The final stages
The survey and searches have been completed and you're ready to finalise the sale. This part of the process is the most exciting but can be a waiting game.
Be patient
Once all paperwork has been completed and you're sure that you want to purchase the property, you can sign the contract and exchange with the seller. If there are other people in your chain, everyone will need to exchange contracts on the same day and it can sometimes take more than one attempt if there are quite a lot of people involved. You will need to be prepared to wait but you can chase up your solicitor for the latest news.
Completion
When the contracts have been exchanged and the seller has your money you can agree a completion date, which is the day you will officially become the owner of your new home. If you have furniture and other belongings to move, you may need to hire a removal company. If that's a bit too pricey and you've got a friend or two who can help, hiring a self-drive van is a cheaper option. On the day of completion, your solicitor will call you to confirm that the sale is complete and you can then collect the keys to your new home, usually from the seller's estate agent. Then it's yours!
Moving checklist
There are lots of things to try and remember when you move, so here's a list to remind you of the things you'll need to sort out in the first few days:
Take readings for your gas and electricity meters – your energy companies will ask for these when they start supplying your home
Contact your local water board
Contact the local council and ask them for a council tax statement – if you're going to be living alone, make sure you tell them, as you'll qualify for a 25% discount
Contact a telephone supplier so that you can get your telephone and internet connections set up.
Get a TV licence
Make sure you've got some teabags, a couple of mugs and some milk on hand – moving can be thirsty work!