Guide To Moving Home

If you’re moving house, now’s a good opportunity to find a new mortgage deal that suits your budget, lifestyle and future plans. Depending on your move, you might need a larger or smaller mortgage than before, and your income and circumstances could well have changed over the last few years, so a different type of mortgage may suit you better.

Fees can be high if you need to borrow more than 75% of the property’s value. This depends on the product. A high arrangement fee for a low rate, often added to the mortgage, could cost you more over the long term – so consider paying the fee immediately. Look for a mortgage that allows overpayments to help reduce the amount owed (and interest).

As well as your new mortgage fees, there are several other costs to factor in when you’re moving house, including:

• Legal fees, a solicitor will check that there are no claims on the property and the title deeds are in order and they will also arrange for searches, prepare contracts and transfer of funds.
• Removal costs, you’ll probably want to pay for a removal company or hire a van. 
• Other costs might include Stamp Duty and Valuation Fees.

With all the paperwork out of the way, it’s time to move into your new home. 

Four weeks before moving:

• Have you confirmed the date you’ll be moving in?
• Have you booked time off work?
• Have you started thinking about and planning your removal?  Get more than one quote
• Does your home contents insurance cover you for the move?  If not, have you arranged for separate cover?
• Have you put together a moving pack with all the essentials you’ll need such as a kettle, mugs, light bulbs, toilet paper?
• Have you let all your telephone, utility companies, bank and other key parties know when you are moving?

Two weeks before moving:

• Have you told your local authority your new address and moving date?
• Have you redirected your post (if appropriate)?
• Have you arranged 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:

• Have you packed the majority of your items?
• Do you know what time you’ll be able to move?
• Have you confirmed all details with your removal company?
• Have you asked the previous owners to show you where the gas, electricity and water meters are, and where you can find the fuse box and stopcocks?
• Are all the window and door keys labeled and easily available?

Day before moving:

• Have you packed a moving day survival kit with all you need such as tea and coffee?
• Have you settled all your bills?

Completion day checklist:

• Has your conveyancer transferred payment to the seller?  If you have a mortgage, this money will have been sent from your lender to your conveyancer.
• Have you received the keys to the property?
• Has your conveyancer received the Transfer Deed, originals of any important documents, and registered you as the owner?
• Has your conveyancer completed a tax return to pay the Stamp Duty Land Tax?  You’ll need to sign this before sending.
• Read the meters in your new and old homes.

In the current market, it can be easier to negotiate on price.  However, if you’re selling to buy elsewhere this means you’ll have to be flexible as well.

We advise you to get a really accurate picture of current prices and check out your competition by regularly consulting property websites that gather the details of homes for sale

Get rid of clutter and try to present your decor as a blank canvas, making it easier for potential buyers to imagine what they'd want to do with your property.  Brush up your property’s kerbside appeal – clean windows, clear rubbish, put an attractive plant outside the front door: whatever it takes to create a great first impression

Being able to complete quickly may help you negotiate a better price – so it might be worth renting or staying with family for a while to avoid being in a chain.  Also, find out what similar properties in the area sold for recently to make sure the house is not over-priced