What do I need to do on completion day if I'm not moving in straight away?

[fatsatsuma]

I am due to complete on my house purchase in a couple of weeks. We (me and DC) won't be moving in immediately as are having some work done first, and can stay on where we are until we are ready to move. So for a couple of weeks the new house will be empty - albeit with workmen in during the day. I will be popping in and out as it's only a couple of miles away.

I've lined up insurance, utilities etc to kick in on completion day. What else do I need to do? For reasons I won't go into here, this is the first house I've bought and I'm doing it by myself so it feels like a big thing that I will suddenly own a house which is standing empty a few miles away! Any advice gratefully received

Get keys, take meter readings.

change the locks

Thank you both. Is changing the locks an absolute must?

Pop in and look at your new house and be delighted you've completed?

Transfer money to solicitor.

Make sure insurance is in place.

Check fixtures and fittings are as specified on the Property Information Form. Make sure taps/central heating etc are turned off.

Take some cleaning materials to clean those areas that the workmen won't be working on.

Set up broadband (always seems to take longer than it should).

Take photos of boundaries in case neighbours try to take liberties while you are elsewhere.

I would change the locks, just to be safe. There was a thread on here of moving day issues a while back and some people really do take the piss. It's cheap (about £10 for a new lock barrel from Wickes/Screwfix/Toolstation/Homebase and easily done with the help of Master YouTube. Just make sure you check the size of the existing barrel first.

Congrats on your new house! Doing it by yourself is no mean feat. Enjoy it!

changing locks - absolutely essential, you don't know how many copies of the keys are around.

Thank you, some really helpful things here.

Check with sol when he needs all money cleared / forms returned etc ahead of completion day. Mortgage is drawn down by sol and transferred to seller sols in morning of the day of completion - it needs to clear in sellers sols account (likely afternoon - takes a few hours) before you can collect keys from EA.....just so that you can plan your day. Congrats.

we have always changed at least one lock
you don't need to change all of them

We didn't move in for a few weeks after we bought the house. After completion we came to the house and met the old owner and got the keys off him. That same evening we ripped out a fitted wardrobe as it needed to be gone for the plasterer to plaster over the artex ceiling. You also need to let tv licensing know that you will swop the address when you move. We didn't change the locks but have since changed most of the doors and windows so they are changed now. You also need to make sure the insurance knows the house will be empty otherwise they might get stroppy if something happens.

Take photos of meter readings too

Decide which utility company you want to use, M&Date doing a good deal at the moment and you get £40 voucher if you swap to them.

Council tax give a discount if 25% if you are the only adult living in the property, so let the district council know asap.

Enjoy your new home

Buildings insurance needs to be from exchange, not completion!

Thanks everyone.

Eurochick - I have had buildings insurance since exchange, but I guess I need to notify the insurer that I have completed?

Yes - and you need contents insurance too if it has carpets and curtains.

We moved in the week after completion for similar reasons.

On completion day, I went and got the keys, then went and let myself in for a little check and squeal moment. Then I played with all the the water, lights etc, had a wee, then went home and started packing!

Ha ha Alpaca, that's exactly what I imagine myself doing on completion day! Can't wait to play with my new house