[jo1966]

Hi, it would seem that all is going well with the house sale and they are talking about exchanging contracts in a few weeks.:yes
Could someone tell me when in the process did the shippers come?
We have never sold a house before but I understand you agree a date for completion and that is when the money is transferred, but as it will take 3 days to pack up the house I presume they don't come that day?
Thanks in advance.
Jo

[YouMeAndThree]

On 'completion day' you need to be moving out. Best advice would be to ship out as soon as you are able and just 'camp' in the empty house.

[L00pback]

Hi

Its a 2 phase process, the exchange of contracts commits the buyer to pay you the money and the completion date is when they own the house and are supposed to pay you - or start to incur penalties. Both can happen on the same day.

You need to be out on the completion date (usually around mid day) so you need the shippers in 4 days before (assuming it takes 3 days to pack) as the 4th day is only a 1/2 day - if you follow.

If you will still be living in the house when the packers come in, they will leave things like beds and sofas until the last possible minute - we had a week of living in an empty house and it made us look forward to the flight as at least we had seat to sit on :).

Hope this helps.

Alan

[JandM]

Agreeing with what the others said. You need to be in the position that nothing is left to be done (by you) on the last day, but a last sweep round and hand over the keys. It's better for your nerves.

Also, on the other side of the deal, there's nothing worse than trying to move into your new home at the 12 o'clock hand-over, with men outside trying to unload a van full of your possessions, only to find the vendors still faffing around indoors, e.g. waiting (and this happened when my parents moved and we were helping them) for six weedy Boy Scouts to finish carrying out their furniture.:mad: People in that situation are not likely to be happy bunnies, and will tell you!

[L00pback]

Also, on the other side of the deal, there's nothing worse than trying to move into your new home at the 12 o'clock hand-over, with men outside trying to unload a van full of your possessions, only to find the vendors still faffing around indoors

Totaly agree with that. When we moved house, we turned up at 1pm only to find the vendors still moving themselves in a luton van. We waited an hour and they weren't even 1/2 way done so the removal guys we hired helped them move by putting all their stuff out of our way (ie the garden!). They were still moving at 5pm and it was a very funny feeling as we were settling down to dinner with them walking around outside!

[JandM]

I can just imagine that! If you put either scene into a sitcom, people would say it was far-fetched.;)