We’ve exchanged contracts - now feeling a bit unsure, have others had similar experience?

Only natural to have doubts, particularly if you have been happy there.

Think of why you decided you needed to move, and concentrate on the next chapter of your lives in your chosen home.

Less cleaning and maintenance, all on one level, just making life easier.

Understandable to feel that way.

Moving is a big decision to make. I'd echo reminding yourself of why you're doing so. Part of this could be any undue stress there's been in the house-swopping process and it's so often the case that things don't go smoothly there and maybe it's the "undue stress" element (whatever that consisted of - extra viewings by the buyer/delays with one or both houses etc).

Not long now I guess and treat yourself to a nice meal out the day after Moving Day (not Moving Day itself - just in case things take longer than expected).

This time 12 months ago we were in a similar position.

We are now happily ensconced in our new home.

There are so many benefits to our new way of living, the efficiency of the heating for one, our energy bills have halved and we are actually warm.
We are on two floors not three so more lugging vacuum cleaners up two flights of stairs.
Having had a really huge clear out we now have zero clutter so every drawer and cupboard is neat

I hope you feel as we do a year from now.

Perfectly normal I think. You agonise making the decision, you go through months of aggravation due to the ridiculously stupid conveyancing system and then when it's actually done and dusted you draw breath and suddenly wonder if you've done the right thing - just when you know it's too late to do much about it.

I felt exactly the same, but I'm very happy in my new home, I moved for the same reasons and it's worked out just fine.

Good luck with the move, look on it as a new and exciting chapter.

Cold feet is normal as others have said. Is such a big decision, but sounds to me like you made the right decision in future proofing for both of you.
Don’t look back look forwards.
All the best in your new home xx

We downsized last July. Went from a 3 bed 3 bathroom detached to a 2 bed semi detached bungalow.
Absolutely love it and so do our dogs and anyone who has visited us.
We have done lots of big renovations including new kitchen, new bathroom and all internal doors and front door. Decorated the extension room and bought new furniture. Phase 2 starts soon, hall and lounge.
The outdoor area is brilliant and wraps right around. We had reservations about being attached but literally never hear our neighbours.
For a while we kept calling our previous house “ home” but not any more.
You will take your memories with you and soon settle in. Cleaning and keeping on top of everything will be easier too.
Good luck with your new adventure. Pack a little case for everything you will need for your first night and day one.

We are 6 and a half years on. A very good decision to downsize. One bedroom, one shared study with a sofa bed, a kitchen diner, a sitting room, a big garage, and a basement. Still got a lovely big garden and a view over the city. Don't worry.

Except for one house I would say every time we exchanged contracts on the next house we had major wobbles. And I did the conveyancing so I was even more involved. It’s possibly the memories of happy times or the dread of packing and letting go of precious things that are tied up in those memories. If you felt the need to downsize then that was a decision you took for whatever reason, most likely a very sensible and reasonable one. Keep thinking that and look forward to the next step. Enjoy

It is totally normal to feel like that. You have spent so long on the actual process of getting where you are now, sorting out problems and having to check things, that you dont have much time to actually think about the actual move, and it can feel a bit of a panic. If you can remember why you decided to move perhaps you could write a list of all the reasons. You may remember quite a bit, but now I think you will have more reasons, So thinking of all the effort you have had to put into the move, just think how much harder it would be in 10 years time!

Perhaps you could also look for some of the positive things about the area you are moving to. So, could you spare a day or a morning to go to the new place and visit the library, where you will find the up to date information about all sorts of clubs and groups for any hobbies you may have. Then you can look for the local paper and start to get that , as again it will begin to help you to find out information about what is happening there.

Another possibility could be if you had the time and money , just to go away for 2/3 days, and just let yourself relax and let the fact that you have done it after all the hassle sink in. Even if you cant remember right now why you wanted to move, you can still be aware that you definitely had reasons and would not have done all this work if there hadnt been good reasons. If you look back you have made many decisions in your life, and whilst no one gets things 100% right , I am sure you can trust yourself in the decisions you have made over the years , so trust yourself now. Best of wishes for a good move

Try to look forward. Plan the garden for Spring. Paint and decorate if you can and the place will soon feel like home. Look at images online of room layouts etc and you will see wonderful ideas. I’d suggest buying some new things for your home such as a rug, a lamp or new pictures for the wall. It’s an exciting time and I’m sure you’ll soon settle and know you made the right decision.

Keep remembering why you made the decision and trust it x

I would think it only natural to have a small wobble as everyone says how draining selling and buying is. Think why you are moving and how your new places ticks all the boxes. Wish you all the best in your lovely new home,

Janice now you have exchanged contracts it's to late to have remorse. Look on it as a new chapter in your life. New home means you can have fun deciding on all the things you want to do in your new home . I made a list of all the things I wanted doing in my bungalow before I moved and in what order. My first thing was to have new garage roof. But turned out I had to get the pest control people in the exectors of their mom's will cleaned the bungalow,left a nice card and plant . They didn't tell me or do anything about the mice in the loft and kitchen . Thankfully they where easily gotten rid of.

I didn't shed a tear leaving my old house as it wasn't home after my husband died and I rattled round the large house. It was like a millstone round my neck.

My bungalow gave me back a home and I found me again . I looked at colours ,new kitchen ,new shower room etc with an open mind and choose colours that I had never thought I would like. I moved in August 2019. So garage roof ,side door and window done ,new front door and side panel and new kitchen and flooring in kitchen and hall all done before Christmas 2019.
I had to sleep in the spare bedroom for just over a year as my room needed replastering walls and ceiling once paper came off . But everything was done in the order I wanted. Covid held things up but once tradesmen could work things got done .

Can't remember from your original post if you are moving far from where you live now . If you are then there are lots of things that you could join . I assume the we is you and your husband or partner .

Look to the future you take memories with you and a smaller home will be easier to look after once you get it as you want, and your bills will be cheaper.

When do you complete and move ?

Don't know if this helps . A friend and her husband where moving into my road few days before the move he died but the move went ahead . But she said moving into the bungalow has been good for her as she has no memories of her husband living their . The move happened just after Christmas. She has her memories of their life together in their old house. But the bungalow is a fresh start and he would want her to be happy .

We moved from a 5 bed detached with large gardens to a 3 bed penthouse with decent terrace a few months ago. Best decision we could have made. Still feels like we’re on holiday 😁