If you’re trying to move house and are unsure how the Government’s announcement will affect you, removal quote provider Reallymoving has put together the following advice:
Securing a mortgage
· Be prepared to provide evidence of job security, something banks will be checking even more closely than usual.
· With surveyors currently unable to carry out valuation surveys, expect your application to be delayed.
· If you already have a mortgage offer in place, speak to your lender to check that the offer is still valid and that the level of borrowing you’re taking on remains manageable if your job situation has changed.
Managing legals
· If you have not yet exchanged, hold off for now. Spend this period of time ensuring that all queries have been answered and as much of the process has been completed as possible, so you’re ready to press the button and exchange as soon as the lockdown is lifted.
· If you have already exchanged and are due to complete within the next three weeks, speak to your solicitor as soon as possible to try and agree a new completion date beyond the lockdown period with all other parties.
· If you have already exchanged with a completion date beyond the next three weeks, monitor the situation closely. Ask your solicitor to begin conversations with other parties – you may need to act quickly to agree a new date if the lockdown period is extended.
· Money laundering checks, which require buyers to provide certified copies of proof of identity and proof of address documents, can currently still be carried out at the Post Office.
· There will be delays to searches as Local Authority offices go into lockdown and cannot physically carry them out. If searches on your purchase have not yet been completed, you may have to wait until lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Arranging a survey
· It will no longer be possible for a surveyor to carry out a survey on a property as this is considered non-essential activity. Buyers will need to wait for restrictions on movement to be lifted.
Moving day
· The British Association of Removers has issued guidance to its members to postpone all moves during the lockdown period, except those which are already underway.
· While the vast majority of removals will now be delayed, movers can still get quotes and choose a removals firm in advance of their move.
· Surveys can be carried out over Facetime in order to provide removals quotes, which will take a little longer than an in-person visit. However, these may result in missing items, so be sure to double check the quote to make sure everything is included.
Rob Houghton, chief executive of Reallymoving, said: ‘Those who now unexpectedly find themselves at home with time on their hands, should use it wisely to get all their affairs in order. Do as much online research as possible, prepare your home and garden for sale and ensure you’re in the best position to move forward when the crisis subsides.’