When to book removals

[Gyptian]

So, we’ve finally had a date proposed for completion in June, 11 months after we had an offer accepted.

The proposed exchange date is the week before. My solicitors have advised not to book removals until all parties confirm they are ready to exchange. It’s a big chain and all but one property has been ready to exchange since the beginning of February.

The issue is that the top of the chain after saying they would move into rented, kept everyone waiting for months and then decided to buy. They’ve found a house and are in the middle of conveyancing. I would like that to be done before booking removals but we might not know this until shortly before the proposed exchange date which then only gives us over a week to book removals!

I’m not sure what to do-hold off or take a risk booking them with the hope that they will let me move the date if it changes?

To add, it needs to be done by the end of June as people further up the chain will be hit by the stamp duty deadline.

Removals companies are used to dates changing. Get some quotes, get pencilled in and tell them you will confirm when you exchange

Get quotes now and ask in general what days are least pressured. For example, Wednesdays rather than Fridays, and as you approach exchange call the companies abd find out which has availability on which dates. Ask them to pencil you in, if they will, and double check just before exchange. Tell your solicitor what completion days you can get removals for.

The companies will be under massive pressure in June as everyone is trying to complete then.

Don’t pay til you exchange, the minute you exchange, confirm and pay!

With ours, we booked it once the chain was broadly content on a date (but we still haven't exchanged). We paid £100 waiver to movers to ensure that we could postpone/cancel etc at any point. But we need a Friday in June so ridiculously busy.

Yeah, our proposed date is a Friday in June which is making me worry about leaving it.

I got quotes back in November when we thought we were nearly there 🤔 and our preferred company didn’t offer cancellation insurance. They just said that they recognised the date might change and they would work with us to try and mitigate any risk of us being charged.

I made the most of booking based on a date that then fell through and ended up having to pay to cover costs as per T&Cs and then they were not even available for my new date!

I then went with a different comp at who also do house clearances etc and it was way cheaper and no cancellation charges etc. They were great.

The same company at just loved my sister and she had to cancel them twice and they didn't chargeS

Find one of those type of companies!

Mistake not most.

Does it really have to be a Friday?

For this June you need to book asap I think. The world and his wife are moving and they all want in before the stamp duty deadline.

Thanks for the comments. I came really close to taking a risk and booking. Glad I didn’t though as the knob at the top of the chain who has been messing the chain around for the last four months has now said he can’t commit to the agreed date anymore. I’m expecting a chain collapse tbh, all because of one person.