What would you do?

[Phoxinusphoxinus]

So in theory we might exchange on Monday and then complete Friday although we might not, it could be the following Monday or Friday. At this point I'm beginning to think we won't move at all. I can't book a removal firm because they all want payment up front. My job means I can't take time off unless it's the day of the move and I work full-time.

My options are:

1. Start packing this weekend.

1. Start packing and put stuff into storage. Have found a very large secure unit that is cheap. We own a van so I can move a lot of stuff at once.

1. Chill out and relax as I can book a removal firm with packing service at short notice next week.

DH prefers option 3. I'm dithering and can't work out if I'll be more stressed with boxes everywhere than if I just wait.

Any advice?

Removers are very busy at the moment. I tried to book a week in advance with the bigger outfits. Did book with a smaller family business but it was a stressful morning ringing around.

Get quotes at least.

My friend couldn’t get the dates she wanted at short notice when she was in the same position as you. You can’t rely on the movers being available when you need them just now as it’s busy apparently.

Get quotes for the various option available as that may help you decide?

I have got two quotes, £1000 difference between the two! Last I was in touch with them they had availability but obviously they could be booked now.

I'd definitely be looking to re-confirm with the removal company - they are very busy at the moment. We had to go with a "man and van" as opposed to a removal company, just so we could move.

I did something similar to option 2, I moved in with a friend to save my chain (a whole other story of woe!) Had to complete on my sale by 30th June.

All the removals companies were completely snowed under however I moved about a week before completion (was a couple of days before exchange even so was keeping everything crossed) not having to be out on the day of completion meant the removals firm could move me in the afternoon as I wasn't under any time pressure to hand keys back, which meant that on completion day I had the last few things to pack up and move myself (some to storage some to friend).

It also means then when I do finally complete (on a totally different house now) I will also be under little time pressure to get moved in, I will only have to move in, not out and in and I will be able to do a deep clean without being surrounded by boxes!

I'm still just so unsure. DH is so relaxed, but then he never gets stressed.

Option 1 Start packing
You stand more chance of getting a remover if they are just moving furniture and, if you can’t, hire a man with a van.
Good luck 🤞

We had a packing service and it was brilliant. Saved a load of stress. Our guys said you have a better chance of booking at short notice if you go for a different completion day to Friday. We booked about 2 weeks in advance in the end and took out cancellation insurance so that we didn’t lose out if the move didn’t go ahead (ours was touch and go until the day of exchange!.

We had similar back in March we exchanged then completed 5 days later, we couldn't get anyone managed to get quotes but they were all fully booked once we had exchanged, plus there was a van shortage, in the end we got a van with a tail lift and did it ourselves (never again it was loads of work).

Start packing now we were told by removal companies we didn't have much but even then it took way longer than we expected. Only having one van meant we had to do multiple trips.

We actually left the house at 2/3pm in the end although our buyers were fine and knew the circumstances.

I could never relax this weekend in your position, I'd be packing. I'd be making use of the large cheap storage.

I personally would pack everything you don't need to use for the next few weeks into boxes, if they get in the way you can always use storage, but for the sake of a few days I'd live with with boxes around me.
As you have a van already, I would look at man and can quotes, it would probably be cheaper to get two vans plus your own to move everything on moving day

2 definitely. It will make things do much easier

We had the same issue and put the stuff into storage. It would have been impossible with my work if we hadn't done this and tbh it was a huge relief and took the stress out of the timing!

We stored it with the movers because it was so short term.