What Estate Agents Don’t Tell You About Moving Day

Estate agents are great at selling homes.

It’s their job to get your offer accepted and guide you through to exchange. But when it comes to moving day itself? In our experience - that’s a whole different story. We live and breathe moving day logistics, we’re there on the ground, in real time, with keys delayed, vans waiting and buyers pacing the pavement. So we wanted to share the realities of moving day - the things no one really warns you about and how you can prepare for them in advance.

truth bomb one: completion day delays happen more often than you think

You might be told, "It'll all go through by midday." But in reality, keys can be held up by a bank, a solicitor on lunch, sellers making their way to the estate agents at their own leisure with the keys - we have seen it all. Meanwhile, your buyer’s removals team is parked outside. You can’t get into your new home. And your own van is still half full.

Our advice? Always be mentally prepared for delays. Pack an overnight bag, keep the kettle handy and trust your removals team to flex around it.

Truth Bomb Two: You don't technically own your home anymore after 12pm

Once completion happens, the house you’re moving out of isn’t legally yours. That means if you’re still packing, still loading or haven’t dismantled that wardrobe yet - you’re technically holding up the whole chain.

At Lyons, we plan our timings to avoid this exact stress. We’ll work with you - give you tips on hatting to your solicitor, speak to your sellers on your behalf and do out best to keep everything moving to make sure the handover is as smooth as possible.

TRUTH BOMB THREE: You need to be out before the buyers show up

This one shocks people all the time. But as per truth bomb two - buyers turn up with their removals team while you’re still packing up and tensions rise. It feels rushed, chaotic and stressful. Fun fact - if you cause a hold up, your buyers removals team will charge them a waiting charge of which they can submit to your solicitors and make you pay.

Our advice? Start early. Let us help you prep the day before if needed. And always overestimate how long it takes to move a full house.

truth bomb four: Estate agents aren't removals coordinators

They’ll hand over keys. They’ll check paperwork. But they won’t:

• Help you book parking

• Coordinate key handovers in real-time

• Liaise with solicitors or movers

• Think about where the van can safely stop

• Speak to your sellers when they are holding up the exchange

That’s our job. We’ll call ahead, manage logistics and handle the pressure so you don’t have to.

Truth bomb five: A good removals team makes all the difference

Moving day is emotional. You're saying goodbye to one home and trying to make it to the next. Things get left behind. Timings shift. People get snappy.

At Lyons, we’re more than a removals team. We’re your calm in all of the inevitable chaos. We're your extra pair of hands.

We’ll pack up the kettle last. We’ll label the important boxes. And we’ll make sure your sofa gets into the house without drama - even if it's not the conventional way.

Estate agents will help you to get to your moving day. We will help you through it.

If you want a team that knows the reality behind getting the keys on time, get in touch for a no-pressure quote.

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