What To Do When Your Completion Date Changes!
So, you’ve had your home survey completed, you’ve gotten your quote, accepted it, and paid for it. You’ve arranged time off work, told the neighbours and prepped the kids for the big day. The gas and electricity switchover is confirmed and the internet has been switched off. However, your solicitor calls and tells you that completion is being delayed…
This happens a lot more than people realise. If you’re buying or selling through a chain (where your move depends on someone else’s move), a delay at any point will ripple through to every home in the chain. Even in a straightforward two-party transaction, last minute mortgage issues, late completion, or late searches can push back the date by days or weeks for everyone in the chain.
Here’s how to handle this change without the whole move falling apart:
Don't Panic! - This is More Common Than You Think
According to recent statistics, one in three house moves experience some form of date change between exchange and completion. Although not designed to instil confidence, it’s worth noting that these are figures for the entire UK, not just Scotland. In Scotland this figure isn’t quite as bad, and some say this is due to the way the Scottish complete the sale process, but we think it’s just because the Scottish are a little more laid back!
However, regardless of statistics don’t blame yourself. You’re not unlucky, you’re not being singled out, and in every case the date change is usually resolved there and then and the move will go ahead. The key is to act quickly, calmly, and speak to your removal company as soon as you know there’s an issue with the date.
Call Your Removal Company Immediately
The very first call you make, before even telling your immediate family, should be to your chosen removal company. Tell them exactly what’s happened, what the new proposed date is (if you know it), and whether things can still change.
A good removal company will have procedures in place for exactly this scenario. At Kenneth Hayton Removals, we’re members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and adhere to their terms, conditions, and guidelines. This means that as you’ve paid for your removal upon booking, your money is safe with us and we can work with you to figure out a solution. If we can, we’ll change the moving date and put your goods into storage at our secure warehouse until the new moving day.Â
All we ask is that you tell us of any changes to the plan as early as possible. The earlier we know, the more options we have. A call the day before a move gives us far less room to manoeuvre than a call the week before.
What Are Your Options If the Date Can't Be Confirmed?
If your completion date has changed and isn’t set in stone yet, whether it’s because of a buyer further up the chain, it’s something you can’t control, but there are a few options:
Option 1: Rebook to the new date once confirmed. If you have some flexibility in your own circumstances (hotel, family or friends and employer notice), the simplest option is to wait until the new date is confirmed and then rebook the removal.
Option 2: Move as planned, into temporary storage. If you need to vacate the property you’re selling (you might be renting it out, or the buyer requires entry on time), you can still move out as planned. However your belongings would go into secure storage rather than directly into your new home.Â
In terms of storage, here at Kenneth Hayton Removals in Dumfries, we offer both containerised or self-storage facilities for your goods in limbo. We can hold your goods until your new completion date is confirmed, then transport it to your new home when the time is right. Although this two-stage move may cost a bit more than a single move, it does solve the problem of completion dates changing when there’s no alternative.
Option 3: Negotiate a delayed handover with the buyer. In some circumstance, it’s possible to negotiate staying in your property for a short period of time beyond the completion date. You’d have to pay a daily licence fee while the chain resolves, but this may cost less than temporary storage and a two-step move. However, this option requires cooperation from your buyer and their solicitor and isn’t always possible, but it is worth exploring if the delay is expected to be short.
What Does a Date Change Cost?
This is a difficult conversation, but a very important one all the same as last minute changes have varying costs.
For you removal company, a confirmed booking date represents a crew and vehicle in the diary. Cancelling or rescheduling a move on short notice means a crew and vehicle not being paid for that day’s work as they might be able to be redeployed to a different job in time. Many reputable removal companies (in fact every BAR registered companies will do) will apply a postponement or cancellation change for short notice changes. These terms will be written into your quotation you received when booking.Â
At Kenneth Hayton Removals, we try to be as reasonable as possible when dates are genuinely out of the customer’s control. We understand that the situation isn’t ideal and not created out of choice, but we’d always encourage customers to read their booking terms carefully and understand what will apply in the event of a last minute change.
Kenneth Hayton Removals Postponement Charges
- More than 10 working days notice = No Charge
- Between 5-10 working days notice = No more than 30% of contract price
- Less than 5 working days notice = No more than 60% of contract price
- Within 24 hours before services due to start = No more than 75% of contract price
- On the day cancellation = Full contract price
How to Reduce the Risk of a Date Change Disrupting Your Move
There are a few things you can do in advance of your move to reduce the impact of a completion date change, even if you can’t prevent one!
Choose a Removal Company with decent Storage Capacity – A firm that has a large storage capacity to ensure a seamless move back and forward is a good place to start. This is a good fall back and several smaller removal companies simply can’t offer this service.
Don’t Book Non-Refundable Travel or Accommodation for Moving Day – Hotels, flights, or holiday lettings booked around moving day are at severe risk if the dates move. Book a flexible stay if at all possible.
Stay in Close Contact with your Solicitor – A date change rarely appears from nowhere. Solicitors within the chain will usually have an idea or inkling that something’s not right before it becomes a confirmed delay. So ask your solicitor to be kept informed at every stage.
Keep a bit of Spending Money – The costs of a completion date change, like a night in a hotel or second delivery costs, aren’t usually too bad. However, if you’ve literally spent every last penny on your new house it might be tricky if the completion date changes. We’d advise keeping a small contingency budget in place just in case!
We’re Here to Help!
At a family owned and operated business like Kenneth Hayton Removal in Dumfries, we’ve been navigating the unpredictable nature of moving and storing since 1995. When your completion date changes, don’t overreact. We’ve dealt with thousands of these scenarios, and although they can be delicate, with the right care and attention, we’ve always been able to help our customers out. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation with a broken chain, call us! We’ll talk you through your options and give you practical advice to get you moving as soon as possible! Be sure to check our our Moving FAQ for any other questions you might have too.
