What do I need to do sort out between exchange and completion?

[Namechanger2015]

I am finally exchanging on a house today - my first house post-divorce.

All of the deposit funds have been handed over, and I have insured the house from today as well.

We complete in 2 weeks time - what do I need to get done before this? Do I need to let water company and electrics know, and to change suppliers etc? Any tips on how to chose would be great.

What else do I need to do?

We (me and 3 dc) will not be moving in immediately, as the house needs work doing (replumbing, rewiring, decorating), which we anticipate taking a few months to finish. I haven't really planned this out properly, although I do have tradesmen lined up I am planning to get the house and then spend a few days working out how I would like things before they start work.

I can't believe this is finally happening for us!

Council tax , water company. Take readings on completion (date tracked pictures of meters)

Insurance.

Council tax

Good point, thank you. I hadn't even thought of that.

I have been living with my parents post-divorce, and am quite scared of being a grown-up again and managing these things on my own, I am sure I will forget/overlook things.

I'll get onto the council tax people thank you

House insurance is a must. Good luck with your move.

Home insurance is sorted, starts today. Thank you!

insurance is the main thing - I assume you've told the insurers that the place is vacant?

post redirect - set that up now to commence on completion day. It takes five working days. Set for six months.

utilities; record readings on move in day (I see you aren't selling). Contact suppliers in advance (if seller won't tell you, easy to find out with a couple of calls) and advise you will be taking over the accounts from move in day. Then send the readings. Switches happen after you've taken over the accounts. Do it ASAP as the place will probably be on the pricey variable tariffs.

council tax - just phone the council and see what they say to do.

the other things to do in advance are change car insurance address, arrange broadband/phone (takes ages). all the rest happens once you move in - keep a list of address changes and tick off. You get letters to both addresses, hence the redirect.

ASAP after moving change your driving licence and car V5. Then sort GP, dentist, etc etc.

good luck!

If house is empty for a while then you may get a council tax discount.

If house has a landline then it may be good getting new number so you don’t have to field calls for previous occupants.

Find out when your new bin collection day is, always handy to know.

Watch out someone doesn’t swipe your waste bin/recycling bin if the house is empty, put them in the back garden out of reach.

Twice I’ve had free council ones swiped by neighbours, in both cases the neighbours were snooty types ( one lot both lawyers, other oxbridge public school type). Obvious easier for them to steal mine rather than lower themselves to ring the council!

Speak to your water company and let them know you're not moving in straight away (if it's not on a meter). I did this as I wanted to ask about having a meter put in and they suspended my account for 3 months until I moved in.

re landline - there are no new numbers, they are all recycled now. I wouldnt bother, just make sure it is on the telephone preference and get a call blocker to stop the 'unavailable ' scams.

I didn’t know that about the recycled landline numbers.

I guess you wouldn’t want to get a recycled ‘talktalk’ and get constant overseas scammers.

Def look at getting broadband sorted in plenty of time before you move in - it can take weeks

Post redirect

Council tax

Utilities

Change address at banks, credit cards, any other creditors (e.g car lease)

Tell employer

Electoral role - do this ASAP as it can take ages to appear on credit report and reduces your credit rating without it

Insurances

Change driving licence/car log book address

I got a recycled small business number - so no telephone preference and on every scammy autodialler list going. Life would have been impossible without the call blocker!

( and before the London brigade leap in, mobile reception has only recently been possible in the house and a landline/broadband package is much cheaper and saves endlessly nursing a brickphone)