Exchanging this week and terrifed

[Deathpledge]

We've been trying to buy a house for a long time and after a purchase fell through earlier this year are at the final stages of buying one we like. Because it's been dragging on for a while (put the offer in in February) I don't really fell like I'm across all the details but am trying to get up to speed today and tomorrow.

I'm very anxious. We (husband and primary school aged son) have never bought before and I have no idea what I'm doing.

Should we go and look at the house again before exchanging? We haven't been there for almost 6 months. What should we be thinking about/doing? Does everyone feel this scared?

The estate agent just called and said that the completion date has to be a week later. That will mean that, if we exchange this week, there will be over a month between exchange and completion. Is that normal?

That gap is fine. It gives you time to plan and book removals, book annual leave, do any final decluttering etc. You're only locked in to completion by exchange so until you've exchanged you can't plan anything. That means having exchange and completion close together is quite risky.

I've bought three times now and tried to have at least 2-3 weeks inbetween exchange and completion. The most recent one was almost 4 weeks.

You need to have buildings insurance in place from exchange.

You could ask for another viewing as it's been so long since you saw it.

You’re not alone! I exchange today and am feeling terrified too! Also a first time buyer. I’m excited about the house, it’s the huge amount of debt and the ‘no backing out now’ that is so scary! I think it’s normal to feel this way :-)

I have started decluttering, packing up non-essentials and making a list of who to notify of my change of address.

It'll be five weeks between exchange and completion, which my solicitor says could be an issue for insurance.

We got quotes for insurance as normal (comparison website) then rang a couple of companies to check we would be covered ok.

Is it normal to ask for a pre-exchange viewing? We haven't set foot in the place for 6 months.

I don’t see why not! Tell them you’d like to take some measurements for your new furniture.

I'm selling my house, I've told the estate agent to let my buyer know he can contact me direct to come for additional viewings
/ measure up.
I'm on the other side of the fence to you OP but I'm nervous too, never sold a house before, I'm more nervous about the selling of my house than the buying of a new house 😂

Perfectly reasonable to ask to view before exchange: anything could have happened, ceiling fallen down etc! Also ask to measure up.

HOWEVER explain why you want to view, 'Good practice to view before exchange to check nothing major about the property has altered since you viewed'. Because judging by some posters on MN people are paranoid about letting vendors into the house they are spending huge amounts of money on and are convinced it is because they want to reduce the price.

Yes it is. Especially as you haven't seen it for so long- it's entirely reasonable. By all means ask. We insisted on it with this house because there were issues with one of the sellers. You insure from exchange, and the property is insured only as of its condition at exchange. We needed to know what that was, in case one of the sellers did anything 'ill advised'.😕
Just don't panic when you do see it if you have built it up a bit too much in your minds. It's still what you wanted when you offered.

We exchanged today. Still feel very worried that something is going to go wrong.