Moving house on the hottest day of the year, in the centre of the city, in the middle of the Edinburgh Festival had not been on my bingo card a mere 12 weeks earlier but, thanks to VMH, even that challenge was ticked off with ease!
Rewind to mid-May when I’d made the decision to downsize from the six-bed end-terrace which had been home for 22 years to something more manageable, now the nest was well and truly empty. VMH Solicitors and Estate Agents came highly recommended and I arranged a free pre-sale valuation to get the ball rolling.
I’d acted on all decluttering and depersonalising online features, had checked everything from the downpipes to the uplighters were in full working order and was pretty sure that when VMH 
property valuers Connor and Joan walked up the path there would be nothing remotely amiss.
I hadn’t banked on Connor’s eagle eye, however, as he tactfully suggested I curate my gin collection (entirely valid), caulk the gap between the skirting and wall as it wound upstairs and hit eye level (22 years there and I’d never noticed!), and a number of other little tasks which would improve the landscape for a prospective buyer. Challenge accepted and VMH engaged.
A Marketing Appraisal Report and quote for selling arrived a few days later, both duly okayed, the home report was then instructed via espc and we were in business.
Within a week Connor returned – caulking and curating duly done – with the property photographer and videographer and had conveniently arranged for the surveyor to come at the same time to fit in with my morning working from home. Had Steven Spielberg appeared in the vestibule at this point I wouldn’t have been surprised – it was all systems go to show my admittedly unusual property in its best light. We were well into Scotland’s best summer on record so the actual light was gorgeous, the skies were blue and, in true old school fashion, I took my work outside and kept out of shot!
A couple of days later the draft sales brochure and home report were sent for review along with a stunning video tour of the house which, honestly, made me want to buy it! Not just great marketing collateral but a lovely memento of the old home which I’ll definitely keep.
Residential Sales Negotiator Karen then joined the email posse to advise that she would be the contact when the property went live and what would happen next, any items which would be included in the sale (gin, anyone?), the viewing arrangements and, crucially, talked me through the options for the asking price. Once agreed that morning, the house was on the market that afternoon – within two weeks of that initial visit!
Though viewings would be by appointment, I was leaving the next day, for a week, to attend a family wedding. Not a problem as Karen arranged for a Viewing Agent to show the house to any interested parties. I handed over the keys, packed my shiny shoes and headed off.
In amongst the family reunions, rehearsal dinners and the actual event, Karen was brilliant at keeping me informed about the viewings and any resulting questions. This was no mean feat as…did I mention the wedding was off grid, in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, seven hours behind GMT?
Within a week there were offers, negotiations were made and I accepted a figure 6.5% above asking price eight days after the property went to market (all while sitting at a remote bus stop waiting to board the airport bus to Denver!). Chapeau to VMH!
Thus I landed back in Edinburgh with a moving-out date of mid August – just eight weeks later – a house to empty…and potentially nowhere to live! Before I’d had time to pack a cardboard box, however, I’d spotted a suitable property and enlisted the services of VMH Senior Associate Michelle to put in an offer, which was duly accepted and she subsequently handled the purchase.
Having both the sale and purchase managed by VMH, with such a tight timescale, was the ideal solution. The whole team worked their socks off to make sure I moved out, my buyer moved in and I moved into my new home within four hours on the same day!
Apart from the anti-money laundering regulations, handled by the onboarding team at VMH, which threw up the minor issue of having to source a paper copy of an official letter with my previous address – when everything, and I mean everything, is paperless now! – I was left to concentrate on packing up. VMH even came to the rescue there with appropriate official paper correspondence. In fact, the only niggling worry I had was that there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about!
Over the next few weeks Louise and Elaine, from the VMH Legal Team, worked through any items that were to be left in the house, any documents that required attention with both the sale and purchase and did a sterling job of reassuring me everything was running to plan – and that there was, indeed, nothing to worry about.
Six days before m-day, Michelle had worked her magic and I signed the final paperwork for both sale and purchase, the arrangements for moving the funds were made and…it was time for a few relaxed balmy evenings of leaving drinks with the neighbours!
Moving day arrived and it was a scorcher. The house was duly decanted into a van by 11am and, while the removal team drove off into position outside the new flat, Michelle advised I go for a coffee while waiting for the funds’ transfer to clear in my link of the chain. Anticipating an early lunch would be more appropriate to fill the time, my starter had just landed when Michelle called to let me know all was good and I could pick up the keys from my seller’s solicitor! After inhaling the main course, I set off and, half an hour later, was opening the door to the next chapter of my life.
Getting the house on the market had seemed a huge enough ask, at the outset, then to have the addition of such a short timeline, plus a purchase and, to top it all, everything having to take place on the same day…massive thanks to the whole team at VMH for their hard work and expertise in ensuring it all happened so seamlessly. Really, you couldn’t see the join!
Any words of advice? Well, check your caulking and curate the gin – the result of the latter looked so good (group bottles in threes or fives, in height order outside to middle) it’s been replicated in the new house – and keep a few paper copies of letters from the bank or utilities. Although, like everything else, VMH will be #more than happy to help here!