Oh, get A move on!
It’s taking longer than ever to complete on a home. So join the fast track with these tricks, says Graham Norwood
AWARNING has been issued to hopeful homemovers: act now to stand a slim chance of being in by Christmas. More than 500,000 homes have had offers accepted by sellers but are stuck in a legal logjam, according to Rightmove, with an average of 150 days until buyers can move in.
‘Although December may feel far away, the data shows the conveyancing logjam means it is taking an average of 50 days longer to complete a purchase after agreeing a sale than it did in 2019,’ says Rightmove director Tim Bannister. ‘It’s important to act now.’
The delays are the result of several issues. First, some conveyancers quit after experiencing a work overload caused by Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday, which ended last year and triggered a surge in house buying. Second, there’s a backlog at local councils, which supply information on planning and related issues. And third, some professionals critical to the process — for example planning officers, surveyors and solicitors — now work only part-time or from home, leading to hold-ups.
A further hiccup is that lenders are tightening conditions on borrowers — even those who are part-way through a purchase. So, how can you speed up the process?
INSTRUCT A SOLICITOR EARLY
They can at least carry out the compulsory ID checks ahead of time. Online conveyancers may be cheaper, but you may not be able to speak with the same person each time you have queries.
GET AHEAD WITH MORTGAGE
SeCuRe a mortgage in principle promptly. Then, when your offer has been accepted, complete the full application as quickly as possible. And let your solicitor know if you are having cash help from friends or family, as that needs specific legal treatment.
CHOOSE YOUR AGENT WISELY
MOST buyers must sell their home first to afford the next. Check that your estate agent has a sales progression team tasked with pushing paperwork and liaising with others in the chain. Some low-cost online agencies — with fees paid by sellers upfront — do not have these teams. Agents should be in trade bodies, so check if yours is at propertymark.co.uk.
HUNT FOR CHAIN-FREE HOME
IF yOu purchase an empty home or a new build, the transaction can be faster and is less vulnerable to falling through.
SPEED UP SURVEY & SEARCHES
LOCAL searches by councils are vital, and reveal whether future plans for an area may hurt the value of your new home. But they can be slow, so check current timings at searchflow.co.uk. Be aware that surveys, to reassure buyers and mortgage lenders on a property’s condition, can also take weeks. Check for local firms at rics.org.
PRIORITISE PAPERWORK
IF yOu’Re selling your home at the same time, you must fill in several documents, including a Property Information Form, which asks for details of guarantees, planning and building consent, and any neighbour disputes. The seller of your new home will also complete one, and this will go to your conveyancer so they can spot any potential problems.
It’s wise to prepare this and other paperwork ahead of time, including a copy of the lease if your home is leasehold, freehold documentation, any guarantees, certificates for replacement windows and a Gas Safety certificate for a new boiler.
CHASE, CHASE . . . CHASE AGAIN!
yOu may feel the agents and conveyancers to whom you’re paying thousands of pounds should keep you in the loop on progress, but in reality it’s down to you.
BOOK IN FOR A SMOOTH MOVE
hIRe a moving company as soon as you have a completion date.
HOMe makeovers have a downside. They are lengthy, expensive and not always guaranteed to be successful. But it is certainly possible to make a substantial difference to your home without a big outlay, as our guide explains . . .
DECLUTTER DECISIONS
The late Sir Terence Conran, the guru who revolutionised domestic design, was a fount of wisdom on ways to make any home more beautiful and functional.
for example, if you are seeking to improve the look of a room, Conran recommended that you should first take everything out. Only the furniture and other pieces that you find attractive and useful should be returned. This decluttering process may reveal that a lack of storage, rather than a surplus of belongings is the cause of an atmosphere of chaos. A bench with hooks and shelves such as the £95.99 Wayfair Peters hall tree can make an entrance hall ordered and welcoming ( wayfair.co.uk).
Leftover pieces can breathe new life into another room. But Conran also advised that ‘ hanging on to a bad buy will not redeem the purchase’. An unwanted item may be more to the taste of a friend. Or you could sell it online, donate it to a charity, or give it away.
The results of a clear-out may be bland. If so, add gold, which as designer Kate Watson- Smyth explains, supplies both light and luxe. Marks & Spencer offers a £12.50 gilt planter on a stand, or a £79 oval gilt mirror ( marksandspencer.com).
COLOUR YOUR LIFE
A freSh coat of paint is the easiest way to enliven a dull space. But following trends can compound the problem. Neutral shades that appear elegant on Instagram may be lacklustre in real life.
With paint, your choice should primarily be based on the light. In a north-facing room, cool blues and greys can appear flat in the harsh light. Consider a warm white with a touch of pink or grey.
In an east-facing room, the light is strongest in the morning, so pick a strong shade enhanced by the sun or a cool blue or green for a more nuanced effect. The same rules apply in a west-facing room, where afternoon light is intense. In a south-facing room, remember the bright light can make all shades look more yellow.
for advice, look at paint companies’ websites. Dulux’s visualiser app shows how colours look on the walls of a room.
LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
reThINKINg the lighting can be another rapid route to change. New lampshades from B&M, Dunelm, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Next or Wilko are one way to shift the vibe. The £25 geometric pattern bamboo lampshade from Oliver Bonas supplies a more laidback feel ( oliverbonas.com). Next’s Tetbury pleated lampshades (£22-£38) are a more formal touch ( next.co.uk).
Scarlett hampton and Niki Wright, the duo behind Lightsandlamps.com, recommend focusing on the mood you aspire to create in each room. They suggest placing extra lights in the corners or edges of a room to give the illusion of space.
Cool white bulbs work best in areas where there is little or no natural light. Bulbs that cast a warmer light conjure up a more relaxing mood. The colour temperature of a bulb is measured in degrees Kelvin (K): a warm white bulb will be between 2,700K and 3,000K. See the buying guide on the robert Dyas website ( robertdyas.co.uk).
hampton and Wright point out that we now entertain in our kitchens, meaning it makes sense to add living room-type lighting. They suggest a floor lamp in a corner, or a table lamp at the end of a worktop.
ART OF THE MATTER
IT’S traditional to hang art at eye height. But since we spend most of the time in our living rooms sitting, Jo Sampson of the Artorial consultancy suggests displaying art at different levels. Placing a favourite artwork against the wall on a low table can make you see it with new eyes.
If you have a variety of small pictures, collect them together in a gallery wall. Marks & Spencer has a set of 12 gallery wall frames for £34.65, reduced from £ 49.50. Sampson advises arranging your selection on the floor, to ensure they are positioned in the most striking fashion.
ANNE ASHWORTH