Collecting keys on completion

7 replies

Em2122 · 11/03/2020 19:09

I’m first time buyer, I was wondering if I have to collect the keys at a certain time or even can I collect them next day .i expect completion will be middday

OP posts:

LoveFameTragedy · 11/03/2020 19:10

You just need to tell whoever us them (solicitor or estate agent) when you will be there. Happy new house!

Roselilly36 · 11/03/2020 19:30

Usually you get a call when completion has happened inviting you to collect the keys from the estate agent. Congrats OP, it’s a very exciting time.

mencken · 11/03/2020 19:47

if you are the bottom of the chain it should be before midday, but always have a plan B. Solicitors can stuff up, banks can go down and there have been stories on here of vendors who didn't realise that completion meant that they and all their crap needed to be out!

I hope none of these things happen to you!

AlexaAmbidextra · 12/03/2020 23:47

if you are the bottom of the chain it should be before midday,

If you’re a first time buyer and just picking up keys you can collect them whenever you like after completion.

Comefromaway · 13/03/2020 13:55

We got a phone call about 10am saying we could pick the keys up. I went after work just before the estate agents closed at 5pm.

JumpingOnTheBed · 15/03/2020 19:32

If you’re a first time buyer and just picking up keys you can collect them whenever you like after completion.

Just be mindful that your vendors have to usually wait an hour after selling their house to you for their purchase to go through. We left our house an hour after all that happened, just finishing with cleaning up after the big stuff had been put in the van by the removal guys. Didn't want to leave the house in a state for the first time buyers!

GOODCAT · 15/03/2020 20:29

I was at work on completion day when I was a first time buyer and had an overlap with moving from my rented property. Not designed just couldn't get them to line up.

As a result someone else picked up the keys for me from the estate agents and I went round to the property the next day.

The next time I moved the funds didn't go through until hours after completion time. Slighty fortunately for us a friend was helping us and he was married to someone who worked at the seller's solicitor's office and the seller was lovely anyway and they let us in under licence despite not having the money. The money had been sent at 10am as our buyer got the money through to my solicitor really early. We waited outside the house for five hours before being allowed in. The money did arrive the same day but only just.

If you are in a position not to have to move straight in and you don't want a day fretting about when you will get the keys, I would be going to the agents on the Saturday morning or ask someone else collect the keys.

Flip