Really dim question I need to ask...

[ZeStressmoving]

Something I can’t quite get my head around is this, although it could just be because I’ve got the wrong information!

We’ve sold our house to a first-time buyer and are currently going through the process. I’ve had an email to say the “chain is complete”, and I believe there are around five houses in the chain. So far, everything seems fine.

What I don’t understand is how moving day actually works (whenever that eventually comes!). If everyone in the chain completes on the same day and we all collect our keys at roughly the same time, does that mean I have to have my entire house packed up and loaded into the van before I can get the keys to our new house?

I’m just trying to work out how I’m supposed to fit everything into one Luton van without having to go back and collect more stuff, especially if we’re expected to be completely out of our current house before we get the keys and cant get in the next house.

When we bought our current house, we were moving from rented accommodation, so we had a few days of overlap, which obviously made things much easier.

I’ve also read a few stories where people have arrived at their new house to move in, only to find that the sellers haven’t even finished packing yet! 😩

Excited for the move but not the packing!

Last time we moved we were the middle of a chain of 3 (so the only people both buying and selling). We had everything packed and ready to go on completion day and the movers turned up before 9am to start loading the van. Got a call around 10 to say our sale had gone through, so technically at that point we didn't own the house any more. Our movers didn't finish until about 11, around the same time we got the call to say our purchase had completed. Our estate agent met us at our old house to collect the keys then we were straight over to the new house to collect the new keys.

With a chain of 5 the transacations might not finish until early afternoon, so there has to be a bit of leeway - not everyone will be getting their keys at 9am! But if everyone starts loading up first thing in the morning then the people nearer the top of the chain will (in theory) be ready and waiting to leave.

Normally it all just works out. Its only when people start taking the piss (haven't even started packing by lunchtime, etc) that things go wrong.

We paid for packing and removals and the removal company loaded nearly everything the night before completion day. They came back in the morning for the beds and final bits.

As @SaltedCaramelBlondie says, there is normally a bit of wiggle room while the completion monies move up the chain. Last time we moved our sale completed really early but our onward purchase didn't complete till a couple of hours later. Our solicitor was very firm we should stay put until keys were released for our purchase, but obviously we didn't want to hold our buyers up too much getting in. Thankfully they were bottom of the chain and happy to hold on for a couple of hours (we were all moving locally so no long distances).

We had to wait outside for 2.5 hours.

It's all done on the same day. You pack your stuff up into a big enough removal van then collect keys and deliver your own keys at lunch time. Several trips in a Luton van is not going to do it.

Our removal van arrived at 9am, our house was completely empty and cleaned by 11.30am but money not released. Removal company keen to move on, so arrived at new house at 12.30pm. People moving out were moving up the road literally 4 houses along. (They had friends carrying their stuff!) Luckily, their house was empty as owners already moved and gave them keys night before (before completion). Our new house was mostly empty and cleaned but still no money transferred. Previous owner just gave us keys and we moved stuff in. By 3pm fully unpacked but money wasn’t transferred until 5pm!!!

You aren’t expected it fit it into one van. You’re expected to hire enough vehicles to fit your stuff into.

Depends how much stuff you have.
One van is enough for us.