Moving House - is this a knobheaded idea ?

[Judd]

We are doing a house swap with our friends - they move to ours, we move to theirs. There has been some shilly shallying by the solicitors and we are all keen to move as soon as possible. We have a DD starting school the week after next and our friends have a DS starting the same day and we want to get them settled in the new houses. The solicitors have agreed that we can complete and exchange on the same day - next Friday - but we are now contemplating doing the physical move on the Wednesday without telling the solicitors and then going ahead with the exchange and completion two days later. We will basically gain two days in our new houses (only two roads apart).
We have discussed implications regarding buildings and contents insurance, utility bills etc. and can't see any reason why not to go ahead. We have known our friends for five years and trust them greatly.
Is there any obvious reason why this is a daft idea?

I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't do it tbh. But then i don't know much about these things

As an ex-estate agent, (not solicitor), I think there are risks with this but highly unlikely. Main problem would be if something major happened between you moving houses and completion day, ie if one of you died, became seriously ill so not able to complete on the Friday or something else like this. Say, God forbid, something awful happened to you or your dh and you legally weren't able to complete on the Friday, (probate reasons), the other family would be in your house and may be unwilling to move out again.

Also, we quite often found that solicitors would leave it to the last minute to check all the details over, so any problems would come up at the last minute. Also, any mortgage or finance problems may not show until push comes to shove at the end. It would be safer in this regards if you had already exchanged.

Anyway, doom and gloom over, these really are worst case scenarios but you did ask what the potential problems could be. I would probably go for it, but would be a bit nervous.
Could you let us know what you decide to do?

Dunno but love the thread title

Sorry I know that doesn't help but at least I've bumped it for you

Thanks Helennn, yes I did ask for any reasons so am glad of your reply. We are going to move on the Wednesday, but I do see why there could be problems. I'll just have to wrap us in bubble wrap for the 2 days (luckily lots lying around here at the moment)
Will let you know how it all goes!

On a superficial note, I just had the most MARVELLOUS 20 minute phone flirtation with the man from EDF (gas and electricity supplier). It has quite made my day

Thank you Notactuallyamum - much appreciated!

Not sure about the full implications, but we moved into the house before this one, 3 days before completion. (We'd completed on our old property, was about to move in, but their solicitor screwed up and didn't complete on the new. As the property was empty, our solicitor basically told them to give us the keys, or pay for a very posh hotel until it was sorted out!)

ACE - if you've done it, I'm going to do it too, GeorginaA !