The truth about moving costs, timing, and stress — and how to avoid expensive mistakes that could cost you 20–30% more
If you’re reading this, you’re probably somewhere between excited and terrified about your upcoming move. And that’s completely normal.
Here’s what most people don’t realize: the type of buyer you are completely changes how you should approach moving day — and getting it wrong can cost you hundreds of pounds in unnecessary fees.
After helping hundreds of families move across Nottingham and the East Midlands, we’ve spotted a pattern. First-time buyers often rush into expensive same-day moves when they don’t need to. And buyers in a chain? They underestimate the chaos of completion day.
Let’s break down exactly what you need to know — so you can save money, reduce stress, and actually enjoy your moving day.
First-Time Buyers: You Have More Control Than You Think
Your Secret Advantage: No Chain
If you’re buying your first home, congratulations! You’ve got something that buyers further up the ladder would kill for: freedom.
You’re not selling a property. Nobody’s waiting for you to vacate. You’re not stuck in a chain of dominoes waiting to fall. This changes everything.
What This Means for Your Move:
- Choose your own moving date – You’re in control of the calendar
- Plan around your schedule – Not a solicitor’s timeline
- Lower risk of delays – No chain means fewer things can go wrong
- Simpler logistics – Just you, your stuff, and your new home
Sounds good, right? But here’s where most first-time buyers make an expensive mistake.
The Common Mistake We See First-Time Buyers Make Every Week
“I have to move on completion day, right?”
Wrong. And this assumption can add 20–30% to your moving costs.
Here’s the reality we’ve learned from years of Nottingham removals: Most first-time buyers don’t need to move on the same day they get the keys.
You’re not selling. You don’t have incoming buyers breathing down your neck. Your rental tenancy probably ends at the end of the month — not necessarily on completion day.
The Smart Move:
- Complete on your purchase
- Collect your keys
- Schedule your move for 2–3 days later
Why This Saves You Money:
- 💰 No waiting time charges – Keys arrive when they arrive, but you won’t be paying movers to sit in a van
- 💰 Shorter move duration – You can plan precisely, not guess
- 💰 Better pricing – Mid-week, non-completion-day moves are often cheaper
- 💰 Less stress – You control the timeline
One of our recent clients, a first-time buyer in West Bridgford, saved around 25% on their moving costs by moving on a Wednesday instead of Friday completion day. Same house. Same service. Much happier customer.
When You Actually DO Need to Move on Completion Day
We get it — sometimes there’s no choice.
Maybe your rental tenancy ends the same day. Maybe you’ve already given notice. Maybe you just can’t stand another night in your old place.
If you absolutely must move on completion day, here’s the insider advice we give our clients:
Book Your Move for the Afternoon — Not the Morning
Solicitors typically release keys between 12:00 and 16:00, after completion funds transfer. If you book movers for 8am, you’re paying them to wait. And wait. And wait.
Afternoon moves for first-time buyers:
- ✓ Start when keys are actually in hand
- ✓ Shorter overall move duration
- ✓ No expensive waiting time
- ✓ Your removals team can unload immediately
From our experience with hundreds of Nottingham removals, afternoon completion-day moves typically cost 20–30% less than morning starts — simply because there’s no dead time.
Moving While Buying and Selling: Welcome to the Chain
This is a different game entirely.
When you’re both buying and selling, you’re part of a property chain. And chains are… let’s just say they’re not famous for running smoothly.
What Changes:
- ⚠ Strict deadlines – You must be out by a specific time
- ⚠ Multiple moving parts – Your sale, your purchase, possibly several others in the chain
- ⚠ Fund transfer delays – Money has to move between multiple solicitors
- ⚠ Timing uncertainty – You might not know your unloading time until the day
- ⚠ Higher complexity – More things that can (and sometimes do) go wrong
Unlike first-time buyers, you don’t have the luxury of moving a few days later. The people buying your house need to move in. The chain must complete.
Quick Comparison: What Type of Move Are You Facing?
| Your Move | First-Time Buyer | Buying & Selling |
|---|---|---|
| Chain involvement | Usually none – you’re free | Part of a chain – you’re locked in |
| Flexibility | High – choose your date | Limited – completion day it is |
| Completion day pressure | Lower – you control timing | Higher – everyone’s waiting on you |
| Waiting time risk | Lower (if you plan smart) | Higher (chain delays happen) |
| Move complexity | Simpler logistics | More complex coordination |
| Our advice | Move a few days later | Book early, build in buffer time |
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re stepping onto the property ladder for the first time or moving up, knowledge saves money.
First-time buyers: use your flexibility. Don’t follow the crowd into expensive same-day moves if you don’t have to.
Chain movers: plan early, communicate well, and build buffer time into your day. Completion-day moves are complex, but they don’t have to be chaotic.
And for everyone: get professional advice early. A brief conversation with an experienced removals company can save you hours of stress and significantly reduce your moving costs.
Ready to Plan Your Nottingham Move the Smart Way?
We’ve helped hundreds of first-time buyers and chain movers across Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and the wider East Midlands.
Get a free, no-obligation home survey:
- Accurate pricing based on your actual items
- Personalized advice for your specific situation
- Tips to reduce costs and stress
- Flexible booking for your timeline
Call us: 07546493255
Email: [email protected]
Your moving day should be exciting — not expensive and stressful. Let’s plan it right.
