Moving before or after exams

[movedilemma]

We've been trying to move for almost a year now as our DT's are coming up to 16 and we've outgrown this house. It looks like our chain may come together again over next few weeks. They've never moved house before and are quite sensitive. They have worked really hard for their gcse's and want to do well in them. The new house is a walk away so it's an area they know (& like) and there's no school change involved. We're wondering when the latest move date would be to get them settled before exams starting in mid may? Or if we've missed the window to tie everything up before then. We want to be present for them in their exams and don't want to put undue pressure on them/mess up their exams. But conversely we want to get things sorted now and for everyone's benefit, move things forward. Any thoughts greatfully received.

If it’s before exams and no school change I think before would be fine.

If you use movers everything will be done in a day, you can unpack their rooms as a priority so they’re settled whilst you get the rest of the house sorted. Rather than trying to do it all yourself which absolutely adds to the stress.

Would your buyers and anyone else in the chain be prepared to wait until the end of June for GCSEs to be over? Seems unlikely.

I would try to move asap to allow as much time as possible to get settled in the new house before the exams start.

Thank you both, much appreciated.
@Queijo - yes we would definitely get movers and would do their rooms first. Even so, I know how unsettling moving is when you're surrounded by boxes. I'm worried they won't be able to focus on their revision and prep if everything around them is in chaos or they can't get used to their new place. Trying to work out latest move date to get them settled would be. But maybe I'm over thinking it (I do have form!)

@Twiglets1 Our buyer has always known this was a possibility. We put it in original sales forms. They wouldn't be happy but they've always known this is a potential. Same with our seller. But I recognize there's one thing knowing in theory and another thing following through. And everyone in the chain may have different views about a reasonable cut off time. We really do want to move ASAP, but as chain is just coming back together again now, it's still going to be a minimum of 8 weeks with potential for longer.

I’d move as soon as you can. Prioritise the children’s spaces in the new house, but perhaps leave decorating them until after exams.
All the real stresses involved in moving fall on you. If you can find a date in half term or the Easter holidays there would be no disruption at all to school and they could do with a day or two away from revision (to pack and unpack their things).

I agree with @NewFriendlyLadybird

Aim for a date in the Easter holidays and there will be less disruption.

Pay for the packing service alongside the removals service and there is very little disruption for family members ahead of Removals day as they come in only a day or two before you move to pack up literally everything.

We did this a couple of years ago and it was fine. Same scenario - never moved before and we ended up moving mid-April. We just prioritised them and if all worked out. The big bonus was that we were moving closer to their schools and to a house that suited us a family a lot better.

If the movers pack they will come in the day before to pack everything, finish off beds etc on move day and you won't be surrounded by boxes for days. A couple of days of solid unpacking and 90% of everything will be done. If you've been waiting for a chain to complete would you be putting the sale or purchase at risk by putting in blockers to moving dates?

My cut off would be March.
definitely beginning of Easter holidays at latest.
pack their rooms last and unpack them first. Don't leave them with boxes, but make sure all their stuff is unpacked.
Don't paint/decorate now, just get stuff unpacked and in place.

Continue routine and daily life as much as you can both before and and after move.

Of course it would be better to do it in after June, but this is real life, and it is what it is.

Decorate their rooms after their exams. They have around 10 weeks after the last exam until they start sixth form if that is where they are going so lots of time then to choose new decor.

They will be fine, you are overthinking this.

Thank you for your replies

@NewFriendlyLadybird Yes we are keen to move as soon as we can, but it will depend on how quickly it can all be done. We’re trying to work out what the latest date is that won’t be too disruptive and if we have time between now and then to tie it all together.
@fishfingersandchipsagain Thank you. That’s really reassuring and just what I needed to hear!
@kitchenhelprequired We were supposed to be moving before but it fell apart further up, so we’re now several months on and hoping that it will come back together again. The whole thing was supposed to be done by now. We’ve been very patient.

Yes good advice. Sounds like it’s very doable if it can all go through by Easter. And we would definitely get packers, sort their rooms first, decorate over the summer etc