Just sold... Now what?

[Onebabyandamadcat]

So we've sold our house (in Scotland), have bought another. Just got the mortgage approved this morning. A very short chain - first time buyers buying ours and we're buying from a couple who are moving into their second home.

Now what do I do? Other than frantically pack? Any hints or tips?

I don't know how it works in Scotland but the day of contract exchange, I started frantically packing! Didn't do anything before exchange as was superstitious in case I jinxed it!

I'm in England but havent dared to start properly packing in case it all goes tits up. I've done a few bits, out of season clothes/shoes, pictures, a few books. Nothing major.

I guess all you can do right now really is wait.......and wait...and wait.....

House buying takes so bloody long! I'm a chain of 3 as well and we're a month in and still feels like moving day is a lifetime away

In Scotland so it's more secure. Moving date is 11th of June so I've came home and tentatively started packing some pictures (need to start somewhere I guess). I'll book movers tomorrow hopefully. Arrange to move internet, organise the post office forwarding thing, look for new buildings insurance. Anything else I've missed?

Booking movers is priority
I had to acquire boxes from local shops etc

The rest is very personal

I had a list of on the day tasks eg photographing meter readings
I had the phone and internet disconnected the day before
Informed council tax
Informed banks
Looking for new doc and dentist if applicable
TV licence if applicable

Packing should start with ornaments and things you rarely use

Must be so nice to have the Scottish system and actual security of knowing you are moving so far in advance.

I don't know how people manage under the English system - it seems so nerve wracking! I've known people to encounter issues on moving day in Scotland but never the complete breakdown of a chain or anything. I'm so glad that I can be pretty confident that this is going ahead!

Practical question - bins. Ours are emptied on a two week rolling schedule - cardboard one week, plastics/glass the next, general waste every two weeks and garden waste every month. Am I ok to leave the usual level of waste in bins (taking the extra from packing/clearing away to the dump) or should all bins be left empty?

OP "I don't know how people manage under the English system"

We rock in a corner from offer to exchange. On exchange day, We look in the mirror and find our hair has turned pure white.

We are the lucky ones, because after this we own 500 sq ft of ...oh wait, no, the bank owns it.

I’d get a quote for packing as well as moving. It was nowhere near as expensive as I though it would be and was marvellous.

Start decluttering.

We took all the waste we could to the tip and just left a couple of bags of rubbish in the bin, we get weekly emptied bins though.

Start decluttering and packing the stuff in the loft. Then onto shed & garage. This is the stuff you don’t use day to day and you’ll be surprised how much is in there.

Get lots of boxes, black sharpies, tape and bin bags. Ask friends for any newspaper or use older clothes for wrapping ornaments.

Ring internet company about setup at your new home now as they can take a couple of weeks and it’s best to absorb most of that before you move or you’ll have no WiFi for a couple of weeks in your new home.

We have just moved. We got the packing service with removals company - they packed the day before we moved. Was about £600 on top, and was really worth it as we only had a week between exchange and completion. However, we did take a few days over the previous month to clear the loft and shed (and a few tip runs) as there was loads that no longer used and a good de clutter and a fee charity shop runs. All took extra time due to queuing. We had to get home insurance and life insurance in place when exchanged, so all in place on new house, informed council tax of move date, got internet moved. Is same company as old place, so connection in place already. They just sent a new set up to be house on the day after we moved, that we connected. Set up post redirection- did this in advance as you specify move day. Applied for new school places once exchanged. Updated car insurance. On day took meter readings. Make sure update address on anything ordered. The previous owner of here has had plants turn up on monday to here - so had to advise driver to call the number on the order and refused the delivery.

Great advice thank you!

A couple of other useful threads here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4193172-Im-moving-what-will-I-forget-to-do
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4222702-Moving-house-how-do-I-prepare

Oh how exciting!!!

I don't like the 'offers over' system in Scotland, unfortunately it's becoming more common in England too.

But I DO like the fact that everything seems to proceed much more quickly & reliably than here.

I'm thinking about moving and really not looking forward to the process.

@Onebabyandamadcat Congrats on your sale and buy OP 🥳🥳 how exciting!!

I’d be fine with a normal level of waste being left in the bins. I would try and leave the cardboard bin empty if I could...and hopefully the current owners of your new house will do the same - you’ll have lots of newspaper etc from unpacking 😊

If it was me I’d start the declutter and pack stuff we don’t use everyday. As others have said, gather boxes etc.

Gather up manuals etc for appliances being left in the house and start making a wee file to leave for the new owners? Add in info about bin collection days, your local window cleaner if you use one etc 😊 maybe a few local takeaway menus. The family we bought from done that for us and it was so handy!!

My top tip for moving - pack a suitcase each as if you’re going away for a few days. Clothes, toiletries, chargers, hairdryer etc. When you get to your new place unpack the kitchen first 😊 between that and your suitcase you’ll manage for a good few days while you get the rest of the house sorted without having to hunt through boxes for stuff you need 😊