Surviving a house move
So you are going to move house. Most people will have read that moving home can be one of the most stressful things to go through. If you haven’t moved house before it is important to keep stress to a minimum, in order to make the process as pain free as possible.
Firstly, before you start looking for a property it is important to find out how much you can borrow. You should speak to a number of lenders to see how they can assist you. Alternatively, you can utilise the services of an independent financial advisor (IFA), who will be able to effectively reduce your “leg-work” and find a deal that will suit your circumstances. Make sure that you get an option that works for you long-term.
Once you have determined how much you can borrow, make a checklist of what you require from your new home and how importantly each of these factors is, so that when viewing you can decide which you may be prepared to compromise on. Sadly, compromise is a necessary part of the process.
Once you have made an offer on a property and it is accepted, you will need to instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to deal with the property purchase. If possible, always go by personal recommendation. Most firms will provide a written estimate of the costs and disbursements. Often on the telephone, you will be able to get the feel for the firm with regard to efficiency and friendliness. Also check out the firm’s website, which will give you a better an idea and feel for the firm that you might want to use.
You must make arrangements with your mortgage lender for them to carry out the necessary valuation survey and issue the appropriate offer.
It is also recommended that you have a full RICS Homebuyers Report prepared by a qualified surveyor. This will cost more than a mortgage valuation (around £450) but is money well spent. When you purchase a property, the property is "sold as seen" and it is up to you to discover any defects by means of inspection and surveys. Remember, a house is the single biggest purchase that most of us make in our lifetime; if you find a fault, you may be able to negotiate a lower price or get the seller to put it right.
Your solicitor will then deal with all the necessary legal formalities.
You may need to book a removal firm and if so, obtain several quotations. If you are considering doing the move yourself, ensure that your transport is large enough for your belongings and that that you have enough help!
It is worth having a clear out at this stage - so start de-cluttering! Discard any unwanted items or send them to a charity shop. You will also have to consider whether or not you are going to need to book any time off work and look for potential dates when you may be available. Do be realistic about this and do discuss this with your solicitor as any moving dates will need to be agreed with everyone in the chain. This is important especially if you are currently renting and need to give notice to your landlord.
Once contracts are exchanged you can then notify utility companies of your move, arrange to have your post redirected and pack a ‘survival kit’ – a bag with emergency items such as a change of clothes, toiletries and toilet rolls.
On moving day, make sure that you have key personal possessions to hand – eg driving licences, passports, jewellery and money. Finally, at the end of the day order a takeaway and open a bottle of wine to celebrate!
This article appeared in the June issue of Kent Life
Author: Peter Still
Published: 16 September 2009