How long till I actually move???

[caykon]

We went in and signed today and solicitor said he will aim for comletion next week. So when do I actually move??? Never done this before. Always aquired houses never done a sale properly.

If you are aiming for completion next week that will be when you get the keys to your new house.

Even if you have signed your contracts, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have been exchanged (when you pay 10% and neither party can withdraw without penalties). Until the contracts are exchanged, nothing is concrete and, presumably, since your solicitor is only "aiming for" completion next week, the exchange hasn't been finalised yet. If you have heard nothing by Thursday, ring your solicitor and see if there is anything impeding exchange and if he thinks you can still complete (ie. when you pay the balance on the house and have the right to take possession) the week after.

BTW, how do you acquire houses?

As whoops states once you have completed you can pick up the keys!

thanks for the advice.

As for aquiring houses, dh had one when we met so aquired that then got one as a wedding present, hence not knowing the procedure for these things

Thanks again eveyone it has cleared things up

you got a house as a wedding present????

yes from my dad

I was going to buy an apartment today and leave a non refundable deposit of £2,500, but the vendor has decided that if the contracts and everything like the exchange is NOT done by the end of the month i loose my deposit. I really want this apartment but. Would it take less then a month? or is this seller being difficult?

Many Thanks,
Sam

I think it would have to be a very, very special flat for me to do that. The problem is that the vendor could easily be the one who holds up the sale or sells to someone else and then pockets your deposit. Flats more difficult to do the conveyancing for than houses because they are usually leasehold and therefore you need quite a lot of paperwork from the management company and/or freeholder many of whom are very slow to respond to solicitors' requests (although some of the necessaries may be in the HIP if the flat has one).

Very risky - basically, s/he should be prepared to let you get to exchange without a deposit by the end of the month - that would mean you shelling out money for solicitors, surveys, mortgage fees etc and so you would be showing a huge commitment to the purchase.

Re-reading this, it also makes me suspicious that the vendor has had problems with surveys or something to do with the title that has put off other buyers who have made offers.

Ypou fix the moving(completion) date on exchange of contracts which is when you nromally pay a deposit - theoretically can be same day. Deposits are not refundable after exchange of contracts as you are legally obliged to go throguh with the transaction but , unless it is a newbuild, until then it is unusual for it not to be refundable with such preconditions as money should n't pass to the vendor until exchange. Complexities of conveyancying can be done within 3 weeks but with Bank Holdiays looming and presumably it being leasehold, needing a mortgage/surveys etc you cannot guarantee it without talking it through with your solcitor - do so before parting with cash .