How far ahead to plan/prepare for house move?

[MovingToPlan]

We want to move to a new area by summer 2024. Realistically, how soon should we be looking at putting the house on the market and preparing for the whole endeavour? Next winter or so? It suddenly occurred to me that we need to be settled and dc in new schools 2 years from now, so I'm trying to work backwards from that goal.

This is our first house, and dc are older now, so we are new at this part of the planning process.

It is never too soon to begin sorting things out.
Start looking through the loft / garage / shed etc. Get rid of what has to go and start boxing up what isn't required in the short-medium term.

People will come on to tell you to use a packing service which may take away the need to box things up now.
We have moved twice in the past 12-months, first into temporary accommodation and then into our new house. We did all packing ourselves and 80% of the boxes remained sealed during that time (and some have yet to be unpacked). Much of our furniture didn't even come with us as we decided we would re-furnish when in the new house. The last thing we wanted was lots of random items cluttering up the house before we were ready hence why a lot remained safely boxed.

I moved into this house in July 2021 - put my house on the market in March 2021. But that was fast.

It depends on how fast the market is moving, how quickly you find a house and how long your chain is. Realistically give yourself nine months? It can take months for chains to complete. I would however take advice for a local estate agent.

start planning now though. Get to know the new area, research streets, visit a lot, walk round neighbourhoods, view houses online. You will need to have your solicitor identified from the beginning to start asking around for recommendations.

start the decluttering process now. Think about what rooms will need a coat of paint. Start watching up on diy. Next spring get the garden in order.

We've been working through the house room by room, just need to redecorate the dc's rooms now, so that's good. Keen gardners here, so no problems there. Decluttering is a constant, constant battle. I swear the junk breeds. 🤔

Good shout about getting to know the intended new area better. That will be my project for this winter!

Working backwards from 9 months means we definitely need to be putting the house on the market this time next year in order to get settled by summer 2024. Wow.

I spent hours and hours on google earth and on rightmove! I knew the area so well I knew by street names if the bedrooms would be big enough and how close to the main road there were! I also kept an eye on the planning application for the area. It must have gotten a little obsessive!

my search area was whittled down to a few streets and I have seen the plans for every extension in Those streets😂😂😂

That's a lot of meticulous research! Did it pay off, do you think?

Yes I think so!

I got my dream house (well realistic dream within my budget). I was lucky I saw it the minute it came on and was able to put my house in the market the next day.

I knew the garden was big enough, that I would be able to extend a little and I had walked up and down the street so I knew it was quiet during the day and the nearby school traffic wasn’t an issue.

I did miss a bit of a noise issue at 7am From a nearby bakery - but I have gotten used to it!