First-time buyer's guide
Moving in
Home sweet home, with all the paperwork out of the way it’s time to move in. Below are some suggestions and reminders of the things you need to plan for, and an idea of the timescales involved.
Remember that the sale is only 100% binding once contracts have been exchanged – and that the time between exchange and completion can sometimes be as short as a few days, giving you less time to arrange everything.
To be on the safe side, ask your conveyancer for advice before you make any major decisions before exchange, such as giving notice to your landlord if you are renting, or booking removals. If you don’t, you could end up out of pocket if the exchange doesn’t go ahead.
Some people move in on completion day but, if you have the chance, you may want to wait a couple of days so you can start getting things organised and unpacked first.
Four weeks before moving
- • Confirm the date you’ll be moving in, if you can.
- • Book the time off work.
- • Start thinking about the removal.
- • If you are moving from rented accommodation, let your telephone and utilities companies know when you are moving
- out.
- • Clear out anything you don’t need.
Two weeks before moving
- • Tell your local authority your new address and moving date.
- • If you want your post redirected the Post Office will do this for a small charge.
- • Start packing things that you won’t need before you move.
- • Start running down your freezer contents.
- • Arrange to take over the phone in your new home. Contact the line operator to see if you can keep the line switched on
- and avoid any reconnection charges.
One week before moving
- • Pack everything apart from things you will need between now and the move.
- • Confirm your moving date with your current – and new – gas, electricity, water and telephone companies. Make sure
- you have all agreements in writing.
- • Check what time you will be able to move in and make your other arrangements for the day around this.
- • Confirm all the details with your removal firm, if you are using one – or with friends and family, if they are helping.
- • Put all important and valuable items in a safe, easily accessible place.
- • Ask the previous owners to show you where the gas, electricity and water meters are, and where you can find the fuse
- box and stopcocks. Get them to label all the window and door keys and leave them in one place so you can find them
- easily.
The day before moving
- • Pack a moving day survival kit to make sure you have everything you need on hand.
- • Make sure you have settled milk and paper bills.
Moving day
- • Read the meters in your new and old homes.
- • Double check your home to make sure you haven't left anything behind.
• Take your keys to the estate agent, and pick up your new home keys.
Tip
Put together a moving pack with all the essentials you’ll need when you first arrive:
– kettle
– mugs, milk, tea, sugar, biscuits
– torch and light bulbs
– bin liners, cloths, rubber gloves, detergent and a vacuum cleaner etc
– toilet paper
– basic tools
– pen and paper for meter reading.
