Tanith wen I read your post about your daughter and g.daughter near to you, at present, in London whom you will be leaving - it could have been me making that post back in 2019. OF course, that g.daughter whom I was so close to and helped with the earlier years as Mum was and is a single parent with a very demanding career, Would have made little difference as g.daughter went off to East Anglia to University in 2021, and is now settled there with partner and a job - so even if I had stayed in London would not see her much.
I no longer drive, but have found trains are a marvellous, nearly stress-free (mostly), way of travelling, and have long weekends at my daughters three or four times a year.
The reasons I say to let agents do first viewing, is that I started off doing all my own, reasons as others gave felt I could give any additional information required. However, found people did not keep to time, found myself trying to juggle two different groups viewing at the same time, although booked with a good hour between them. Then there were the ones that arrived 'mob handed' Young couple plus both sets of parents ( one of the Mums staying with me, whilst
to others wandered around the house, she trying to get me knock a considerable sum of the price!!! I felt under siege!!!!
Also were the viewers, loudly criticising everything about the house goodness knew why they were viewing, details were all clearly displayed by Estate Agents brochure), area wrong, rooms wrong shape/size, garden not big enough, decorations (all mine) all wrong, etc.etc very demoralising,.
Do wait until you have a firm offer starting (at snails pace) to proceed with your Solicitor before you start the process of viewings and making offers. However, it is important for you to have some knowledge of the prices of properties you hope to purchase, where you want to purchase, so that you can know if what sort of offer on yours you can accept
Note don't forget to allow money for estate agents fee, solicitors fee both selling and buying, removal expenses, plus some more towards the general cost of moving home. Also, most people who move will tell you that money just seems to be spend, spend, spend, that first couple of years. You think you have bought a property 'you can just move into'. then when you do...........you find out you need to re-do the kitchen, bathroom, carpets, etc.etc. I am now into my sixth year here and this is the first of those years that there is not something that I need to have had done
Once you have accepted an offer, and had your own one accepted, be prepared to keep nagging at the Solicitors. They were very slow back in 2019, they are far worse now, often with no=one in the office some days. The files of those people who do NOT nag, will be the ones at the bottom, taking the longest. So be prepared to keep chasing them up. Help this by making sure, before you even start that as much as possible you have information and certificates ready for them.#
All and any work you have had done on your existing home, from new kitchens, etc to new windows, swept chimneys, roof or brick work, anything to do with plumbing and/or electricity sor any building work, should have relevant paper work and certification, even that annual check-up on the boiler. Pass these all over to the Solicitors, (Having taken photocopies for yourself).
Find out how many people are in your chain, the less the better. Try, as soon as possible, to get some sort of agreements amongst you all for a final removal date. Be prepared for those really lovely would-be purchasers of your home, to let you down without good reason several months further down the line.
During that time continue with regular de-cluttering, and more de-cluttering.
If you are moving to ablock of flats can be useful if you can contact their Residents Committee, and introduce yourself. One in-comer here did that with me, and together, over the phone, we sorted out several queries which had already been with his solicitors unanswered for a couple of months - thereby speeding up the process.
