What can I do now to get ready for completion.

[Madmog]

We've been ready to exchange over a month, contracts, mortgage deeds and transfers signed, as well as cleared deposit with solicitor. Then a major hiccup in chain and even last week didn't know if everything would come right, suddenly we hear today that we won't be able to exchange for a few days but we have to complete by 25 June as a mortgage offer expires.

The main problem is that we won't be here 13-17 June as have a special weekend planned with lots of others and there is no window for changing it.

What can I do now, as there will be a lot to do on our return? Have provisionally booked removers, have put solicitor in the picture and am making a list of who we need to inform. We'll try and get items down from loft before we go and I plan to give the grass a final cut and garden a bit of a tidy up, as I'm sure I won't have time on our return.

If you can afford it, get the removers to pack everything for you - they'll come in the day before the move. Spend the available time clearing out anything you don't need/aren't taking with you and hire a skip if you have lots so you don't need to make repeat trips to the tip.

Do a template letter for all your change of addresses, (every single bank, insurance , phone, school, DVLA, Premium Bonds, ),

As soon as you exchange get Royal Mail re-direction sorted (it takes a while to kick in) and inform utilities (phone can be a complete pain to get new line in new house - will you be able to keep your number if close enough? Ask about that), get insurance quotes - you may need buildings insurance in place for the mortgage? And the one provided by your lenders probably won't be the cheapest).

Marking place we are hopefully moving in less than 2 weeks

get the mail redirection form now, fill it in, when you have exchanged add the completion date and get it to the post office.

things that need to be sorted on moving day; insurance (buildings insurance must be started from exchange), car insurance address change, utilities. All else can wait until after the move. As noted, sort phone/broadband earlier.

you don't need to write letters for most address changes, it is all done online. But it generates two letters for each so you need the redirect.

Thanks for your replies. Have been in the process of taking on your advice this morning. Also, have cleared everything out under the stairs as that where I plan to keep stuff we want to take in the car on the day. We have to provide details of our buildings insurance before bank will release the money, so this is the next thing I will do after booking removers.

The house already looks a complete mess and I can't imagine how we're going to fit the removal boxes in!