It’s one of the very final parts of the whole house buying process – completion day. That moment when the property of your dreams finally becomes yours and the keys are in your hands. Time to get excited about moving into your new home.
For people selling their property, completion day is an exciting time too, because it means the funds from the sale will finally be in their bank account or being put towards the purchase of a new property.
But, on completion day itself, it’s not as simple as getting the money transferred and handing over the keys. There are several things that a seller must comply with on completion day to ensure everything runs smoothly. And this is where putting in place the right planning is vital.
In the lead up to completion day
It’s very unlikely that you will be able to do all of the packing, rubbish clearance, admin jobs and moving out that’s required all on the same day. Normally the transfer of funds will go ahead on completion day between 12pm and 2pm and at that point the new owners could be looking to move straight in, so it’s not uncommon for the vendor to be expected to be out of the property by 12pm.
In the weeks leading up to your house sale, it makes sense to start the packing up of your home well in advance. See it as an opportunity to declutter and get rid of any unwanted items. Make a run to the tip, recycle, or donate to charity shops where you can.
It’s also time to start packing up those things which you won’t be needing until after you’ve moved. For example, if it’s Spring/ Summer time, get your winter wardrobe packed up in advance.
Make sure you have booked a removal company in good time too, or booked the transport vehicle, if you’re planning to move everything yourself. Spots book up fast, so don’t be caught out by leaving the arrangements for your move until the last minute.
Ideally, in the days leading up to completion day, you should be completely packed and ready to go, with only the things you need on a daily basis still out. That way, it will give you plenty of time to clean the property and leave it tidy before you close the door for the final time (this may well be a condition of the sale).
In addition to planning the move itself, it’s important to make utility companies and your local authority aware once you know the date you are moving out. On completion day itself, remember to take any final meter readings and supply them to the relevant companies, so that you won’t be charged for anything you haven’t used.
Fixtures, fittings and contents forms
Prior to completion day, you should have completed a Fittings and Contents form (otherwise known as TA10) which identifies those fixtures, fittings and contents which are to be included in the sale of the property.
Completion of this form, with the help of your conveyancing solicitor, is a legal requirement which makes it completely clear exactly what is included in the purchase – thus avoiding potential disputes over ownership.
‘Fixtures’ include items which are permanently in place, such as a fitted kitchen, radiators, boilers and electric sockets, or fitted wardrobes.
The term ‘fittings’ refers to items which aren’t permanently fixed to the property, for example, pieces of furniture, or curtains – these need to be paid for separately from the purchase price as they are not subject to Stamp Duty.
The document is split into 11 sections and it’s important to ensure everything inside and outside the property is detailed as clearly and concisely as possible.
Need an experienced conveyancing solicitor?
The number one rule when it comes to making your completion day run as smoothly as possible is proper planning. This can be done with the help of an experienced conveyancing solicitor.
Our specialist property lawyers provide flexible and friendly conveyancing services across West Sussex, with offices in Bognor Regis and Steyning.
If you’re looking to carry out the sale of a property, get in touch with our friendly team of conveyancers today for more details.
