Berit & Chris's weblog

Pre-exchange nerves

With the moving-in day only two weeks away, we decided to spend the weekend getting our heads around the finances, exchange and completion. A variety of moving guides are available on line and from the solicitor. Nevertheless, moving is no easy task and it is supposedly one of life’s most stressful activities…In the end, we managed to achieve very little and if the exchange runs smoothly, we shall be very pleased indeed.

Until exchange of contracts, nothing is binding. Only when contracts are exchanged and a completion date has been agreed, are both parties legally bound. Completion usually takes place between one and four weeks after exchange of contracts. During this time, the title documents and mortgage is prepared, approved and signed. And on the day of completion, the final money transfer usually takes place. Once money has been received, the purchaser's solicitor obtains the title deeds, the transfer of the title documents and other. The transfer document is then sent for stamping, Stamp Duty is paid and the title deeds are registered. See Channel 4's website for a very useful guide to home-buying.

Bath Christmas Market

For the fourth time running, Bath is hosting a Christmas market. Until the 12th of December, situated adjacent to the Roman Baths and the Abbey, wooden chalet stalls will display local arts and crafts and sell seasonal goodies including luxury chocolates and mulled wine (a weaker version of glogg). After some initial window-shopping and a late lunch, Chris and I had a look around the stalls, one of which was selling traditional Swedish ‘tomter’ (Santa’s elves). The streets in Bath were beautifully lit with white decorative lights and there was a lovely smell of Christmas spices and burning lights.