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It can take between 12 weeks and 6 months to buy a house. However, every buyer will experience a different timescale. There are a variety of factors that could delay the process, such as survey results and the length of the property chain. Your personal experience may vary as there is no definitive answer due to these variable factors.

The process of buying a house can often seem like a long and difficult affair. From searching for the right home to receiving the keys, the time each step takes can vary greatly. It’s important to compare conveyancers who can professionally aid with any legal issues.

In this guide, Compare My Move will take you through a brief timeline of buying a house and answer the all-important question, "How long does it take to buy a house?"

1. Finding the Right Property

It can take 10-12 weeks to find the right property.

There are many different ways to buy a house, so the first step is first finding the perfect property. Set yourself a budget when researching properties. Do the necessary sums to determine what you can afford. If you need a mortgage, it would be a good idea to obtain an ‘agreement in principle’ from a lender so you know precisely how much you can borrow.

Don’t forget to take into account the deposit, stamp duty, conveyancing fees, surveyors costs and removal charges. Once your finances are in place, you can start house-hunting! The amount of time dedicated to this step can vary depending on location, budget, your local property market, personal preferences and many other factors.

Take your time to find a house that suits your needs and make sure you get the most out of your property viewings. You’ll have to be realistic as not everyone will find their ideal home in their prime location. Some people are more willing to compromise meaning they might find a property more quickly than others, but it all depends on personal preference. First of all, decide where you'd like to live and look at homes in the area. Once you’ve decided on a property, start negotiating to make a formal offer.

2. Getting a Mortgage

It takes between 18 and 40 days to apply and get accepted for a mortgage.

You should have chosen a mortgage provider by now to begin the process. It may be worth contacting a mortgage broker and getting an agreement in principle with a mortgage lender.

On average, it generally takes up to a month from filling out the initial paperwork and formally applying for a mortgage on a property for the mortgage offer to be issued. Check your credit records and ensure it goes smoothly by having all the important documents required like payslips, bank statements and any other information they may need.

Once you have secured a mortgage, you will have have a limited amount of time for which the mortgage offer is valid to complete the purchase. This is usually 3-6 months depending on your lender.

3. Find a Conveyancer

The conveyancing process can take between 8 and 12 weeks from the point the sale is agreed.

You’ll need to compare and find a conveyancer to undertake the solicitor process for buying. Again, do your research and compare conveyancers to ensure they are professional and dependable. By using Compare My Move, you can cut that time down instantly by using our quick and easy service. We only work with conveyancers that are regulated by SRA, CLC, LSS, LSNI or CILEx.

Take your time to find a verified licensed conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor and they will take care of the buying process for you. The conveyancing process will take longer if you're in a chain than if you're not in a chain. The conveyancing process starts once an offer has been agreed on and will end on completion day when you have received the keys to the new house.

4. Property Survey

It takes between 2 and 3 weeks for a property survey to be carried out and the survey results received.

Once the conveyancing process has begun, you can then book your property survey. A homebuyer report or building survey will be able to give you vital information on the property you plan to buy, potentially saving you from making a costly mistake.

A surveyor will usually take a few hours to inspect the property, depending on which survey you opt for. A building survey is more comprehensive than a homebuyers report so will take slightly longer. If you're purchasing a new build property, however, you will need to ask your surveyor to undertake a snagging list rather than a survey after the property is built, especially if you're buying a new build off-plan.

It usually takes a couple of weeks for the survey report to be produced and sent to you. After receiving the results of your survey, it’s advised to send it over to your conveyancer who will check over the ‘legal’ or ‘matters for your conveyancer’ section.

5. Exchanging Contracts

Exchanging contracts usually happens during week 8 of the conveyancing process.

The time-frame can vary greatly depending upon a number of factors, such as the type of property, the length of the property chain, adverse survey results, adverse property search results or legal issues to resolve. The exchange of contracts will happen only once all conveyancers in the chain are ready and hold a signed contract.

Once exchange of contracts has been achieved, then a completion date will be set. You’ll want to start contacting removal companies and think about packing, ready for when you can move into your new home.

6. Completing the Sale

Completion day is usually between 7 and 28 days after the date of exchange of contracts.

At last, we’re at the final stage! When exchange of contracts is achieved, a legal completion date will have been agreed on and set.

On the completion date your conveyancer will transfer the final funds to the seller’s conveyancer and the property will be yours once the funds have been received.

On the day of completion, your mortgage will begin and the fun of moving begins! You’ll want to start contacting removal companies and think about packing, ready for when you can move into your new home.

7. Moving Day

It can take 1-2 days to move house.

You will usually move in on the day of completion, unless your circumstances allow for you to move in at a later date. The completion day will have been agreed on beforehand, so you can book your removal company in advance. The seller must move out on this day, to allow the buyer to move in.

You’ll need to factor in packing your belongings, which can be time consuming. Ideally it should be done a few days before the completion date, making sure you leave out the essential items you’ll need on the day. Unpacking and setting everything up in your new house can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to a few years!

How Long Does it Take to Buy a House?

It takes about 6 months to buy a house, from start to finish. An average buyer needs 10-12 weeks to find the right property, and between 18 and 40 days to apply and get accepted for a mortgage. The conveyancing process takes between 8 and 12 weeks, with completion day happening between 7 and 28 days after exchanging contracts. Moving your belongings to your new home takes 1-2 days.

With 12 weeks being spent on finding the right property, 1 month acquiring a mortgage, 1 month to exchange contracts and finalise the legal aspects, the final 4 weeks will then be spent completing the sale until you receive the keys.

No chain properties may have a quicker process but after each step is complete, the fun begins and you can move in, making your new house a home!

How Long Does it Take to Buy a House with No Chain?

A ‘property chain’ is the number of property transactions linked together with each one being dependent on the other. For example, a first-time buyer will only be purchasing a property, not selling, and so the chain would begin with them.

When a property is referred to as having ‘no chain’ or is ‘chain-free’ the seller will not need to buy another house after selling this one. New build properties are ‘chain-free’ as they have not previously been occupied.

The conveyancing process for buying a property that has no chain is still the same, but as there are less people involved the time-frame is usually quicker. Every transaction is different, but a chain free property purchase can be more straightforward.

The process can be sped up greatly with no chain, which is often why it's recommended to sell your home before buying, so you shorten the chain. Every move is different, but a no chain property can considerably increase the speed of the buying process and allow it to proceed more efficiently.

Factors that Could Delay the Process

From the lack of preparation to a large property chain, there are a variety of factors that can delay the process of buying a house. These are just a few to consider:

• **Preparation: **Always ensure you have a budget before making an offer to ensure that you’re able to pay the deposit and any related fees when the time comes.
• **The Legal Team: **Whether you’re hiring a licensed conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor, you must ensure that they're qualified and reliable. If they’re experienced, they should be able to follow the process correctly and thus lowering the risk of delays.
• **Survey Report: **Your property survey could return adverse results which can bring things to a halt. It’ll take extra time to see if you can negotiate your offer, get further expert advice or pull out of the purchase altogether.
• Property Chain: A large property chain can lead to a range of disruptions. The larger the chain, the more likely there will be delays. If one of the transactions in the link is delayed, often yours will be too.
• Gazumping: If a higher offer is given to the seller before any contracts are signed, it may delay or even terminate your purchase. You’re not the legal owner until contracts are signed and exchanged, so an alternative offer could be considered.
• Mortgage offer delay: If everything else is in place and you’re still waiting for your mortgage offer to be issued, this can delay the conveyancing process. The same will apply if your mortgage offer has expired too. Mortgage offers will usually last between 3 and 6 months.
• Delay in conveyancing search results: Your Conveyancer will have to order property searches from the relevant authorities. Depending on how well-staffed and busy the local authority is, the searches could take anywhere between a few days and a few weeks to be completed.
• **Gazumping: **If a higher offer is given to the seller before any contracts are signed, it may delay or even terminate your purchase. This is called gazumping. You’re not the legal owner until contracts are signed and exchanged, so an alternative offer could be considered and accepted.

Next Steps of Buying a House

This article is part of our house buying guide. We work hard to inform you of the latest moving house advice and news through our series' of articles.

Our next article in the series will help you decide where to live, from the local schools to crime in the area, we've covered it all. To find out more read choosing an area to live in.

Social media has changed the way businesses communicate with their customers as well as each other. It’s now a tool for two-way communication that allows your removal company to engage with your existing and potential customer base.

No matter what the size of your business, social media can be a very convenient and beneficial tool that is key to growing your brand and audience. When you become an official removal partner, you will also have the benefit of communicating with our audience across multiple profiles.

To help you understand the many benefits social media can bring for your removal company, Compare My Move has created this guide to explain exactly why social media is a crucial tool when setting up a removals business.

1. Get to know your audience

More than anything, the biggest benefit to social media is having the ability to directly communicate with your audience. Social media profiles allow you to monitor followers feeds and read their reviews about your company. By adding your profile to different B2C or even industry-based groups, you can also look for potential affiliates and future clients.

Not only that but social media tools like Twitter Analytics or Facebook Meta Business Suite give your removal company valuable insight into your audience by telling you their age, demographic and gender. That way, you can create content that will appeal to your specific audience and generate traffic to your site.

2. Showcase your brand

A strong social media presence will help you showcase your removals business to a much larger audience and generate much more exposure than if you weren’t on it. If just one person shares your content on social media, it has the potential to be seen by a huge amount of people who could become potential customers.

When becoming a Compare My Move partner, you will also have the opportunity to be showcased via our company profiles. Currently, our Twitter page has over 3,500 followers and our Facebook has over 5,000, potentially increasing your online presence even further. To help promote our removal, surveying and conveyancing partners, we create a variety of social media posts that showcase the continuous effort that is put in. Our partners have a chance to increase their online following by being mentioned in series such as:

• Welcoming New Partners
• Compare My Move's Top Reviewed Partners of the Month
• Happy Mover Stories
• Partner Case Studies

3. Expand your customer base

Twitter is a great social network for seeking out new customers. Using hashtags such as #removals or #movinghouse, which relate to the removals business or industry could help you locate more potential customers. It also provides you with an opportunity to create your own hashtags which customers can then use to provide easily accessible feedback or to ask questions.

Compare My Move has an example of this on our own Twitter profile with #HappyMovers being used for our Happy Mover Stories that allow users to view our current and previous success stories.

4. Instant feedback from customers

Social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn mean customers can give you honest feedback which will help you improve your services and give you a good reputation when people search your company online (if the feedback is positive). It also provides you with an opportunity to discuss any complaints, questions or issues that customers may have quickly and clearly.

Don't forget to make use of any messaging services the profile may come with to ensure you discuss sensitive topics privately with clients or other businesses.

5. Monitor your competitors

Another useful aspect of social media is that your competitors are likely using the same networks, so you can monitor their pages and see if they are doing something that your business should be doing too. It's a great tool to help you find ways to also stay ahead of them.

6. Cut marketing costs

In comparison to traditional marketing channels of advertising where you would need a large budget, social media marketing is free. You can run competitions on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ to get your audience engaged, increase your follower count and your customer base. Don't forget, when you become an official partner, that's an additional free profile to make use of.

If you find your social media profiles are beginning to take off and your audience continues to grow, there is the potential of purchasing social media ads to further promote your company. However, despite being an additional fee, this is a much more cost-effective form of digital marketing compared to other channels of advertising.

From hiring a conveyancer to organising your moving day, there’s a lot to get done once your offer has been accepted on a house. This is when the real work begins and so you need to try not to get caught up in the excitement and begin preparing for the process.

As a buyer, having your offer accepted on a house brings so much excitement and relief. After months of searching, the day you’ve wished for finally comes and the seller accepts your offer. But then, what next? There’s a lot of work that needs to be done as this is the start of the transaction, so organisation is key.

Compare My Move have created this guide to help you plan the next steps for when your offer is accepted. We’ve also answered a few common questions related to the process to help you begin. We aim to inform you as much as possible to help you prepare with little stress so you can focus on the joy of having found your dream home.

1. Hire a Conveyancing Solicitor

You've made an offer on a house and it's been accepted! The first thing you should focus on as a buyer is hiring a conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor. Once your offer has been accepted, it’s time to begin the conveyancing process and find an experienced professional.

Your conveyancer or conveyancing solicitor will complete all the necessary legal work, such as handling contracts, completing the conveyancing searches, dealing with Land Registry and transferring vital funds. Although it’s possible to do the conveyancing yourself, it’s not advised as the conveyancing process is highly complex and one misstep could delay or void the transaction.

If you're later unhappy with your chosen professional, know that you do have the option of changing conveyancers.

Don’t forget to use Compare My Move to compare conveyancing quotes, saving you both time and money. Comparing conveyancers can help you stretch your budget further and find the most trusted professionals in your local area. All our conveyancing partners are fully regulated and have been put through our strict verification process to ensure they can provide first-class services to every user.

2. Finalise Your Mortgage

You should already know who your mortgage lender is by this point, but now is the time to complete your application and finalise your mortgage. Once your offer has been accepted you should immediately inform your lender as they’ll need to ensure that the property’s value is the same amount as the agreed purchase price. They will do this by scheduling a mortgage valuation.

If you haven’t finished your mortgage application, do so as soon as possible. Make sure you have the necessary documents such as ID, bank statements, proof of address and proof of earnings. Data from Quick Move Now discovered that 13% of failed house sales in 2018 did so due to difficulties with securing a mortgage. This research highlights how important finalising your mortgage is.

Once your mortgage offer has been accepted, you can either resume comparing lenders or accept and continue the process. Once the details have been finalised, you should have up to 7 days to decide if it’s right for you. It’s possible to pull out of a mortgage offer up until the exchange of contracts, but you may lose money if you do so.

3. Arrange a Property Survey

Next, it’s time to arrange a property survey. Your mortgage lender will request a valuation, but it’s recommended to arrange a more comprehensive house survey such as a Homebuyers Survey or Building Survey. The survey will include an inspection of the property where the surveyor will highlight any defects or structural issues.

It’s important to hire a qualified surveyor to ensure the survey is as accurate as possible. All Compare My Move surveying partners are RICS regulated to ensure they can provide a quality service to every user. We put our partners through a stringent verification process so that when you compare surveying quotes, you’ll be connected with the most qualified professionals in your local area.

House surveys, by definition, aim for perfection so will highlight problems. Try not to panic if you see a lengthy list of issues - many may not be major. You can use the results to calculate the necessary repair costs and decide whether the property is actually a worthy investment. You then have the option of pulling out of the sale, negotiating the house price to cover the costs or to continue with the transaction regardless.

4. Exchange Contracts and Complete

Now is the time to start preparing to exchange contracts, pay your deposit and confirm your completion date. This is the final stretch for completing the transaction and the process will usually be led by your conveyancing solicitor. Once your mortgage has been approved and the conveyancing searches are complete, you’ll be able to sign and exchange contracts. Once these steps are complete, ownership of the property is transferred to the buyer.

It’s at this point that both the buyer and seller are no longer legally able to pull out of the property sale. Once you’ve signed and exchanged contracts, the buyer is then the legal owner of the property. If you try to pull out of the sale, you risk losing your deposit.

In 2020 there will be some pilot projects involving conveyancers, testing a new idea called Reservation Agreements. This may involve both buyers and sellers paying a sum (perhaps £500 to £1,000) which either would lose if they pulled out of the deal at a later stage. The long-term goal is to find a way of reducing deals falling through. If you do come across one of these pilots, the rest of the purchase process remains the same.

5. Move In

Following the completion day, you can collect the keys and begin moving into your new home as the property is now legally yours.

At this stage, you can begin packing your house and compare removal quotes to ensure you find the best professionals for the job. If you're able to be flexible with your moving date, try to compare quotes for different days of the week as you may find some days are cheaper due to less demand.

How Long Does it Take From Offer to Completion?

The average time to get from an accepted offer to legal completion in the UK is 11 weeks. This comes from a study conducted by the advice and support website, The Advisory. However, this timescale can vary due to a variety of factors, often falling somewhere between 11-21 weeks.

Completion day often occurs 7-28 days after exchanging contracts. However, although uncommon, it is possible to exchange and complete on the same day. There are a number of issues that could cause delays. But if you’re organised and clearly communicate with your conveyancer, it should continue quite smoothly. Once you have your completion date, it’s time to compare removal companies.

Can Others Put an Offer on the Same House?

Just because an offer on a house has been accepted, it does not mean that the ownership of the property has been transferred. The property is considered as Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) so it’s still possible for other potential buyers to provide alternative offers. As the buyer and seller have not signed or exchanged contracts, the offer is not legally binding.

Gazumping is when a seller accepts another offer by a different buyer before the sale is completed. Although it’s legal, it is often frowned upon. Research from Market Financial Solutions revealed that 31% of British homeowners in the past decade have lost out on a house sale because of this very reason. Some sellers welcome higher offers, making gazumping a very real possibility.

Can Either Party Withdraw at This Stage?

The sale is not legally binding until the contracts have been signed and exchanged meaning both parties are legally able to withdraw from the sale.

Ownership of the property is not transferred until the contracts have been signed and exchanged and the deposit paid for. Once this has occurred, both parties are legally obliged to continue with the transaction.

How Long Does it Take to Move House Once an Offer Has Been Accepted?

There’s no set time for how long it takes to move in once an offer has been accepted. In a previous article, our data showed that it can take between 12 weeks and 6 months to buy a house depending on your personal situation. It’ll then take a further 1-2 days to completely move in.

The buyer can begin moving in once they’ve acquired the keys on completion day. This occurs between 7-28 days after exchanging contracts unless you’re able to do both on the same day. The seller must move out before this date, otherwise, it’ll cause further delays in the property chain. Usually the buyer can pick up the keys to the new home around midday; this allows time for monies to be passed through to the seller’s conveyancing solicitor and confirmed.

As your completion date will be agreed in advance, you can begin comparing removal companies as soon as you know the date. Compare My Move’s removal partners are put through a strict removals verification process to ensure they’re qualified, experienced and fully regulated, providing first-class services to get you to your new home safely.

Next Steps of Buying a House

This guide has been part of our home buying guide. Our aim is to prepare and guide you through the buying process. Next we take a look at what gazumping means and how it could impact you. For more information see: What is Gazumping and is it Legal?

When Scottish teacher Elayn O’Neill was looking to downsize her home, a Google search led her to our service. Through comparing partners with Compare My Move, Elayn found the Moving Home Company. The Central London-based firm turned out to be the perfect fit - quite literally - for her pre-Christmas move.

Searching for a removal company

Having previously moved from Scotland to London to be closer to her daughter, Elayn has moved 3 times since 2014. This time, the move required further downsizing - and a company able to move Elayn in mid-December.

“It was the wrong time to be moving - Christmas time. Our actual date was the 17th of December, but it just worked out like that.”

Thankfully, Compare My Move has partners who are not only experts in downsizing moves, but are available at all times of the year. This enabled Elayn to move when she needed to, without issue.

How did you find Compare My Move?

Like many of our first-time customers, Elayn found Compare My Move through a Google search. Typing into the search bar “how to find moving companies”, Elayn decided our site was the way to go. This was especially the case since she has found comparison sites useful in the past.

“If that information is to hand and in one location, why wouldn't you use it? It was really straightforward and easy to go into and start comparing.”

Getting matched with companies

With a range of prices and services, Elayn found she was able to compare our partners to find the right fit for her move.

“Your site is really good because it gave me 3 or 4 people that were in proximity and were experienced. I always look at people's reviews because that gives you a good indicator as well.”

Now with a list of companies to choose from, Elayn reviewed prices and availability. Having moved a few times in the past, she knew what questions to ask and what she was looking for in a removal company.

Choosing a partner

When it came to choosing a partner, Elayn opted for the most personable company. This turned out to be one of our most highly-reviewed London partners, the Moving Home Company.

When it came to price, the Moving Home Company was mid-range compared to the other companies. They were not the cheapest, but also not the most expensive.

Although the price was part of the consideration when choosing a removals company, it wasn’t the deciding factor. What made Moving Home Company stand out for Elayn, was how approachable and flexible they were.

“Somebody phoned me to say, “Have you thought a bit more about it? Are there any other questions that need to be answered?” That personal touch was really good.”

How did Moving Home Company help?

Elayn told us how the 2 Moving Home Company team members were professional, polite and careful when it came to moving her belongings. Elayn was impressed by how they took care of anything marked fragile, moving everything in line with her planning.

“They were really hard working, really polite and really respectful. They listened to any concerns that we had and we just all got along on the day.”

Elayn found that the day was a lot less stressful with the right people on the job. There were discussions and planning before packing the van, which helped the process. But it was the personal and friendly approach which made the move a far more pleasant experience for Elayn and her family.

“It’s not an easy day when you're doing a move. But when you've got people that can make it a little bit lighter and easier, it really does make such a difference. They knew exactly what they were doing. They struck me as very professional.”

Were there any issues?

Despite the day running smoothly, Elayn’s daughter - who had arrived to help with the move - had her doubts. Elayn told us when she saw the size of the removal van, her reaction was “There's no chance. No chance…Do you realize it's going to be at least 2 or 3 trips?” And she had a laugh with the removal men, who reassured her that everything would fit in the van.

“They were laughing with her saying, “But it's the way you pack it!” And to be honest, that was exactly what happened. My daughter said, “I completely take that back. Not only have you got everything into your truck, but you've got space!”

What advice would you give to others moving house?

Elayn recommends that anyone moving should not only use Compare My Move but also read the customer reviews on the provided partner pages.

Our dedicated partner pages give an overview of each company and what they offer, complete with honest reviews from real customers.

“(The companies) need to earn their rating from people. People will be honest about what that experience is like. And so that again reassured me. Everybody learns from each other's experiences.”

How Can Compare My Move Help You?

Compare My Move has helped thousands of happy movers save time and money when moving house.

If you're like Elayn and have been looking for the perfect removal company in your area, we can match you with up to 6 verified removal companies. All of our partners have Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurances, so you know your belongings are protected whilst in their care.

Removals aren't the only way we help our users. We can help you save money at every point of your moving journey when you compare RICS registered surveyors, SRA or CLC regulated conveyancers for buying or selling or professional storage providers.

We can also guide you through the buying, selling or moving process with our expert advice articles and resources.

Downsizing from your previous home can be a difficult task after living there for so many years. This was the emotional challenge John and his wife were faced with after purchasing a property in August 2021. With so many memories to pack up, the couple knew they were going to need the assistance of a professional removals company. This is where Compare My Move was able to help.

Searching for a removal company

To reduce the amount of maintenance required, John and his wife made the decision to downsize to a bungalow. Their previous house had become far too large for them to cope with and so it seemed like the best solution to ensure an easier everyday life.

“We had been there for 47 years, so it was not an easy decision to make. But we both think we made the right decision now.”

As John and his wife are both 75, they were fairly restricted with what they could physically do when it came to moving. It was vital that they could find a verified and dependable removals company to provide assistance.

How did you find Compare My Move?

Compare My Move’s expert team work hard to provide movers across the UK with useful information concerning the moving process. To do this, we create insightful guides and articles that can be easily found on Google. This was where John first heard our name.

“I was looking online for removal people, so it would have been a Google search that came up with the [website]. I entered my details and got the response quickly...”

With a few simple details and no time at all, John was matched with several of our removal partners who were all available to lend a helping hand.

Getting matched with companies

John and his wife were connected with 3 removal firms in total, all of which operated across their local area.

John stated that whilst the price was an important part of the comparison process, so was the specific location in which the companies were based. This was why using a reliable comparison site was so important to them.

“They were local, I think they were Sheffield based - it can be difficult to know where the border between Sheffield and Rotherham is because it merged together.”

How did you decide which partner to use?

One of the main reasons Compare My Move is so unique is that we don’t quote our users, our partners do. This means they’re competing to provide customers with the best price so our users get the best deals possible. It also means that you discuss your requirements directly with the company in question.

Out of the 3 removal partners the couple were matched with, they decided to work with Clockwork Removals Sheffield due to their competitive prices and accommodating nature. After the initial conversation, the movers arranged a free home removals survey to assess the couple’s needs and the volume of items that required moving.

This meant the team could provide a more personalised quote and alter the removal plan according to the specific requirements. It also meant that John and his wife could save some extra cash in the process.

“Clockwork Removals did a good [home removal] survey and suggested that if we moved mid-week, it would be cheaper, which made more sense to us.”

How did Clockwork Removals help?

An official Compare My Move partner since August 2018, Clockwork Removals Sheffield have experience with all types of house moves and have amassed an impressive 5-star rating amongst our users.

John was also quick to praise the Clockwork Removals team, stating how flexible they were on the day and how they were always happy to help make the process as easy as possible for the couple.

“It was excellent. They were very accommodating with where we wanted things moved.”

After having to say goodbye to their home of 47 years, it had become a fairly emotional and exhausting day. But with the removal team's help, the couple were unpacked and ready to settle into their new home in no time at all.

“We can definitely say they were excellent.”

Were there any issues?

To gain a better understanding of the couple’s experience, we asked John what other issues they faced when moving. He explained that downsizing to a bungalow brought a few challenges they hadn’t initially expected, such as the need to greatly declutter before completion.

“Apart from the emotional aspect, it was getting rid of all of the stuff we'd accumulated over 47 years...There were so many trips to the tip and we had to be ruthless.”

It was a very stressful and almost traumatic process for John’s wife especially as they rummaged through years' worth of memories, deciding which to keep and which to throw away. It also meant they had to re-evaluate certain items on the day of the move too.

“I wasn't going to take one item, the single bed. But when we went to buy a replacement, we found we couldn't get one at short notice. So I rang [Clockwork Removals] up and they accommodated us without extra charge.”

It was this forgiving and accommodating nature that made Clockwork Removals the perfect team for the job. They were able to easily work around the couple and their individual needs, fitting an extra item of furniture into the plan for free on the day.

What advice would you give future movers?

After hearing John’s intriguing story, we asked him what advice he would provide future movers. His reply was simple: start as early as possible and think about what you’re taking with you.

“Start early! Recognize what you will need first…”

John continued by providing advice from the perspective of an elderly couple moving house. He explained that it’s vital you think further in advance and consider the most important factors.

“Don't just look at the now. Look at what the future's going to hold for you too.”

Would you recommend using Compare My Move?

As we completed our call with John, we asked him whether he would recommend our services after his own personal moving experience. He was very quick to praise Clockwork Removals for a job well done and said he would definitely recommend Compare My Move.

“Yes, certainly…It was a good experience overall.”

How can Compare My Move help you?

Compare My Move’s free online comparison service has helped thousands of happy movers over the years saving them both time and money during the moving process.

If you’re searching for a verified and experienced removal company like John and his wife, we can match you with up to 6 moving companies in your local area. Rest assured, all of our partners have Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurances, so you know your possessions will be protected throughout the move.

Did you know that removals aren't the only way we help our users? We can also help you save money during other stages of the moving journey by comparing RICS registered surveyors, regulated conveyancers and reliable storage companies.

Additionally, we can guide you through the buying, selling or moving process with our expert advice and research. Whether you’re at the start, middle or end of the journey, we have a range of articles to view in our advice centre.

The process of buying your first house is a big milestone that should be an exciting time in anyone’s life. But, as first-time buyers Hollie and Andy have experienced, it doesn’t always go so smoothly. With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the process by an entire year, they soon realised that it was going to be a much bigger challenge than they thought. However, with a little patience and the right professionals for the job, it eventually became a house move that would completely improve their everyday lives.

Whilst living in Edinburgh, dog walker Hollie and her partner Andy were beginning to feel frustrated and confined in their small 2-bedroom rented flat. As they also lived with 4 dogs, the flat was quickly beginning to feel uncomfortable, whilst the eye-watering house prices were becoming seemingly more and more unattainable. “My sister’s flat was almost the same price as this 3-bed detached house [we saw], which is just wild. So we couldn't afford to stay in Edinburgh,” Hollie explained. “As soon as we had an opportunity, we were looking to buy...In the flat, it was like we were in each other’s faces all the time...I just felt awful.”

They eventually decided to view a variety of larger, more suitable houses across Scotland, ones with spacious gardens that could entertain their 4 energetic dogs and give them the added room to breathe. “There had to be a garden. We were not compromising on the garden, that was the main thing. We wanted a decent-sized garden and, preferably, a detached house. Which we got!”

They remained fairly flexible with their requirements during the house-hunting process, only requesting to stay in Scotland and to, of course, keep the big garden as their main request. Thankfully, after a bit of searching, Hollie and Andy found the perfect first home for them and their furry friends. It was a beautiful, 3-bedroom detached new-build house that had everything they were looking for. “So we moved to Armadale, which is in the middle of Edinburgh and Glasgow pretty much - it's a 20-minute drive to the outskirts of Edinburgh,” Hollie told us. “Oh, it’s amazing!”

After renting the flat for a number of years, Hollie was excited at the prospect of taking her first step onto the property ladder and finally owning a house with Andy. Not only could they work on and decorate the home as they pleased, but it also meant the added security of knowing the property was completely theirs. “I know how much my mortgage payment is now (it’s a fixed mortgage) and I know what I'm paying every month and what my bills are. Nothing's going to change drastically,” she explained. “I mean, when you’re renting, the landlord could turn around and say, ‘I'm going to sell the flat.’ Then you need to find somewhere else. I always hated that unsettled feeling of just knowing I would have to move eventually. Now, I’m like, I never have to move again!” However, this excitement was fleeting, as the buying process soon became more difficult than both Hollie and Andy could have imagined.

Whilst the couple had found the property in 2019, they had to wait until January 2020 to pay the initial deposit. Of course, this was also when the spread of COVID-19 became a global pandemic, ensuring the world completely stood still. With national lockdowns being introduced, the housing market was heavily affected and many potential buyers were left in the dark until it was safe to re-start the moving process. “It was a new build so we were supposed to be in the house by July and obviously that didn't happen,” Hollie recalled. “So we were kind of ready to go [but] then covid was becoming more and more prevalent...we got into the house an entire year after we actually bought it, which was just stressful as anything.”

Understandably, moving house was no longer a priority and the couple had to continually delay their moving date. “It obviously made it a lot more stressful because there were loads of things we couldn’t do on the run-up [to the house move]. The shops were closed, we couldn't get anything to prepare, we were just going into the house with what we had.” But one thing they could start planning was which removal company they would use when the restrictions could finally be lifted.

By using Compare My Move’s online services, Hollie was able to find a reliable, family-run removals company called We Luv Removals. Established in 2006, We Luv Removals have been a partner with Compare My Move since February 2020 and have already amassed a superb 5-star rating. They are a team of highly professional and experienced movers based in Glasgow, operating across Scotland. Impressed by their reviews and services, Hollie and Andy knew this was the team for them. “They were amazing. I can't praise them highly enough, they made the day so much less stressful. I would definitely use them again.”

With restrictions slowly lifting and the removal team ready to go, they were finally able to book their moving date for January 2021 - a whole year after buying the property! As expected, Hollie, Andy and their beloved dogs were excited to get going. “On the day, the movers were just brilliant, they took absolutely everything and did more than I thought they would,” Hollie explained. “We ended up taking the dogs last and they were just so excited to go from a two-bedroom flat to a three-bedroom detached house, it was huge for them.”

Despite the housing market being back in full swing, there were still certain rules that the first-time buyers had to abide by to ensure a safe removal. “We wore masks and when they were helping us with the stuff, everyone stayed pretty much two meters away from each other the whole time, just trying to keep safe.” However, despite the added guidelines and social distancing rules, the We Luv Removals team still provided a professional and efficient service that greatly aided Hollie’s moving day.

“Oh, I would recommend them to anybody! They were absolutely fantastic! They made the day so much less stressful than I thought it was going to be. Obviously moving homes is such a huge thing, especially when you're getting your first house. I was just over-stressed, planning everything. But the movers on the day were just unbelievable. They were so nice and so friendly. They helped with everything, more than I even thought they would…”

After a long and incredibly delayed process, Hollie and Andy were relieved to see that their moving day was not going to be as difficult. “They were just brilliant. Honestly, I can't recommend them enough.” From loading large, awkward furniture to unloading the smallest of items, We Luv Removals were available throughout every step of the process. “The movers just made it so easy. It was much less stressful than I thought it was going to be. They were such a huge part of that...I would definitely use them again.”

Since the move, Hollie and Andy have loved having their own space - a home where they have complete freedom and can decorate as and when they wish. “I’ve gone absolutely crazy, I’m painting the fence as we speak right now,” Hollie laughed. “We’re very colourful people. So the whole house is just like multi-coloured as well. I’m going for colourful vibes. I love decorating, that's the main thing. And not having to worry about what you can and can't do in the house.”

But one of the most welcomed changes from the move was absolutely invaluable to the couple. “Oh, it's amazing...We're not bouncing off each other anymore. In the flat, it was like, we were in each other’s faces all the time. I feel like I can breathe now in my new house,”* *Hollie explained. “I just felt awful, now I feel so happy in general. Both of our moods improved and the dogs are happier too. It’s just a better life if you know what I mean.”

Here at Compare My Move, we have helped thousands of happy movers throughout the years, connecting them with the most trusted professionals in the industry. Whether you’re an experienced mover or a first-time buyer like Hollie, our reliable partners will help you through every step of the process. Simply complete our online form and you can quickly compare conveyancers, property surveyors and removal companies, helping you save up to 70% on your moving costs.

Today’s world is completely digital, making it an exciting time for digital marketing specifically. It offers more freedom for companies and is an easier way to communicate with customers and other businesses. Compare My Move has grown exponentially through digital marketing and, as expected, we’re not alone.

However, it’s not enough to simply have your own website or appear on your own blog. It’s important to connect with your clients and to promote your brand wherever possible. Digital marketing can help send your name further afield, allowing you to connect with a crucial network that is a vital step in expanding your business.

A well planned digital marketing strategy will help you grow your business throughout 2020, promoting your brand to a much larger audience. It can be an invaluable and cost-effective technique, but it’s important to know why you’re using it and how it can help. Here are a few ways in which digital marketing can help you expand your conveyancing business.

It Provides You With a Much Wider Audience

Unlike traditional marketing, digital marketing allows you to reach a wider audience, connecting you with customers both in and out of your local area. By reaching potential clients online, you’re making yourself much more accessible whilst also ensuring that you can target specific audiences who’ll benefit from your service. Some of the techniques to consider are:

• Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Social adverts

The above methods provide 24/7 marketing, where users are online using social media and websites all hours of the day. You can use this to your advantage by requesting feedback, conducting questionnaires and checking reviews to improve your business.

It Can Help You Communicate With Your Customers

One of the most beneficial things about digital marketing is that it gives companies the ability to clearly communicate with their audience. Communication methods like blogs and social media are much more personal than traditional marketing methods like physical letters or TV adverts. It provides a two-way conversation where customers can engage with your content and provide feedback.

Blog posts, emails, social media posts and PR campaigns can provide you with ways to reach more potential clients whilst also allowing those same clients to respond and engage with your company. Think about how you’ll be structuring each method and what you want out of them. Viral marketing campaigns should focus on getting your name out there whilst emails and blog posts must be informative, engaging and focus on generating leads.

By using a comparison site like Compare My Move, you’ll be providing yourself with another platform to reach customers. We can aid your company by creating personal partner pages, regular blog posts and a second social media presence. This will further expand your business by freeing up your time to focus on your company and current clients. By becoming a conveyancing partner, you can not only benefit from our digital marketing techniques but also save your team both time and money.

There Are Clear and Measurable Analytics

Traditional marketing is difficult to track. However, digital marketing provides measurable analytics to help you track what’s working and what’s not. You can measure clicks, discover user patterns and behaviour, as well as provide you with targeted information to help you personalise ads. By using tools like Google Analytics, you can find the most cost-effective strategies and track the weaknesses in your website.

Digital Marketing Caters to Multiple Devices

Whether you’re just starting out or are an already-established company, it’s important not to neglect the different devices available when improving your digital marketing strategy. Your website must work smoothly across all devices, from tablets to PCs. Your campaigns and web pages must be designed to suit each form, creating a seamless experience for your users.

Smart devices and, in particular, mobile phones are vital to helping you increase your conversion rates. If a site is not mobile-friendly, users are five times more likely to leave. Consider your page-loading speed and how the designs look on different devices. If you use analytics to detect the most popular device used on your website, you can target these items and focus on which is more likely to provide profit.

It’s Cost-Effective Compared to Traditional Marketing

Traditional marketing can be costly. For example, it’s much cheaper to send an email than print out physical letters or newsletters. Digital ads can reach a lot more people with the advantage of being much cheaper. This is obviously beneficial to any company, but especially small or new businesses.

In short, digital marketing offers a range of strategies and techniques to expand your business and increase traffic. It’s a powerful tool that shouldn’t be neglected in any business, providing you with a range of opportunities to connect with your customers.

Following our successful removals and surveying services, Compare My Move has been working hard to introduce and expand our conveyancing service to help movers across the UK with their moving journey.

Conveyancing is such a vital part of the moving process and so we aim to build and expand our network of professional conveyancers to help our users get connected with you and your company. Part of what makes the Compare My Move system superior to other comparison websites is the way we work to serve and support you, the conveyancers. We aim to become an extension of your company, here to generate leads and expand your business.

The Compare My Move Story

Compare My Move was founded in 2012 by Dave Sayce and Marc Benger after 30 years of working in the removal and storage industry. After setting up their own removal company in 2009, Dave and Marc noticed a gap in the market and wanted to create a website that was focused solely on allowing users to view quotes from a network of trusted and verified professionals. And so, from their strong passion to create a product that could help both the movers and the professionals involved, Compare My Move was born.

Our team has been growing exponentially since 2012 and our services continue to bring together the best moving professionals in our verified partner network. Our mission is simple: to help movers throughout every step of the process and to aid professional companies in growing and expanding their business.

How Do We Help Partners Convert Leads?

We provide our network of trusted conveyancers with high-quality leads that are generated by UK users who are looking for professional, trusted conveyancing services. We aim to get you connected with users buying, selling, or even both.

However, here at Compare My Move, we don’t believe that a lead generation site should simply just generate and send a lead to those able to convert. We aim to do more, hoping to become an extension of your team and not just a partner.

As well as generating leads, we also provide:

• Partner Pages – Our content writers and digital marketers provide all our conveyancing partners with a web page designed specifically with your company in mind. It’s dedicated to you and your services and is what will make you stand out from the rest.
• Free Reviews – Part of our partnership system is an ‘always on’ customer review scheme. These third-party reviews act just like the many review software systems you have heard of such as Trustpilot, only this does not come with the hefty price tag.
• **Managing your Reviews **– With our built-in system, you can check and respond to your reviews whenever possible. The notification system will alert you to your new reviews so that you can log in and respond accordingly. This will reassure your potential customers of your due diligence and show that you are a conscientious, passionate and professional firm.
• **Partner Dashboard and Account Manager **– Compare My Move will grant you access to your very own partner dashboard where you’ll be able to log on and see your reviews. You will also be allocated an account manager who will be your first point of contact and will assist you with any desired changes you wish to make to your account. Your account manager will work with you to ensure that you’re getting the most value out of your partnership.
• **Extra Promotion and Advertising **– Compare My Move has a dedicated marketing team to help promote your business. All of our blogs, guides and news articles are shared across social media, giving you another opportunity to reap the benefits of the extra coverage.