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Original poster

Asking to move furniture in after exchange but before completion

94 replies

worriedworriedworriedworried · 07/08/2022 22:32

Would it be cheeky asking our vendor if we're able to start moving things into the property once we've exchanged on it but before completion? FWIW the house is empty and I'd like to give it a good clean before we properly move in. We have toddler twins and I can't imagine what moving in day will look like otherwise... obviously we'd have all insurances in place to protect ourselves.

OP posts:
saraclara · 08/08/2022 07:18

The packing quotes we've received so far range from £1800-£2200 which seem ludicrous for a 10- maximum 12- minute drive

How does the distance change the amount of work that packing takes?! When we had toddlers we had the movers pack for us and we were literally moving 300 yards away, which still needed a van. It didn't take the guys any less time to pack, just less time to drive!

BarrelOfOtters2 · 08/08/2022 07:20

We asked if we could move the garden stuff early (there was a lot of pots and stuff from the shed). About a small van load of plants in big pots. They were happy with that and gave us access to the garage too. House was empty.

we asked via estate agent.

so you can ask…

Twiglets1 · 08/08/2022 07:22

Moving stuff into the garden or even the garden shed is a very different proposition to letting people move their furniture into your house before Completion

FinallyHere · 08/08/2022 07:22

twins beds (fully made up) and the majority of their clothes in cupboards) and perhaps a few toys to keep them occupied

The issue that I see is that if these things are not there when you actually move, what recourse would you have?

Fushiadreams · 08/08/2022 07:25

Actually there is a way to do this op, you rent the property between exchange and completion. This means you can start moving in and can be insured for contents. We did it, albeit for different t reasons.

Just ask your solicitor to draw up a quick agreement for both parties, the agreement terminates on completion. You pay full market rate. So for example if it would normally rent for 1600 a month you pay 400 for the week. You can shift utilities from that date or pay them an all inclusive rental fee.

Plumtreebob · 08/08/2022 07:30

As others have said exchange doesn’t equal completion. I know of two house sales that exchanged and didn’t complete. One because a devastating life occurred to the person selling a house to my friend, and in the other a client of mine just inexplicably changed their mind two days before completion. In both cases there was lots and lots of stress and lots of money changed hands, but no court orders forcing sale etc. Would be even more stressful with my child’s worldly belongings in the house. People move with children all the time, it’s one stressful day. I’d suck it up personally.

FinallyHere · 08/08/2022 07:32

I agreed with PPs that removal people are the way forward, ask them to supply someone to make up all the beds

Have your DC's bits and your own bed, you too need somewhere comfortable to sleep after a busy day., packed last so they come off the lorry first. Keep bed linen with you in the car Have the DC room and your bed assembled and made up first thing.

Have a box with all you need for the bathroom with you too

Carry a box with food (casserole or something ready to eat) and the kettle etc too

Arrange childcare for the DC on the day so they are occupied by someone else.

Reward yourself for a job well done.

nokitchen · 08/08/2022 07:37

When FIL died we let them have the keys between exchange and completion so the house could be painted and carpeted. They used the garage as storage.

stuntbubbles · 08/08/2022 07:39

But if the twins’ beds, most of their clothes, and toys are there already… where are they sleeping before you move in?

I’ve moved with a small DC before and about to do it again, you just prioritise sorting their room out first – paying for packers is worth every penny, you’re not paying for the length of drive, you’re paying for the lack of stress of someone else boxing everything up quickly, disassembling furniture, reassembling at other end, etc. At the other end, the goal is to get the twins’ bedrooms set up ASAP. Everything else can wait. You have a moving day box you keep with you, not the movers, with snacks, bath stuff, PJs, all the vital stuff, so you can parent smoothly round the disruption: tea, bath, bed.

Then fish and chips on the floor/pile of boxes/chaos for you and DH.

If DH is liable to wander off – can’t he wander off with the twins to the nearest playground and cafe while you sort the house?

MalFunkshun · 08/08/2022 07:45

It will entirely rest with the vendors - but, to be clear, if they say no, that’s not them just being ‘difficult’. You may know you’re not planning to take the piss, but they won’t!

I’ve also had experience such as that described by @MintJulia; also several phone calls a day from a buyer with two young children asking about ridiculous minutiae between exchange and completion whilst I was trying to arrange the funeral for my father. Based on that, I wouldn’t ever have any relationship but the strictest professional one through the lawyers and EAs - nothing personal, but it’s not worth the hassle if you get the wrong buyer.

Trying20 · 08/08/2022 07:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn by the OP

mondaytosunday · 08/08/2022 07:54

No. As someone whose completion didn't happen until three days after it was supposed to ( I moved out by noon, we all waited and waited but the funds didn't appear and it was a Friday so nothing happened til Monday) I would not want to risk it. Plus you say you are just moving bits and pieces in, but what if you took possession? And then refused to complete? What if you fell down the stairs?
There's a reason solicitors and insurers do not want this.
I once had a professional clean done between exchange and completion on a house I was buying (didn't move any furniture in). The vendors said there was a leak and accused the cleaning company who said nothing they do with them. It was a nightmare and left bad feeling all around so I swore I'd never do that again, no matter how convenient it would be.
Get some one to look after your kids (I doubt having a few toys around will occupy them if there's so much activity going on elsewhere anyway).

veneeroftheyear · 08/08/2022 07:59

We moved with a baby and toddler and then again when children were older and I'd agree with those people who said to pay for packing service and get them to put the beds up at the new place. One of you takes the children out. The other one cleans the old place as they clear the rooms and then starts unpacking the children's room first in the new place. It doesn't matter if your own room takes a bit longer. It's a horrible stressful few days but you can do it. Good luck!

ShandaLear · 08/08/2022 08:03

Hard agree with throwing money at removals. Mine did everything- packing, dismantling, pictures off walls, etc. then moved everything to the right room in the new house and reassembled everything. All we had to do was direct. There were 4 of them and we were all moved in and done in about 3 hours.

hedgehoglurker · 08/08/2022 08:08

I think packers and/ or a hotel would be a really good idea. Are you selling too and need to be out of the flat at the same time, or renting and have an overlap built in?

naomi81 · 08/08/2022 08:38

Why can't you just complete earlier?

Drevere · 08/08/2022 09:00

I’d be happy to let you in to clean and plan

Agree with this. I'd go for the angle of just being able to clean that way you know that part is out of the way. Worry about moving on moving day. But nothing wrong with preparing the place before hand.

Candleabra · 08/08/2022 09:12

Paying for the full packing service is one of the best investments I’ve ever made in terms of value for money. It’s not that much more than a normal removal and honestly I just couldn’t believe how good they were. Took so much stress out of the day.

I would:
Pay for professional packing / removal
Get husband to sort the twins / take them out if he’ll be no help with the practicalities
Decide which rooms are the focus when you get the keys and clean them as soon as you get the keys

You probably also need to lower your expectations. You can’t expect to have a sparkling house and everything in its place at the end of moving day. It’ll take a bit of time.

You can also ask the vendor if they would be willing to give you the keys early. I wouldn’t - but they might. However, that depends on how amicable the moving process has been so far. If an additional (in my opinion) cheeky request will piss them off then I wouldn’t even bother asking.

cordiate · 08/08/2022 09:22

Given how much you've got on your plate it's a false economy not to pay for packers. They are so quick and efficient.

InTheShadeOfTheFigTree · 08/08/2022 09:31

Our last house sale completion was delayed until late afternoon. Our solicitor was very clear that we should not let the buyers into the house until completion had taken place.

Even if you only want to clean, I'm afraid I'd still say no.

passport123 · 08/08/2022 09:33

Candleabra · 07/08/2022 22:41

As a vendor - now no way would I agree to this - sorry.
The house isn’t yours, and you can’t insure it.
No solicitor would endorse this either.

Actually you should always insure a house from the date of exchange, as you're committed to buying it. Our solicitor was very clear on this.

CMOTDibbler · 08/08/2022 09:43

With twins and a husband who won't do anything, paying for packing and moving will be the best money you can spend! You can pay extra for them to assemble the beds and they will label every box and put it in the right room so you can find everything easily. Take the bedding off the beds and stick in bin bags in the car in the morning so you can just plonk pillows and duvets on the beds as is.
Will someone have the children for you so you can clean etc? If not, I'd get a babysitter from Sitters to entertain them in the garden so you can focus. This is one of those times to throw money at the problem if at all possible

Minecraftatemychild · 08/08/2022 09:55

Nope. Nope nope nope. You get the house after completion. Too much risk for seller otherwise.

If I was the seller I’d allow a professional cleaner to be sent round, but they’d be crazy to let you start moving stuff in. Why not just complete earlier if you want to? Or if you’re in a chain you’ll just have to wait.

InTheShadeOfTheFigTree · 08/08/2022 10:03

I wouldn't allow a cleaner in, who pays for the electricity and water? And what if they damage something?

SatinHeart · 08/08/2022 10:24

In your situation OP I'd ask to be allowed to get the cleaning done before completion if the property is empty.

We moved last year with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. We didn't move anything in before completion.

Agree with pp:

Pay for full packing and removals. Packing isn't usually much extra money on top of removals and it's such a game changer.
Daytime childcare for DC somewhere else (nursery, GPs house etc)
Take a box of their special things in your car and get their bedroom(s) set up asap

Removals usually don't have to disassemble much furniture, if any, so the house will be liveable pretty quickly on completion day.