Timing can play an important role in moving house.
Many people plan to move house in the summer, when the children are off school, or at the beginning of a new year. Thinking of the best time of year for moving house and then working backwards, you can see why spring and autumn are the most popular seasons to begin the home moving process. You will need to factor in all the following steps:
Step 1: Sort out your finances
The very first thing to do is make sure that you have enough money to move house – your biggest outlays will be stamp duty and estate agency fees. Reallymoving.com’s Moving Cost Calculator estimates your total cost of moving house to tell you how much you’ll need to save.
It will be very beneficial to start with an ‘agreement in principle’ from your mortgage lender. This will help to define what you can afford, so you will know what to look for, and estate agents and vendors will see you as a serious buyer.
Step 2: Shop around for estate agents.
Contact at least 3 estate agents and choose the one that values your home realistically, rather than one that gives a high valuation to gain your business. Using multiple agencies to market your home is worth considering – you will pay a higher fee but your home will have double the exposure and it will keep both agents on their toes.
Step 3: EPCs are essential.
You must, by law, provide an EPC when you market your home. Selling your house will just be impossible without one and they are easy to arrange. Your estate agent can organise this for you, but it may cost more.
Save money on your EPC by getting a quote from reallymoving.com.
Step 4: Appoint your Solicitor
Finding a good conveyancing solicitor is really important. Many conveyancing solicitors have embraced technology to bring you constant online case-tracking, while others have maintained a more traditional, personal approach so it’s vital to shop around for the right service to suit your needs. Reallymoving.com can give you 4 quotes from a range of expert property lawyers.
Do these 3 things to speed up your transaction:
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Be available - always have your phone switched on, and reply to emails quickly.
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Do your paperwork - complete and return all paperwork in good time to make sure no hold-ups are down to you.
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Call for updates - it is important to keep momentum so don’t be afraid to chase things up if they are taking too long. Keep ringing your solicitor and estate agents for updates.
Step 5: Find a Surveyor
Arrange a HomeBuyer Report or Building Survey to make sure that there aren’t any serious flaws with the property before it is too late! According to market research conducted by RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) a surprising 4 out of 5 homebuyers fail to do this important part of moving house, risking possibly thousands of pounds in unforeseen repair bills.
Step 6: Book your Removal Company
The end is in sight! Being flexible with your move date can save you money when moving house. Weekends and Fridays are busiest for removal companies, so if possible, why not book some time off work and move house earlier in the week? This can also give you more time to relax and settle in after moving home.
Moving soon? You might enjoy our tips for choosing your removal firm.