How Long Does It Take To Move A House UK: Timeline And Steps

Moving isn’t a simple or quick process. In fact, purchasing a home is one of the most stressful experiences a person can have. As a result, proper planning and foresight may make the home-buying and moving process much easier. So, what is the average time to move a house? How long does it take to move into a house in the UK? All of these are what you will find in the article.

How Long Does It Take To Move House in the UK?

The length of time it takes to move a family depends on a number of things. Do you intend to rent or buy? Do you have to break your lease or sell your current residence? What is the extent of your possessions? Some states are better at closing real estate agreements than others. There are certain moving businesses that are more effective than others. Regardless of the differences, there is a general average time to move a house to keep in mind if you are moving into a new home or apartment.

Many movers must deal with two aspects of closing: purchasing a new property and selling their old one. These timelines should be slightly overlapped. However, the sale of your current property may close days or weeks before the sale of your new home. So, what’s next?

Working with a real estate agent on how long it takes to move a house in the UK will assist you in closely matching these closing dates as far as feasible. If this isn’t possible, you’ll hopefully have enough notice to plan accordingly.

Average Time To Move House

You can anticipate being moved into your new house in between 8 to 22 weeks, on average. However, the average time to move a house depends a lot on the buying procedure and ownership transfer. Unexpected complications can arise, causing your move date to be pushed back. It’s critical to plan ahead of time, communicate with tradesmen (such as moving firms) early on, and be methodical in your approach toward the average time to move a house.

Here, we’ll go through the average time to move a house in each stage of the moving process, as well as offer some helpful hints for making your move less stressful.

The House Moving Timeline

When moving, you’ll have a lot of plates to juggle, including the purchase and sale of real estate. We’ve outlined what’s involved and how long each phase should take in the sections below. It’s worth noting that if you’re a first-time buyer, the process may go much faster than for individuals who are part of a long chain.

• Mortgage approval – 5 days to 8 weeks
• Selling your home in 4 to 10 weeks
• Finding a new home – 1 to 10 weeks
• Making an offer – 1 to 2 weeks
• Conveyancing – 8 to 10 weeks
• Property survey: 1 to 3 weeks
• Moving in—1 day to 2 weeks

Remember that several of the aforementioned processes, such as finding a new house and selling your old one, can be completed at the same time.

Let’s look at each stage one by one.

#1. Mortgage approval (5 days to 8 weeks)

Approval for a mortgage can take as little as a few days, but it could take up to 8 weeks if there are concerns with your application form.

When purchasing a property, you have two options for obtaining a mortgage. You can browse for your ideal home and then apply for a mortgage to purchase it. You might also apply to be pre-approved for a mortgage and then look for a home that fits within your pre-approved budget.

Finding the appropriate lender is critical, and you may want to enlist the help of a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers can assist you in setting a budget and locating the best lender and rates for your needs.

When applying for a mortgage, you’ll need the following documents to hasten the process:

• Pay stubs from the previous three months.
• last six months’ bank statements
• P60
• Statements from savings accounts
• Bills for utilities
• Receipts for monetary advantages (if applicable)
• driver’s license or passport
• Returns or statements on taxes (if self-employed)

Avoid delays as much as possible, as they can pose problems between receiving a mortgage offer and completion. Remember that offers might be withdrawn at any time, so be truthful at all times.

#2. Selling your home (4 to 10 weeks)

Unless you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll almost certainly have to sell your current residence. This can be a lengthy and challenging procedure. The average time to move a house can be influenced by property chains, solicitors, and estate agents. The longer the process of selling goes, the more likely the deal may fall through.

In the UK, the average time to sell a home is 44 days (6 weeks), however, it can take much longer at times.

When selling your property, there’s a lot to think about, including conveyancing, contract exchange, and closing. The time it takes to sell a house depends on a variety of circumstances, including property chains. The average number of viewings required to sell a home is ten, but this number might vary.

#3. Finding a new home (1 to 10 weeks)

This is the most enjoyable part of the house-hunting experience. Viewing potential properties, learning about the neighborhood, and visualizing yourself in your new home may all be extremely thrilling.

The amount of time it takes to find a new house is entirely dependent on your needs. It may take longer to find something suitable for you if you have specific goals and needs for a new residence. On the other hand, if you have a general notion of what you want from your new house, finding the right match may be easier.

It’s critical not to rush your home search. It’s reasonable that you want to move into your new house as soon as possible, but it’s important to be thorough in your search. Understand the local amenities, look into the crime statistics in your region, and look into the local schools if you have young children.

If you believe you’ve located the perfect home, you may want to learn more about the property and the area you’ll be relocating to.

#4. Making an offer (1 to 2 weeks)

The next step in the house-buying process is to make an offer once you’ve discovered the perfect home. Once you’ve submitted an offer, you should hear back within a few days to see if it’s been accepted, though it could take up to a couple of weeks if the seller wants more time to think about it.

Make sure that any offer you make is contingent on a survey being conducted in the event that any issues are discovered. Until a contract is signed, your offer is not legally binding.

#5. Conveyancing (8 to 10 weeks)

The conveyancing procedure may appear hard at first, but after you dig a little further, you’ll find it’s simpler than you think. Once an offer has been accepted, conveyancing is the formal transfer of the property between the buyer and the seller. To assist you with this, it is recommended that you employ a conveyancing professional or a solicitor.

You may anticipate the procedure taking between 8 and 10 weeks in total. This procedure consists of several steps, which include:

• Obtaining a copy of your mortgage agreement
• Searching for properties (the cost of these is sometimes extra)
• Searches by the local government
• Deeds of title
• Flooding, for example, necessitates risk evaluations.
• Location-based searches for specific requests, such as Common Land
• coordinating with the seller’s lawyer
• Taking care of all legal paperwork
• Stamp Duty Land Tax Calculation and Payment
• Choosing a closing date with the seller’s conveyancer.
• Getting transfer deeds ready
• Taking care of the deposit transfer
• Examining the contract draft
• You and the seller are exchanging signed contracts.
• Legal ownership documents are sent to the Land Registry.

#6. Property survey (1 to 3 weeks)

A property survey examines the state of your new residence. This is an important element of the purchase process since it examines the state of the home and determines whether it will require large repairs or maintenance in the future. Dampness, subsidence, and rot are all examples of this.

Before a buyer hands over their money, they should always conduct a survey. This will very certainly require the services of a building society or a surveyor. Check if the surveyor is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors bRICS).

A survey can be finished in as little as 24 hours (from the time of booking), but you could be left waiting for weeks. To minimize any delays, it’s always a good idea to make a reservation as soon as possible. On average, a property survey should take anywhere from one to three weeks to complete.

#7. Moving in (1 day to 2 weeks)

Moving in is generally a personal preference; some individuals prefer to get everything set up in one day, while others may take a bit longer. This might also be determined by whether or not you want to do any decorating prior to moving day.

Depending on how much stuff you have, packing your house can take a few days or weeks, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time. To avoid damage during the relocation, wrap any valuables carefully and label boxes as delicate.

If you’re employing a removals company, book as soon as possible to guarantee you receive the best price and time period. Relocation agencies will relieve you of the stress and heavy lifting, making the procedure lot more doable for you.

It may take a few weeks after you’ve fully moved in before you’re unpacked and comfortable in your new surroundings.

How Long Does it Take to Pack a Home?

The relocating procedure takes time at every stage. If you’re buying a house, though, your schedule is fully dictated by the real estate closing procedure. This implies you’ll have time to pack your belongings from the time the contract is signed to the time it closes. If the closure takes ten weeks and you can close in two, that’s fantastic. If, on the other hand, a home closing takes 8 weeks and you haven’t packed in that time, you’re in for a lot of worries.

Need Help With Moving A House?

Begin packing as soon as possible and set aside as much time as possible. The closer you get to the move, the more stressed you will become, and packing under less stress is much more efficient and enjoyable.

Depending on your circumstances, moving takes anything from 8 to 22 weeks on average. However, because most of the process is subjective, don’t be alarmed if it appears to be taking longer or shorter for you.

Maintaining organization throughout the process is essential, as is consulting professionals to help alleviate any stress or issues that may occur.

Using Professional Movers

Hire expert movers if you want to save time. How long does it take to locate and relocate a home?

In general, it takes roughly 6-8 weeks for a good mover to book a whole home. A smaller flat, on the other hand, may be able to find movers in as little as 2-3 weeks.

Don’t put off hiring movers! It’s best if you can have a date on the books as soon as possible. This is especially true if you’re employing a highly sought-after mover. If the movers are fully booked, if you are planning to move into an apartment, ask to be considered for a cancellation space.

Professional movers will be able to relocate your home in half the time it takes amateurs. Larger objects will be moved fast and safely by the most desirable movers. When it comes to calculating an hourly wage, here’s what to expect. However, you should inquire directly with the movers for a more precise quote based on your belongings. Refrigerators and pianos, for example, take longer.

Moving Day Time Span

The times given for professional movers are based on 2-4 professional movers. If you have 4-6 people helping you move and everything is packed and ready to go on a moving day, you can get close to this timeline.

When moving on your own, consider the following time-altering factors:

• The distance between the old and new houses
• The total number of boxes
• The number of people who can assist you.
• items that take a long time to complete, such as appliances or enormous furnishings.
• The number of trips that will be necessary.