Is Completion Day Moving Day? What Really Happens

Quick answer: Completion day is usually moving day. It is the day the money reaches the seller's solicitor and the keys are released, so most people move out of one home and into the next on the same day. The trick is to have everything packed and loaded before the money arrives, so you can go the moment the keys are released.

Once contracts are exchanged, your completion date is fixed and legally binding. Everything hangs on that date: your removal booking, your time off work, the keys and, if you're in a chain, everyone else's move as well. It's also the day most people underestimate. Here's how completion day actually runs, where the waiting comes from, and how we plan a house removal around it so you're not left on the drive with a full van and nowhere to go.

On completion day, money moves up the chain from the bottom. The buyer at the bottom of the chain has their mortgage funds sent to their solicitor, who passes the money to the seller's solicitor. That seller's sale money then pays for their own purchase further up, and so on. Each link has to wait for the one below it.

Keys are only released once the seller's solicitor confirms the money has arrived. The estate agent then hands them over or tells you where to collect them. In a short chain that can be late morning. In a longer chain, or if a bank transfer is slow, it can be well into the afternoon.

Most contracts also set a time by which the seller has to be out, often around lunchtime. Your solicitor will tell you what yours says, so ask early rather than on the day.

On a chain move, everything happens on the same day, so we start as early as we can and aim to have your van loaded before the money changes hands. When your solicitor rings to say you've completed, we drive straight to the new address instead of starting to carry boxes out.

Loading time depends on what you actually own, not the size of the house. A four-bedroom house might only hold two bedrooms' worth of furniture, while a small flat can be packed to the ceiling. That's why we ask for a full list or a video walk-through when you book. It lets us send the right size of van and crew, and plan a realistic start time.

It protects you as a seller too. You need to leave the property empty by the time in your contract, and a buyer waiting outside with their own van won't want to watch you still packing the kitchen.

The waiting is the part nobody can fully control. Your things are loaded, the old house is empty, and you're waiting for a phone call. A few things are worth knowing:

• Waiting time counts as moving time. Our house removals are charged by the hour from when we arrive at your first address until the last item is unloaded, and that includes time spent waiting for keys. We'd rather tell you now than surprise you on the day.
• The earlier you're loaded, the less the wait matters. If the keys come early, you're moving straight away. If they come late, the hard part is already done.
• Keep your solicitor's number to hand. They are the one who confirms completion, not the estate agent and not us.
• Don't hand over your old keys until you're told to. Your solicitor will confirm when the money for your sale has arrived.

• Book your removal as soon as you exchange. Completion dates bunch up at the end of the month and on Fridays. Our prices are the same seven days a week, so a Friday completion doesn't cost you more with us.
• Be fully packed the night before. Everything except an overnight bag and the kettle should be boxed and labelled. Packing on the morning is what turns a smooth completion into a stressful one. Short of time? Our packing service can be added to your move by the hour.
• Take beds and wardrobes apart in advance to save time. It's optional, because our crew does furniture dismantling and reassembly, but doing it yourself means fewer hours on the clock.
• Sort parking at both ends. If either street has restricted parking, you'll need to arrange a parking suspension or permit with the council yourself. We can tell you how much space the van needs.
• Ask your seller where the keys will be. Agree how meter readings will be taken too, so you're not hunting for the gas meter at four o'clock.
• Keep the essentials with you. Documents, chargers, medication, the kettle, and anything the children or pets need should travel in the car, not the van.

For the full countdown from exchange to moving day, our house moving checklist covers everything else, from redirecting post to updating your council tax and address.

Sometimes the money doesn't arrive on the day. A lender is late, a payment misses the bank cut-off, or someone further up the chain has a problem. If completion is pushed back after you're loaded, there are a few options, and we'll talk them through with you on the day:

• Wait it out. If the money is expected later that afternoon, waiting is usually the simplest choice.
• Go into storage. We can take your belongings to a York storage facility of your choice and bring them to the new house when the keys are ready. We work hand in hand with Inner Space Stations on Layerthorpe, but any facility is fine. See removals and storage for how it works.
• Move the next day. If your contract and living arrangements allow it, a move the following day can work out simplest. It depends on our diary, so ring us as soon as you know.

Whatever happens, keep in touch with your solicitor and with us. The sooner we know, the more options there are.

Every move with us includes £10,000 of Goods in Transit cover as standard while your belongings are in our care. If you have items worth more than that, our guide to removals insurance explains what to check with your home insurer. If anything goes into a storage unit, you arrange your own insurance for the time it's stored.

Is completion day the same as moving day?

Usually, yes. Completion is when the money reaches the seller and the keys are released, so most people move the same day. Buyers who aren't in a chain sometimes move a day or two later, but sellers normally have to be out on completion day.

What time do you get the keys on completion day?

There's no fixed time. Keys are released once the seller's solicitor confirms the money has arrived. In a short chain that can be late morning; in a longer chain it's often the afternoon.

What time do I have to be out of my house on completion day?

Your contract sets the time, and it's often around lunchtime. Ask your solicitor early so you can plan your start time around it.

Should I book removals before or after exchange?

Get your quote before exchange, so you know the cost and we know what you have. Then confirm the date as soon as you exchange and completion is fixed.

Do you charge for waiting for the keys?

Yes. House removals are charged by the hour from arrival at your first address until the last item is unloaded, including waiting for keys. Being packed and loaded early is the best way to keep the total down.

Got a completion date, or waiting to exchange? Get your removal quote or call us on 01904 390 906, and we'll plan your completion day around your chain. You can also see how our removal prices work, or find out more about our removals in York.