Has anyone completed houses sale/purchase over this corona period?

[Raaaa]

Just what is says in the title really. We've signed our purchase contract and currently waiting for a completion date, buyers are being a bit slow, apparently their solicitors are really bad (typical) just wondered if anyone has actually completed/got the keys?

We bought a new build, survey happened the day before lockdown. We exchanged week before last then completed last week and move this Friday with a removal company. We rent so it was only us in the chain. So lucky so far. Fingers crossed it doesnt now rain again on friday. Good luck to others and hope it happens!

We were supposed to exchange just before lockdown but didn’t, our buyer is still interested but we are both waiting (we are due to buy a new build)... however, we (us and our buyer) are worried about the reduction in prices... somewhere between 10 and 20%

Anyone else worried about this?

We are due to exchange and complete next Thursday. The property we are buying is empty and our buyers are really keen for us to move out ASAP - to the extent that they were happy to make us homeless if our mortgage didn't come through in time! 😬

Luckily, all of the paperwork is done and we just need to wait for the big day. Our EA was really pushing for us to move as we weren't overly keen because of the lockdown measures. I asked him to find us 3 removals companies who are still working so that we could get some quotes, which he did.

We decided to pack our belongings ourselves so that the removals company are simply moving cardboard boxes and furniture which can all be wiped down.

I explained to the EA that I cannot get our current house professionally cleaned due to exchanging and completing on the same day as social distancing measures won't work.

I'm really hoping that the transactions can be completed early doors so that I can get the keys to the new house and bed down there with my daughter (I'm 22 weeks pregnant too). The removals company said that they only want one person present in the house for the removals. I'm not sure how this will work as my daughter is 18months old and has lots of personality and energy! 🙈

If anyone has experience of exchanging and completing on the same day - I would really welcome any tips you may have (without wanting to derail this thread)!

Good luck everyone!!

@Karcheer I've seen on other threads people pulling out because of the housing market uncertainty. I'm not an expert but I imagine from a buyers perspective there's the worry of buying the house for too much but then if your a seller there's the risk of the house dropping in price so I guess it depends?
We personally just want to get out so gunna hope for the best haha 
@cookiesaurus we're pretty much in the same situation regarding exchanging/completing on the same day, the house is empty and I'm 19 weeks pregnant.
The removal guys said they want us out the way which is fine got all the boxes ready keep putting off packing and just crossing my fingers really!

@Karcheer we've discussed this too and come to the conclusion that as we are planning to live in this property for a long time it should be ok.

We're in the SE and in a commuting suburb/town for London so I'm hoping that the forecasts are correct and we may see a bit of a dip which will steady itself within a year or so.

That's just my opinion though!

@Karcheer, personally, no, but it completely depends on your circumstances. If you're only planning on living there for 2 or 3 years, then yes, I'd probably be holding off, but if it's a long term house, then I wouldn't worry too much - that's the category we fall in.

@Raaaa Wow, we really are! I think it's going to be a really stressful day and I definitely feel as though there is less certainty this way.

We sold a flat previously when we moved here and our buyers at the time dropped their offer by £50K the day before exchange! We were so annoyed! I really hope that by doing all on the same day that it removes the room for renegotiations as there simply won't be time for it. We do not have any room in our finances to accept a dropped offer and would pull out of the process if our buyers did this so late in the day.

I'm literally trying to pack 2-3 boxes per day aiming to finish packing (except essential things we still need) by the weekend so that I can focus on cleaning the house for the move!

At least we're in the 2nd trimester - 1st/3rd would probably be so much worse! I was (half) joking with my husband earlier that this is not the year to be alcohol-free - pregnancy, moving house and now a pandemic!!

The reason the solicitors say they can’t do a sale is the land registry “is shut”

However they can still put an existing or essential sale through no problem

It also depends if the solicitors are actually working or furloughed.

Home reports are considered essential and surveyors are allowed to do them

We're stuck at mortgage valuation stage. We like the house and are hoping to be able to proceed as planned once guidelines are relaxed and surveyors are back at work. I think there is a very real possibility of down valuation by 10-20% post lockdown but I wouldn't say we're worried about it. In the case of down valuation we would communicate it to the vendor and would proceed if the vendor is willing to negotiate accordingly. We can only afford this house on assumption that it will be covered by the mortgage, so if the mortgage falls short, we will not be able to proceed.

Our move date is 22nd May. We are in Scotland so we will conclude missives prior to move in date.

We are still pushing on, solicitor is on board.

Really praying that they ease lockdown very slightly so we can proceed

@LockdownLiquidLunch we agree this house we're moving into is going to be a long term thing and tbh we've been going through this process for 4 months now and cba to pull out and start again plus I'm due in September so we're willing to take the hit!

Our house is for the long-term too, and we're in the cheaper end of the market, so a % drop in price won't be as dramatic (in cash) in our pocket.

Our mortgage is approx 2k a year less than rent. If we pulled out now to try to figure out the market/potential slump, we'd be paying rent while we do that, so on balance we decided to go ahead.

@Marpan is the land registry actually shut? That's what I'm waiting for too.
The sellers of the house I'm buying are moving into an empty property so we can all move through the system, will have to move ourselves though.

So it looks like our will go ahead next week with exchange and completion on same day.

We’ve managed to get a removal firm; doing a full packing service, although I’ve picked a lot already.

How much will they ‘pack’? Do I leave kitchen drawers as they are? Kids books on the shelves? Toothbrushes out?

Anyone used this service before?

Packing service will pack everything. It is great.

Does anyone have a sale/purchase still suspended? I’m not sure when I should try to contact the estate agents or solicitor?

I'm jealous not only that they're packing, I can't get a removal service!

@pinkrocker our buyers and EA were quite pushy about moving now or the sale falling through so I asked the EA to find us a removals firm who are working.

It might be worth talking to your EA if that might help move things along?

GL

That's an idea, thank you. Everyone seems so very laid back in this chain.

We moved on 26th March.
Was unbelievably stressful.
We had to exchange and complete on the same day.
We went into an empty property and our buyers were first time buyers so as far as I know they’ve not actually moved in yet, I believe they’re staying with parents until this is all over.
On the plus side we’ve got so much diy done over the past 5 weeks.

I’m pretty the land registry isn’t shut, because we completed on our purchase on Friday.

We’re looking to exchange and complete same day next week and have hired a van to move ourselves. Property we are going into is empty.