The all new buyers/sellers waiting room (9) the one where we start to wonder if we'll move by Christmas..

[NeverGoingToMove]

Huge apologies if I have missed this thread, I have searched high and low but don't think another was started after number 8 ended in May.

After a seriously stressful encounter with building control, I think we are almost ready to exchange. After going on the market last July, I'm hoping we'll move before our year anniversary!

How is everyone else doing?

I'm happy to finally report that after my solicitors have dragged their heels for ages and been totally rubbish, we are due to exchange on Tuesday and complete on the 17th. My mum (who will be moving in) goes abroad to family the day before for a few months so I'm hoping to have the place looking nice for when she gets back.

Does anybody have a list of things to pack for completion day? Last time I moved house I remember referring to one but I've been looking online and can't find one.

Hope everyone is having a restful weekend!

We are complete newbies. Just spent two days decluttering and sprucing for estate agent photos tomorrow. We are hoping to sell and move somewhere cheaper so mortgage free. It will be tough as we love our house but being mid fifties security matters more. We've been here 20 years and have a lot of stuff but a good opportunity for a clear out I suppose. I'm very nervous and not looking forward to the process one little bit. I am also aware it's not the best time to go to market but we've been dithering for so long. Good luck to everyone else whatever stage you are at

Wishing you good luck tomorrow @Howeverfar. Hoping that this one has your name on it and all that’s gone before turns out to be worth it. Being forced to ‘go big’ is stressful. All I’d say is going without holidays for a few years to secure ‘good bones’ can be worth it if you end up there for 20 years.

Congrats to everyone who has exchanged / completed and to everyone hoping to do the same this week 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Thanks everyone for the wishes! Yeh we are in Scotland. We raised today and have one more raise in us at a push. Here's hoping!! @Mum5net your point about the holidays really made us assess. That and how much we're spending on rent.

Ha! Yes, it’s all about finding clarity first — and then finding the money. There might be a hundred houses on a street, but the one with the stunning view, south-facing garden, and extra parking will always be worth £50k more than the one with a shaded, sloping garden and tricky access. The money you might set aside for a downstairs loo or upgraded kitchen is often better spent securing the rare house — you can always wait another year or so to make the improvements. We’ve just stepped out of our own comfort zone for exactly that reason.

Any word on your exchange? Is it this week you have to give notice?

We have given our notice. Took a risk!

But we are hoping to exchange tomorrow. I’m seeing the house at 9am and then hopefully the solicitors can exchange at some point after that!

We're exchanging tomorrow and completing on Friday! So so excited- now the hard work begins!

Good luck...it's been a long time coming! I think in your situation, I'd have taken the risk too. Your sellers' situation makes them less likely to suddenly drop out, I think.

Bet you can't wait to get in!

Thanks. We cannot wait to move.

I’ve realised that the further along we’ve got with this purchase, the less and less I obsessively check for houses on RM. I’m so relieved not to have to keep thinking about houses anymore!

Woohoo. Good luck for tomorrow 🤞🏻

Congratulations @kirinm and @KimHwn - I know it’s been a stressful process for you both and I’m so pleased it looks like it is coming to an end!

I’m still no closer. Apparently application now back with land registry but been escalated to a lawyer and I’ve no idea why. Since February I have been waiting to move. So many houses I’ve seen go onto Rightmove since my offer was accepted which I’ve seen disappear off there due to completion. I am honestly about to have a nervous breakdown. I bet I have to stay here in this horrible house with my horrible ex husband for chirstmas.

Just had our pre exchange viewing. House is still standing. I really dislike the estate agent. Not only will I not miss obsessively checking rightmove but I’ll have no dealings with estate agents for a long long time.

Ooooh how exciting though that the next time you see it, it will be yours!
We're lucky that all the estate agents selling us the house , and the ones selling our house, are lovely, easy to talk to, and quite straightforward people. But we've met some awful ones whilst viewing. There was one in particular that showed us a few houses who seemed to actively dislike us, and the houses he was trying to sell. It is such an odd job for someone to have if they're not friendly and warm!

I just feel like we’ve been the perfect buyers here. We are basically not taking any points that we probably would’ve a year ago. We’ve (I’ve) pushed this through as fast as possible. And we get push back for the smallest thing. I want to view the house again very quickly pre completion. That is because in my job I’ve unfortunately been involved in cases where houses have burnt down or flooded post exchange / pre completion (solicitor but not conveyancing) It isn’t a big request but it’s treated like an onerous one.

She’s really put a dampener on what is meant to be a good day!

Good luck for you today! Do you have any idea of when you’ll exchange?

Not exchanging today after all. The sellers haven’t returned signed documents and apparently aren’t sure if they’re happy to agree to one simple contract variation which requires them to arrange to transfer a guarantee to us post completion.

Oh no. It is just such a stressful process. Not one part ever seems to go smoothly. Fingers crossed for you that they buck their ideas up.

Wtf. I’m so sorry. What kind of delay might it entail, hopefully this week is still viable?

oh no, hopefully that can be resolved and you'll exchange soon.

still v early days for us. our buyers have an appointment with their mortgage broker this week so they haven't even put their application in yet.

im wondering if i should make another appointment to view our onward house. we last saw it in june. (our chain collapsed, only just picked back up last week). or whether to wait until we are a bit further on.

I think it depends on whether they agree to the contract variation. They’ve said if they don’t exchange this week, they’ll push completion back. But they’re the ones bloody delaying it.

They would’ve known yesterday that they hadn’t returned signed documents so there’s no justification for not telling us. If they had I wouldn’t have wasted time this morning (and would’ve gone into the office where ideally I wanted to be today).

Given the rumours about the budget, if I was them I’d have been pushing to compete sooner not later.

Oh bloody hell @kirinm that’s so shit! They totally would have known they hadn’t send the documents back! I’ve been seeing you on these threads for ages and every week I think this will be the week it gets sorted for you. I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for you!

We’ve completed today - the solicitor phoned while we were sat in a cafe waiting for something to happen. Now we’re just waiting to be told when we can pick up the keys. Hopefully that’ll be before DD finishes school so we can walk back to the new house together. I keep bursting into tears. I’m really happy but so overwhelmed. And it’s taken so long and has been my total focus to the point where I haven’t really dared to imagine life after we’ve moved in!

I’m so happy for you @HappyCrochetHooker ! I wish you every happiness in the new house!

Congratulations!! This is what I’m looking forward to doing - picking up DD from school and all going in together. Hope you enjoy the house ❤️

What the bloody hell is wrong with them! I'm so sorry. It sounds so very stressful. You've had one thing after the other- imagine how amazing it will feel when it's finally done! Crossing everything for you. We have a contract variation regarding a right of way, I was surprised at how easy it all was- but obviously, everyone has to be willing. It's the misleading that would piss me off.

Congratulations @HappyCrochetHooker !! Now to the important questions- What are you having for your first meal in the new house? Will you be popping open a bottle? Let us know how it goes!

I've started packing today. I have too many plates and so so many blankets!