Probably a stupid question - moving day

[AlexFurbison]

Apologies in advance if this is a daft question but how does it all work out on moving day with three properties in a chain?

I’ve only ever moved either from a rental or into a home that was already vacant so the longer chain is a new (and stressful) experience.

Is this correct: say we are moving on Friday (just an example, if only it were that soon!) and book our removalist. They will come on Friday morning and take all our stuff to our new house. Presumably the owners of the new house will also be moving their stuff out so we’ll have to wait for that to happen? Meanwhile our buyers are sitting waiting for us to leave?

We wanted to get the house professionally cleaned after moving out so it was nice for the buyers but it seems like we won’t get a chance to do that. Is that normal?

Personally I'd just leave three somewhere obvious in the house at the last minute (make sure the removers don't pack them) and hand the fourth into the estate agent to pass on to the new buyers.

As above, you pack your stuff into a van and wait to get the keys.

We’re in Jersey where all house sales go through court on a Friday afternoon and since there’s no prior exchange it can all fall through right up until the literal last minute (has happened to friends). We moved in March and I can tell you there’s no greater stress than sitting in a van full of everything you own and not actually being 100% sure that it’ll go through!

That’s a good question! I’ve emailed the removalist to ask how the 30 min thing works.

It’s been such a stressful process so far, I’m trying to find ways to help things go smoothly on the day. So much of it is out of my hands though.

I’ve not heard of this adding costs for late hours with removals before. I’ve heard of adding costs if it goes overnight.

How far away are you moving?

I moved about a mile away. The movers were mine all day, whenever it all completed. Luckily mine went really smoothly (also a Friday) and I was in my new house by 1pm.

I packed myself and started about a month beforehand. I’d been in my old house nearly 20 years so had accumulated so much crap that lurked in the backs of cupboards / sheds etc that I made it my mission to have a massive declutter as I packed. Each item had to earn its place in my new house to get packed.

Even still, I got rid of even more as I unpacked and a year later I’m going through room by room discarding more.

Top tip - be ruthless with purging as you pack!

Good luck OP. Hope it goes smoothly.

I think I'd get a quote from some other movers if you can. I really haven't come across something like that before. Last time my parents moved the money didn't come through on their purchase til I think nearly .4pm. The movers were like locusts in reverse getting the house sorted once that was done though - I reckon they were unpacked by 5:30 maybe 6. There was no extra charge.

I’ve moved five times and I’ve never got the keys on time.

it does happen I beleive but not to me.

Our funds were all cleared in the morning. We had an agreement that keys were to be ready at 2pm. We moved ourselves just with a hired van so struggled to do much cleaning on top. In comparison I believe the house we bought was professionally cleaned.

Because the agent already had a full set of keys as they'd been doing the viewings. So they gave their set to the buyer and we didn't need to do a 20 mile round trip before settling off to collect the new keys from a different agent in the opposite direction.
This does seem to be common practice here.

We’re just moving five mins away.

Ive had three quotes for removals and all have the late key fee. I emailed the removalist we have chosen and he said that keys are normally ready any time between 12 and 5pm and that the 30 minute “leeway” began the moment the van was packed. I commented that it seemed we had no chance of avoiding a late key fee since the van would be packed by 11am and he just said to take out the late key cover. I can’t win, I’ll just have to pay it - while being annoyed by the blatant unfairness of it.

If at all possible do not complete on either a Friday or last day of the month. Mostly though you won't have a choice.

The sales progression agent told me that most completions happen on a Friday - no idea why!

We still don't have a moving date locked in (buyers' solicitor seems exceptionally slow) it all so frustrating. At this rate we'll move just as the kids go back to school and will have lost all those summer holiday weeks - both to enjoy the new garden and for the kids to have time to unpack and settle in the new house.

It's because people working monday - friday want the weekend to unpack and settle in.
The downside is that if there are any problems with money transfers etc that prevent the completion taking place as planned on a Friday, the solicitors aren;t going to be around to sort it until the following Monday.

Yeah it makes sense that people want the weekend to unpack but it is risky if there are any delays/issues.