no, we cannot move that date any" refusal from the solicitors. Everyone gets to faff about and we hang on waiting and then its actions stations in less than a week, right before a bank holiday!

It will be fine. It will be fine.. It will, won't it???

OP posts:
brujo · 19/03/2016 12:10

Our sale went through super fast - no-one told us then got called from estate agent with date week and half away. I couldn't get removal firms that soon so said no - and pushed back for extra two weeks when we at least stood a chance and that was agreed was a short chain though.

Though in end our choice was a choice of one - the one that actually turned up to look round.

If you really can't do it get back to them and say that as soon as possible - you might find other's in chain are in similar position.

almostthirty · 19/03/2016 12:12

At least you'll have 2 extra days off to unpack.

LIZS · 19/03/2016 12:18

Have you actually exchanged? If not find out when they can do it and request that date. Some will have paid a deposit on a booking but not yet confirmed.

ComelyHunt · 19/03/2016 12:19

Whereabouts are you OP?

scrappydappydoo · 19/03/2016 12:24

Could you see if moving companies would move you out the day before and store your stuff until they can move you in?

Silvercatowner · 19/03/2016 12:40

Renting your own van for a 5 bedroom house sounds like a complete nightmare. Either try harder to find a removal company or tell your solicitor it is too soon.

CiderwithBuda · 19/03/2016 13:03

I would just say no. You cannot physically move it all yourselves.

Book removals for as soon as you can and tell solicitors you can't do anything else.

The systm in this country is complete madness.

Original poster
RedRainRocks · 19/03/2016 13:09

Scrappydoo now that's a brilliant idea, thank you.

I don't want to give too much information in case some one in the chain is also a mumsnetter (and hears me whining not so graciously ) but it has to be that date apparently - no room for manoeuvre or someone will lose their mortgage offer and the whole chain will collapse.

The system in this country is indeed complete madness.

Even Pickfords (at just over £2k!?!) couldn't help.

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRainRocks · 19/03/2016 13:10

The upside is the bank holiday means we get more time to settle in. I'm holding on to small mercies

OP posts:
Rdoo · 19/03/2016 14:03

Easter is normally busy in the industry but Stamp Duty increases on second homes from 1st April which is making this year even more hellish.

Sidge · 19/03/2016 14:08

It doesn't HAVE to be that date, that's just what would suit someone best but it obviously doesn't suit you.

I would say I can't get a removal firm that date so I won't be moving. There's not a chance in hell I would try and move myself with a van. I'd do my utmost to get a date for removals ASAP and tell the solicitors that's the date I'll be out.

Imaystillbedrunk · 19/03/2016 14:08

Try anyvan.com, they allow you to post up your job and let all the companies bid on it. You may have more luck having someone find you.

Try companies close to your new home, if its in a different town. Good luck , you can do it. Drink lots. It will help

Rdoo · 19/03/2016 14:14

*It doesn't HAVE to be that date, that's just what would suit someone best but it obviously doesn't suit you.

I would say I can't get a removal firm that date so I won't be moving. There's not a chance in hell I would try and move myself with a van. I'd do my utmost to get a date for removals ASAP and tell the solicitors that's the date I'll be out.*

And what would you do when a mortgage offer in the chain expires and the chain collapses?

bilbodog · 19/03/2016 14:15

Your solicitor or estate agent should have been talking to you about completion dates before coming up with one that seems set in stone! Have you actually exchanged contracts ye t because the completion date is only set in stone at that point? You should really have had removal companies round sometime ago to quote and been able to give them a ball park suggestion of moving date so they could pencil you in and they should be used to having to move dates nearer the. Time. Have you tried ringing removal companies in other nearby towns as coming 20 or so miles away shouldn't cost very much in the scheme of things?

Sidge · 19/03/2016 14:44

Rdoo I just find it amazing that the solicitors have dictated a date in just 6 days time for completion and someone in the chain has a mortgage offer so precarious that this is the only day for completion. If contracts have been exchanged the OP should have been given a potential date for completion earlier and so could have pencilled in the removals firm.

It all just seems really odd and I wonder if the conveyancers are exaggerating to try and complete on this date. I mean, if you can't get removals firms booked at just 6 days notice then what can you do? Someone somewhere has not kept their eye on the ball.

RhiWrites · 19/03/2016 14:52

Do not try to move an entire house yourself. If you have any doubts read the most recent thread on here about house moves. You need professionals.

They are lying to you about it having to be this date and this date only. It's easier for them to tell you it's this or nothing. Say "no" you can't find a moving firm and they need to find another date. They'll find one.

Original poster
RedRainRocks · 19/03/2016 14:55

We have had about four 'expected'completion dates so far all of which have been moved due to 'issues' in the chain, it was only yesterday we were told that "it has to be Thursday or never"

One company I called said he'd had 12 calls this morning about that date - nice as it is to know we aren't alone, doesn't help!

I've had quotes, been pencilled in etc but the two companies I could have used are both fully booked. I think I'm going to have to ask as many friends as I can persuade to have a day off and come help us Confused. Two giant self hire vans and as many cars and willing helpers as I can muster... My bill for Thank you Chinese Thursday night is gonna be enormous

OP posts:
Original poster
RedRainRocks · 19/03/2016 15:00

imaybestilldrunk. Is it too early for gin?

Everyone else - I did say no originally. The solicitor basically said "you'll need to find a new buyer then" We have been waiting so long and it really is almost our forever home we are buying...

OP posts:
Rdoo · 19/03/2016 15:17

Sidge
Rdoo I just find it amazing that the solicitors have dictated a date in just 6 days time for completion and someone in the chain has a mortgage offer so precarious that this is the only day for completion. If contracts have been exchanged the OP should have been given a potential date for completion earlier and so could have pencilled in the removals firm.

It all just seems really odd and I wonder if the conveyancers are exaggerating to try and complete on this date. I mean, if you can't get removals firms booked at just 6 days notice then what can you do? Someone somewhere has not kept their eye on the ball.

This is why my job, as a conveyancer, is so difficult. People, who don't have a clue how the process works trying to apportion blame.

The conveyancers/solicitors do not dictate a date.

If the op has to complete on a certain date due to someone's mortgage offer issues, I imagine it will be because a mortgage offer is due to to expire.

Contracts would not have been exchanged without everyone agreeing a completion and it sounds from the op that contracts haven't been exchanged yet.

Unfortunately it is not an "odd" situation the op finds herself, it's quite common.

Why do you think the conveyancers want to complete on a date? Conveyancers generally couldn't care less what date you complete, as long as they have enough time to do pre completion stuff. At this moment in time the last thing conveyancers want are more people trying to move before the 1st April! We have enough!

You have no idea if "someone, somewhere has taken their eye off the ball".

Buckinbronco · 19/03/2016 15:24

When do you exchange then?