To expect house sale and purchase to complete before Chirstmas?

[AliceRR]

We accepted an offer on our house and had an offer accepted on the house we want to buy in the last week or so.

I delayed slightly as I haven’t changed my passport or driving licence since getting married 2.5 years ago!

I have submitted ID with correct address now and have just sent off driving licence to get it updated to correct name so hopefully that’s not an issue.

We got memorandum of sale today and understand Property came off of market today

I am 27 weeks pregnant, due in Feb and would like to move by Christmas. Sellers said they would accommodate this as they have somewhere to move to.

Our solicitor suggested that might be a bit optimistic and it might be but how unrealistic is it? What is your experience?

We know the solicitor who is doing our conveyancing, he’s a friend of DH, so this might help but obviously we cannot account for delays at the other end or with surveys etc.

Realistically I could go on mat leave early Jan. I have 20 days hol and if I use those immediately before my due date my last day at work would be 11 Jan.

Plus I won’t be able to do much physically (lifting and painting etc) whether it’s December or January I suppose.

But it will be more difficult and stressful the closer I get to my due date...

I put my offer in July then didn't complete until November! That was as a first time buyer and the property was vacant! Should have been super straight forward and quick!

We have moved several times, last time it took 6 months, but times before that have been about 3. I would be surprised if you were in for Christmas. I would probably plan not to be and then it's a nice surprise if it happens. You don't want to be getting stressed out with delays, especially if you're pregnant.

Thanks ladies

Getting help with packing and cleaning not a bad idea

And I think you’re right in saying I should plan for it to be after Christmas as it will just be more frustrating if I’m stressing about that!

On the plus side if we move in Jan (or later?!) it’s more likely I’ll already be on mat leave which might make things easier

I haven't read the whole thread, but solicitors are terrible for dragging things out, I doubt you'll be before Christmas!

Possible if both sides are on it in terms of returning documents etc, and both solicitors are up to the mark in terms of what they need to do.

We were towards the bottom of a long chain a few years ago. We accepted an offer on ours (which was the bottom) about the 10th October, we had an offer accepted on our new home the week after. Everyone in the chain wanted to move before Christmas but it was very stressful, more than I ever imagined. The whole thing nearly collapsed the first week of December because of our incompetent solicitor. In your situation now, I would accept you will spend Christmas in your old home and set yourself up for a move at the beginning of January. I think you will struggle to get it all done before Christmas tbh.

We put our house on the market the day ds2 was born (I ok’d the final advert whilst waiting to be taken down for an elcs). Had viewings a week later once ds out of hospital. We moved when he was 3 months and 3 days. We already had an offer accepted on the house we wanted to buy on the proviso ours sold.

Our solicitor was very forthright and pushed things through whilst protecting us. We had an additional scare of Japanese knotweed and as it’s an old property had to do a detailed survey which was then repeated as the surveyor forgot to do a couple of the rooms .

The land registry searches took longer than expected as they were under resourced and I only imagine that is worse in the run up to Christmas.

Paying for our house to be packed and moved and all the furniture reassembled was an absolute godsend as I was still on limited lifting due to csec complications. But I would do that again in a heartbeat.

It can be done. We once had offer accepted on 5th Dec and moved on 19th! Just have to pile the pressure on! Good luck!

Relax for a bit,it will be after Christmas.
Now is the time for de cluttering!

We have moved twice chain-free, first took 6 months and second 3 months.
I'd agree it's optimistic!

Our offer was accepted beginning of July.

We finally moved in 10th December.

Plan for end of Jan.
People saying they will move into rented rarely do.

Consider my expectations managed!!

I moved at 37.5 weeks pregnant, it was fine for me; my partner and lovely mum did everything! Pay for packers and cleaners if possible and enlist as many friends as possible to help you set up furniture and unpack. Keep your hospital bag, notes and baby essentials easily accessible.

Our move was straightforward, relatively short chain and it took nearly 4 months with a ridiculous amount of chasing and pressure from us to complete asap!

Highly unlikely to be honest. Might actually be easier to move with a young baby than being heavily preggers. Do you have family/close friends who could help out when the time comes? I'd definitely recommend packing as much as possible now though, while you're physically able - you never know! We moved when our son was 11mths & into EVERYTHING - I was dreading it but it was surprisingly easy. Good luck!

Very unlikely. Our house sold on May and we moved three days before Christmas.

It really depends on solicitors.

Ours took 2.5 months and was a lot of us and the seller chasing our solicitors and a lot of back and forth.

To be honest I think it would be ok. I would be able to get help from family and we don’t have that much stuff. Current house is two bed. I’ve been in it with DH for 2.5 years but there is loads of stuff still at my parents that I need to sort through and move. I need to sort that out but it could wait til we’ve moved and the point is I feel like we don’t have a massive amount of furniture and stuff to move IYKWIM.

It's very unlikely to take such a short amount of time. The average completion time is around 3 months/12 weeks in the UK.
Even if there aren't any hiccups, a lot of people will be off in the run up to Christmas. It's more realistic that you'll complete end of January.

No chance. Buying an empty, completed new build as a first time buyer took longer than that.

I exchanged and completed within 7 weeks but there was no chain either end.

I doubt it. I moved house once with a two day old. Wasn't as bad as it sounds.

Recently bought a house with no upper chain and we had no property to sell. Needed small mortgage but still took 10 weeks

my DD sold her flat in Aug and buying a new build. still going on now.
she has to apply for another mortgage as time limit has run out.
buyer pushing as is she and builder has turfed garden and carpeted it ready.
each solicitor blames each other.
she also wanted to be in for Xmas but it looks unlikely even after 14wks!!

Saying “no chance” is just as much an assumption as it would be to say “of course”.

There are so many factors affecting the transaction, many out of your control. So yes, it’s possible but have a plan b (as you should with any houseove anyway!).

The fastest transaction I ever did was 6 days (and it only took that long because the lender required 5 to draw down the funds).