Finding a property is top moving stress
Saturday, 03 Sep 2005 07:24
Moving is a misery for many
Trying to find the elusive property that meets all your requirements is the most stressful part of moving house.
It is closely followed by packing up in second place and waiting for the estate agent to call to say "offer accepted!" in third, it was revealed today.
Yorkshire Bank has compiled a list of the top ten moving miseries in an attempt to advise house movers how to make their next move a smooth one.
One in eight people finds moving house so stressful that they have vowed never to do it again, while two in three people find it highly stressful, the bank's report shows.
Waiting and frustration are the common themes in the top ten moving miseries: waiting to sell your house, waiting to exchange contracts and waiting for the surveyor's report all feature.
Other miseries include having to stop spending to save for a deposit, finding the best mortgage deal, finding a good solicitor, and unpacking everything once the move has been completed.
Children can make a move more stressful, with one in 20 house movers experiencing tantrums as their offspring voice disapproval at moving away from friends.
Gary Lumby, head of retail at Yorkshire Bank, said: "We all know moving house is stressful. However, we wanted to get to the bottom of what actually appears to be making people ill with worry during the moving process.
"It's no surprise really that finding the right property came top, although you would expect selling your home to be a little higher in the top ten - especially when the market is slower than it has been."
Moving can be made less stressful through careful planning, and the bank is advising people to choose their moving day carefully.
Mr Lumby explained: "Many people move house on a Friday. However, if there are any hold-ups of money being transferred in the chain, the earliest this can be resolved is the following Monday.
"Therefore, homeowners could face the prospect of being left homeless for the weekend. The earlier in the week you move, the more peace of mind you will have that everything will go through before the weekend."
Top ten moving miseries
1. Finding a property that suits your requirements
2. Packing away your life into a cardboard box
3. Waiting for the estate agent to call to say "offer accepted!"
4. Selling your house
5. Having to stop spending to save for a deposit
6. Waiting to exchange contracts
7. Unpacking once the move is complete
8. Waiting for the surveyor's report
9. Finding the best mortgage deal
10. Finding a good solicitor