HINTS AND TIPS FOR A HASSLE-FREE MOVE

Congratulations, your offer has been accepted!

Your dream house is yours – well in principle, now make sure it stays that way. Once your offer has been accepted you should try to insist that the vendors take the property off the market. Be wary of sellers who refuse and continue marketing their property as, should a higher offer be put forward, they will be tempted to take it. It could prove expensive should they pull out after you have incurred the initial expense of having a survey carried out and obtained a mortgage offer on the property and there will be little that you can do to recover your costs. It’s not much fun being “gazumped”!

The paperwork mountain

Over 28% of property sales fall through before contracts are exchanged as people get cold feet, or just fed up of waiting. Make sure you are not just another statistic; keep things on track by ensuring that your paperwork is completed as quickly as possible.

Completing your mortgage application form is usually the first step. Your chosen lender will generally offer you several different types of survey and you will need to consider seriously whether you wish to have a full structural survey carried out. The standard mortgage valuation is not a guarantee that the property is in good condition; it is merely an indication of its value relative to your mortgage. If it is an old property or looks to be in poor condition you should pay the extra and ask for a fuller survey.

A homebuyers' report or a full structural survey will give you detailed information about the condition of the property; the sellers are under no legal obligation to reveal any defect in the property to you themselves. So buyer beware!

Always budget for the cost of more than one survey as the results may require you to initiate further specialist inspections of the property.

Exchange and insure – the point of no return

Having received the results of your survey, and provided that your application has checked out, your mortgage lender should soon be in a position to issue you with a formal offer.

Once the contract has been agreed and signed by both parties and all enquiries that we have raised have been answered to our satisfaction, you will then be in a position to exchange contracts with your vendor. This is the point of “no return” as once contracts have been exchanged it is almost impossible to go back.

Once contracts are exchanged, you will need to insure the property that you are buying. Make sure that your household insurance company knows that you are moving; your buildings insurance will need to cover your new home right away.

Completion – our favourite part

You should consider suitable dates for completion. You will need to have more than one in mind as if there is a long chain it may be difficult for everyone to agree on a mutually acceptable date. A period of two weeks between exchange and completion is suggested to eliminate the risk of you breaching your contract by being unable to get everything that needs to be done organised in time.

Because monies have to be transferred between banks by all those in the chain it can often be afternoon before you can collect the keys to your new home. Wait for our call to confirm that all is OK before you set off, as you do not want to be sleeping in your removal van!

Boxes, boxes and more boxes

Use a removal company that is registered with the British Association of Removers, tel. 020 8861 3331 for a list. Most removal companies provide boxes for packing, but always ask for extras, you will inevitably need them.

If you are moving yourself, then you can get strong boxes from companies such as www.cartonsdirect.com. Alternatively, your local supermarket will have a good supply of boxes; just remember to use some strong tape on the bottom of the boxes so you don’t have any mishaps.

Don’t shelve it

Don’t leave everything to the last minute. Shelves, wall lights and other fittings can take more time than expected to dismantle so remember to make a start sooner rather than later.

Use the opportunity of moving to have a good sort out. Some removal companies operate an OXBOXX scheme where you pack all your unwanted items and it will be delivered to Oxfam.

Keep cool

If you are moving only a short distance, you can consider leaving your frozen food in the freezer. Just remember to turn it up to maximum for a few days before move and don’t open it.

If you are moving a fridge or freezer yourself, try to keep it upright. Once installed in your new home, leave it to stand for 24 hours before plugging it in to allow time for the gases and coolant to settle back down.

All the knobs and whistles – a few more ideas

Before you move check that your new home has enough telephone lines. You may want to book the installation of a new line or additional extensions in advance.

Pack a box of essentials to include: kettle, tea bags, coffee, milk, toilet paper, screwdriver, and light bulbs. It is also a good idea to have a secure box with essential documentation in, plus keys to the new property!

Keep some blankets or old sheets available to put down to protect carpets if it is wet on moving day.

The essential services

Arrange for professional disconnection of any gas appliances you are taking.

If you are moving out of an area, then remember to de-register with Doctor, Dentist, and Optician.

Cancel standing orders with the bank that relate to your old home.

Arrange to have meters read at new property. Previous householder could have had them read a few days earlier!

Don’t become a social outcast

Remember to let your friends and family know your new address. Try sending a change of address e-card by logging on to http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/property/e_cards/.

Arrange for post to be forwarded. Royal Mail will do this for a charge; you will need to pick up a form at your local post office.

Checks and double checks

Don’t forget these important folks:

• Gas
• Electricity
• Water
• Phone
• Council Tax Office – both from and to
• Bank/Building Societies
• Credit Card Company
• Rental Company (TV etc)
• TV Licence Authority
• DVLA
• Doctor
• Dentist
• Optician
• Employer
• Friend/relatives
• Life Assurance Company / Pension provider
• Insurance Company
• Post Office

Break out the bubbly

Finally, we suggest that you sit down in your new kitchen, open a bottle of champagne and put your feet up, as it will soon be time to start unpacking all those boxes!!

And when it’s all over take a long-term view

The majority of people in the UK use a mortgage to help them buy a home. There are many mortgage companies and a multitude of mortgage offers. The best advice that we can offer about mortgages is to remember to review your mortgage deal periodically. As the market changes and your own financial position changes, you may find that you can get an improved deal by switching to another mortgage or lender in the years to come. So keep an eye on what’s available and make sure that you are getting a fair deal. Independent financial advisors can often offer you advice on switching lenders, although be aware that some lenders will give you a better deal if you go to them direct. So be wise and have a regular financial health check.