Would you exchange with scaffolding still up and a planned C-section?

[Gokwan99]

Feeling so much pressure to exchange and complete during the exact time period I said all along we would need to black out due to giving birth. Bloody typical.

My choices are either:

• complete literally 2 days before my c section (new house is 2 hours away from our hospital) - ppl on here often say it's easier to move before rather than after, but I assume that's if they're not moving far
• complete 10 days after my c section
• complete 3 weeks after (still not fun but my preference)

What would you do?Plus the new house still has scaffolding and tarpaulin all over it. I've repeatedly said we need to view the house prior to exchange, but only when all (extensive) works and de-scaffolding is done, otherwise we're not getting clear visibility. I've been 'assured' the scaffolding would be off in time for completion, obviously don't trust them. Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves other than wait it out and p*ss off both my buyer and vendor? Would you agree to exchange with scaffolding still on the property? I've read horror stories of builders taking months to remove scaffolding and using people's homes as free storage space. TBH I'm happy to wait as it means I give birth back home and have a 3 weeks at home before the big move.Thanks!

2 days before probably

3 weeks after.

Scaffolding also causes damage, so id want an agreement that any damage would be repaired. Our house was used to store their scaffolding, they came and took it down as they needed it.

but in your situation id probably go with before.

Three weeks after.
Two massive life events, keep them as far apart as is reasonably possible!

I wouldn't exchange until the scaffolding is down.

Nor me. Whatever building work is being done needs to be completed and inspected to verify that it is satisfactory.

Who is pressuring you? Is it someone who might hope to get away with unfinished or shoddy work? You will have to live with it. They won't.

You won’t be able to lift anything 3 weeks after a c section but if you have sufficient help so you can just direct then crack on.

My advice would be maybe if you don't want to move into your new house yet until scaffolding is off etc, maybe complete and get some temporary accommodation until you are ready to move in. If I was your buyer I would be a bit annoyed at the timing of your pregnancy as that seems like really bad planning. If your buyer is in a chain, you put pressure on their sale by wanting to delay things.

You say you'd want to complete three weeks after but what if things are more complicated with the C section recovery or the baby than you planned for.

She's under pressure because she's in a chain! She's selling a house also and delaying her buyer, her buyer might be selling a house, her vendor might be buying a house and this poorly timed pregnancy puts pressure on all these parties if she starts delaying things.

ignore the ridiculous pregnancy planning rage baiters
how stressful for you
scaffolding needs to be gone is non negotiable
3 weeks after seems like the least worst option and moving at term seems risky for your body and mind from what you’ve said
good luck with the birth 💐and new home

This has been incredibly helpful thank you team! Sounds like I need to stick to my guns about the scaffolding so there’s no decision to make until that’s off anyway

Agree you need the scaffolding down first. I think 10 days would be fine but 3 weeks preferable.

Poorly timed building work by the vendors, more like.

That isn't finished.

I wouldn't do two days before. It's possible that you could go into labour before your planned c-section date.

Being able to time a pregnancy is a privilege, not a given; OP may have been trying for a really long time or it could have been a much wanted surprise. They’re not the first person to have a life beyond the chain. Plenty of people say in advance they can’t exchange or complete during certain weeks due to surgery or holidays.

OP - don’t exchange until the scaffolding is down, you need to see the finished work and scaffolding can be hard to get taken down. We had problems getting ours removed a few years back!