How long does buying a home really take?

We all know that the home buying process isn’t typically quick and simple, but do you know how long it could actually take for your purchase to complete and for you to arrive at your moving day? Having a rough idea will certainly be helpful when you’re working out when to contact us at Removals Unlimited about support with your move.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s property market has been incredibly busy, helped by the stamp duty holiday.

With the stamp duty holiday on house purchases now extended until the end of June, many buyers are understandably hoping to make a purchase before the rate goes up. It is worth remembering, however, that chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced that the nil-rate band for stamp duty would be set at £250,000 until the end of September.

As the BBC pointed out, that’s double its standard rate and may help some of those who are purchasing a property at the cheaper end of the scale.

However, the latest House Price Index from Rightmove for February 2021 found that one-fifth of buyers who agreed a purchase in July of 2020 had still not completed two months into the new year.

So, how do you know when it’s time to get in touch with a removals company in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Westbourne, Winton, Ringwood or Ferndown? According to Rightmove analysis at the beginning of 2021, it is taking an average of 126 days from an offer being accepted to legal completion of the purchase.

This means many people who are agreeing a house purchase now are unlikely to complete before the stamp duty holiday ends.

While you don’t need to arrange your removals company as soon as your offer is accepted, it is a good idea to start requesting quotes early on in the process. We offer a free, no-obligation house survey and will give you a quote for your move within 24 hours typically.

Once you have had an offer accepted, you need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor to carry out surveys and other legal work. If you’re buying with a mortgage, you’ll also need to complete the relevant paperwork with your lender.

Bear in mind that there can often be delays to property purchases, and the conveyancing process might not be as smooth as you’d like. However, as soon as you have a completion date for your purchase, it’s best to book a removal company so that you know you’ll have help on moving day.

Once you exchange contracts, you need to make sure that you are in touch with your chosen trained professional movers to make sure everything is in place ahead of completion.

Here at Removals Unlimited, we understand the property purchasing process and know how quickly things can move. When you choose us to support your house or flat move, we’ll keep in touch in the days leading up to your moving date to make sure everything is still on track.

Although the average length of time it’s taking from an offer being accepted to completion of a property purchase might sound like a long time, there are occasions when transactions move much more quickly. Take a look at our top tips for preparing to move home in a short time frame.

If you know that you’ll be pressed for time around your moving date, it’s worth considering our full packing service to ensure that your belongings are packed efficiently, securely and as quickly as possible. Our team are always happy to help, so ask us about our packing services when you get in touch for your free, no-obligation home moving quote.