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Original poster

Timeline for selling/buying house

19 replies

GoldenApple · 09/10/2021 10:01

I will need to sell my house next year and have bought a new one by August 2022. I have a strict timeline to adhere to because I'll be starting my postgraduate course in September and I need to be settled before then.

I was planning on putting my house on the market in March 2022 but now I'm worried this isn't going to give me enough time to sell, or even find a new house before then.

Is my timeline doable? Or shall I give myself more time.

I should add my house is in good condition and is an ideal family home very near to a really good secondary school in the area.

The last time I bought a house it took 4 months from offer to completion.

OP posts:
maofteens · 09/10/2021 10:09

In theory yes, but as we have learned over the last couple years things do not always go to plan! I'd give it a couple more months. The issues are: potential for another lockdown or WFH order, which will seriously impact on the survey/mortgage/searches timeline; you may struggle to sell or find a place to buy (the latter has proven a huge issue recently); the people you sell or buy from might not have the same schedule as you, and you may be at the mercy of a chain.
There is no issue if you still manage to do it in six months is there? You will just have longer too settle in your new place.

Bathshebahardy · 09/10/2021 10:11

It is possible that this is long enough but it is impossible to guarantee how long a sale will take. Houses are selling fast at the moment but it could change by next year. Once you have a buyer and find a place, you still may have a wait for a chain to be set up and legal processes seem to take much longer than a few years ago.

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 09/10/2021 10:14

We went on the market in May, and just about getting ready to exchange. So around 18-20 weeks.

But you have to consider time to find a buyer, time for the chain to complete, then all parties need to do their bit. We have been held up by one person in the whole chain.

Original poster
GoldenApple · 09/10/2021 10:15

I am worried about being in a potential chain but I am willing to rent for a while in needed.

At the moment I am in the final year of my undergraduate degree and I'm not due to finish that until April 2022, so whilst I wouldn't want to have sold my house before then, perhaps it can't hurt to list it in the January 2022?

I am (very luckily) mortgage free so I'm hoping this will help keep times to a minimum.

Lots to think about, thank you for your response.

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 09/10/2021 10:15

I bought my current house in four weeks from offer to completion including surveys (full building, damp and woodworm) in the SE.

OldTinHat · 09/10/2021 10:16

That was three years ago btw.

Original poster
GoldenApple · 09/10/2021 10:18

Wow @OldTinHat - that's the homeowner's dream!

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 09/10/2021 10:27

@Goldenapple hehehe - I did spend those four weeks nagging and phoning and chasing up everyone to be fair!! 😂

Gemma2019 · 09/10/2021 10:44

I sold last year and it took over 9 months in a no chain sale to first time buyers. There was a long wait for searches at the time and we also lost several buyers as they couldn't get mortgages at the time. That was just a sale and no purchase and I was shocked at how much harder it had become since the last time I had sold.

I would aim to put the house on the market in January. My last estate agent said that a lot of people look for houses in January - both the "new year new start" brigade and also the people who have had enough of their partners and Christmas was the last straw. Also the secondary school application process opens in January and closes in October in our area for the following year, so worth checking what it is in your area.

Skinnytailedsquirrel · 09/10/2021 10:49

Why don't you say which country you are in...or is this a "England-centric" website??

notangelinajolie · 09/10/2021 10:52

In a perfect scenario that timeframe would work but if you need to work to a strict deadline I would suggest putting it on the market in January. Things don't always go to plan. Start preparing it for sale the minute your tree goes down.

Zodlebud · 09/10/2021 10:58

We bought a house with cash (inheritance and VERY grateful) and no chain this summer. It took three months as there is a massive backlog with searches and surveys at present. So, a simple purchase which could have previously gone through in a few weeks seemed to take forever.

Then add on actually selling the place to someone and chain problems lower down and you could be looking at several months.

TheCategoryIs · 09/10/2021 11:04

If there’s no downside to moving earlier I would be going with Jan too.

There’s so many factors involved, many of which are not within your control.

I sold my place and bought another between end of July and 11 Sep a few years back but that was once I’d found a place to buy, which took about six months (lots of very different options where I am).

A good solicitor helps, it took me nine months to buy a flat with no chain as a first time buyer with one lot.

seb342 · 09/10/2021 11:09

Our financial advisor told us ours would take 6 weeks maximum because we had no chain but it took over 4 months!! This was 4 years ago so pre-covid, our solicitors were completely useless and it took many phone calls reminding them that we were paying them for this terrible service to get them to actually do something. Research your solicitor well because they'll make or break your home move if you are on a schedule.

TeddyBeans · 09/10/2021 11:13

We've just bought a flat - offer was accepted in may and we completed on 28th September. The searches are what took the most time.

Chain of 2 - we're FTB and our sellers moved into a vacant property

TippledPink · 09/10/2021 11:14

We went on the market in April, sold to a first time buyer, now waiting for our sellers to find somewhere, and then so on. Not expecting to complete any quicker than another 4 months I would say so a minimum total of 10 months! You really can't predict how long it will take.

Original poster
GoldenApple · 09/10/2021 18:30

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

Why don't you say which country you are in...or is this a "England-centric" website??
From personal experience, I'd say Mumsnet is an England-centric website. Those outside England (usually) add their location because they know most would assume the postet is based in England, or at the very least, UK. Sorry I didn't add it in, yes, I'm in England.
OP posts:
Original poster
GoldenApple · 09/10/2021 18:38

Thanks to everyone else for sharing your recent and not so recent experiences. You have given me some things to think about.

I will be using the solicitors I have used in the past because they were really efficient and thorough, so I'll contact them nearer the time to engage their services again.

I think, based on the comments so far, I'll put my house on the market in January. I don't return to university until end of January so it should give me a few weeks to make it ready for viewings/photos.

Ideally I would like to complete on a house and buy a new home before September 2022 but I am fully prepared to sell my house first and move into rented accommodation until new house is completed. But I'm hoping it doesn't come to that as who wants to move twice in a short space of time 😬

OP posts:
Paranoidandroidmarvin · 09/10/2021 18:40

U just can’t tell. I had one that was going on for three months. And then the house I was buying pulled out on exchange day. The one I’m buying now turns out doesn’t have a vital piece of paper for the extension. This could months.

The answer is no one knows

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