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Original poster

Moving before Christmas?

22 replies

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 13:04

We accepted an offer on our house in September and had our offer accepted in October. Our buyers are living with family and our vendors have already moved out. We have all been ticking along happily with the process, and we have had our mortgage offer, survey and searches etc, however we had heard nothing about how our buyers were getting on. We knew their mortgage valuation had been done because the valuer came to our house but nothing other than that.
We called estate agent today who said that the buyers had also got everything in place and was just waiting on some simple enquiries but wanted to be in for Christmas.
As we hadn’t even discussed dates, let alone exchanged, and we are both still waiting on enquiries, we had assumed we were looking at moving in the new year. As a result we have put our Christmas tree and decorations up and are not mentally ready for it this side of Christmas.
Am I being unreasonable by asking for it to be pushed into January? I just feel like we are the only members of the chain that it will adversely effect, as our buyers can move in leisurely, and our vendors are settled in their new home. After a horrible 2020 as we have all had, we would love to have a calm relaxed Christmas rather than being surrounded by boxes and life being turned upside down! In January when the kids are back to school, everything would be much smoother and DH could take a week off work to get unpacked.
Is it unreasonable to say no to a pre Christmas move?

OP posts:

gingerbreadfox · 03/12/2020 13:13

I'm in the total opposite situation.

We are desperate to get into our new house before Xmas and haven't even bothered putting up our decorations in our current house for this reason.

I guess it depends what everyone's expectations are in the chain.

ComtesseDeSpair · 03/12/2020 13:20

Not unreasonable, no. I’d say you’re willing to be flexible and complete as soon in the new year as they want but that it’s just not feasible for you to move close to Christmas.

To be honest, unless their enquires are concluded this week and they’re prepared to either exchange right away, it’s not likely to happen anyway - generally most solicitors like at least 14 days between exchange and completion so you’d need to exchange on the 8th/9th to be in for the 23rd. And I certainly would be pressured into simultaneous exchange and completion close to Christmas.

ComtesseDeSpair · 03/12/2020 13:20

*wouldn't be pressured

purpletrees16 · 03/12/2020 13:21

We’re on the other side pushing for Christmas - the main reason being I have 2 weeks where my office is shut and the house we are moving to needs works that I want to get started myself whilst not at work and still with my rental rather than post Christmas where I will not be able to take much leave due to workload.

...also we’d get a garden & parking and I grew up in northern Scotland. The sooner I can get 2 x fire pit, the sooner I can huddle outside 2m away from friend(s) outside. Rather than having no parking and only public outdoor space so no chance of using fire to heat it up. I’m a bit lonely. Went for 15mile walk round town last weekend just to hang out with a friend but that removes friends with kids and really bad weather.

But you’re fine to push it... but to me getting in before Christmas is worth around £2k. ( I had £4K of works I probably could have got 50% off for - but I value Christmas not in my flat at around that & the stress of not updating mortgage etc was worth a few £100.)

123rd · 03/12/2020 13:21

I wouldn't say no if there is any chance of putting the chain in danger. You will get stuff done. Just need to prioritise what gets done first.
We moved less than two weeks before Christmas one year. Was fine. This year is pretty messed so why not have a different sort of Christmas.

Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 13:23

It’s only a chain of 3, and our vendors have settled into their new house already so it doesn’t affect them at all. Our buyers could move in leisurely over days / weeks, leaving the kids with their grandparents who they are currently living with. We would be the only ones having to move in and out in a day with kids around and then spending Xmas in boxes.

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Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 13:25

Comtesse those are my thoughts exactly. It’s going to be so tight. Early Jan is fine from about the 6th when kids are back at school

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AndyMurraysCat · 03/12/2020 13:25

If it were me I would do whatever it takes to get the house sale through successfully.
Regardless of Christmas

PowerslidePanda · 03/12/2020 13:27

Am I being unreasonable by asking for it to be pushed into January? I just feel like we are the only members of the chain that it will adversely effect, as our buyers can move in leisurely, and our vendors are settled in their new home. After a horrible 2020 as we have all had, we would love to have a calm relaxed Christmas rather than being surrounded by boxes and life being turned upside down!

I think you're projecting a bit there! We're going to have to move in with family in between house moves and, while I'm very grateful that they'll take us in, it's going to be cramped and far from ideal for anyone involved. Your buyers side of this could easily be, "After a horrible 2020 as we have all had, we would love to finally be in our own home for Christmas and give our family some space and peace again!"

I think it's fair to set some expectations about the latest possible date and how long you'd need between exchange and completion. E.g. you'l agree to it as long as you complete by Friday 18th December and exchange at least a week before that. Then it's on them to try and hit those dates (which is arguably a long shot if there are still enquiries outstanding - often even when everyone is ready to exchange, it still takes days for some unknown reason!)

1stDecember · 03/12/2020 13:28

@Bug55

But they clearly don't want to do that.

purpletrees16 · 03/12/2020 13:40

What is the 10 days between exchange and completion for btw? Apart from booking removals? Our lawyer said it cost extra to not have it so I’m fine with it, unless it effects Xmas... (I’m almost there - was going to exchange on the 1st but then the sellers said there’s a few more things to do there side - I think they assumed we would need the time to get the deposit ready but we transferred our full deposit and stamp duty to our lawyers 10 days ago.)

Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 13:40

Powerslide Panda, I completely get what you are saying, but they have been permanently living with family for years. It’s not a cramped ‘between homes’ situation.

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Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 13:42

I think I’ve just gone into panic mode because today was the first time the idea has been sprung on us! We haven’t talked exchange dates let alone completion dates yet!

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Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 13:44

I’d like that time between exchange and completion to book removals and start packing things up! Nothing at all is packed yet because it was never even mentioned- we were working on earlier predictions of 3 months from end of October when our offer was accepted.
I’m in the centre of wrapping Christmas presents, not packing the house up

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RainingBatsAndFrogs · 03/12/2020 13:49

If I was your vendors and buyers I would want to exchange ASAP - you don't need to plan for that, except in as much as that is when you agree what the completion date will be.

If you wanted to hold out for Completion after Christmas I would want the exchange done and dusted asap to take away the worry and uncertainty, and so that I could get on with booking removals, sorting utilities and change of address etc.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 03/12/2020 13:50

Just talk to your solicitor about what date you want.

But don't delay on Exchanging.

Your house purchase and sale is more important that Christmas, in the bigger scheme of things.

1stDecember · 03/12/2020 13:56

For all you know, your EA may have picked up the wrong end of the stick, or they may have mentioned moving before Xmas but aren't that bothered. Best to get the EA to confirm.

1stDecember · 03/12/2020 13:56

But yeah, as for exchange, get that done ASAP.

Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 14:12

Yes exchange before Christmas for completion after Christmas wouldn’t be a problem. I’ll definitely speak to EA and solicitor and try and work it all out. It just came out of the blue today

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Whoateallthestuffingballs · 03/12/2020 14:24

We are in a rental and have to leave by mid-Feb. We've bought and should be completing on 11 December. We were going to take our time to move, except ... the only day we can get a removal company between now and February ... 24 of frickin' December!!!

So I feel your pain!

purpletrees16 · 03/12/2020 14:40

And we’ve just been told due to lack of removal companies our completion date is 12th Jan so a cold Christmas period in the tiny flat it is.

Original poster

Bug55 · 03/12/2020 15:30

Ok so after speaking to estate agent, apparently we should never have been told about buyers request to move before Christmas as there are still so many outstanding enquiries, and it’s their policy to not talk dates until enquiries have been sorted. We have offered exchange before Christmas for completing first week in Jan- I just hope they come back to us soon because it seems from previous posts like getting removals booked may be the next worry!!

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