We’re part way through a build and we need to move. What do we do?

Moving home is stressful at the best of times. So is a project – but combining the two doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doubling the difficulty. In some ways, you can use it to your advantage.

Most building work, unless covered by permitted development rights, will require planning permission, which isn’t always granted. So long as you have obtained it before breaking ground, the fact that you are half way through a build may actually make your property more attractive. Why? Because the prospective purchaser can finish the job to their own tastes. Also, because it is often easier to amend planning permission than it is to obtain it in the first place, there may be scope to enlarge or reconfigure the build to better suit their needs.

The alternative would be buying a house with neither planning permission nor ongoing work. While giving the purchaser a clean slate, this would burden them with the cost and administrative hassle of applying for permission themselves, not to mention the uncertainty of it being granted. If it was turned down, they may find they had bought the wrong house, which could prove a costly mistake.

Moving during building work
Moving during building work

Two quick fixes

There is no denying that not every buyer will see a half-finished project as an opportunity. They won’t have developed the relationship you have with your builders, and questions will be asked about your motivation for moving. Have you, for example, discovered something that makes the project unviable?

Others will be looking for a property that is ready to move in to, which will inevitably reduce the size of your potential market. There are two options for remedying this situation. The first involves putting off the sale until the work is done, while either securing a bridging loan to facilitate the immediate purchase of your new home, or moving to rented accommodation.

The second would be to reduce the price to attract more buyers. If you manage to sell without taking too great a hit then, painful though it may be to discount your property, this could work out cheaper than renting if you don’t need to cut too deep.

Of course, an incomplete building plot, even if it is attached to a property that can be lived in while the work is being done, is an unusual proposition, and you will need to pick your estate agent carefully. Source several quotes, and ask specifically whether those that you have invited to bid for the work have experience in selling a property like yours, as there is an art to valuing an incomplete building.

Unconventional solutions

Help your agent and viewers to see the potential in your project by giving them access to as many drawings, plans and projections as possible. If you have already agreed on fittings, like kitchen cabinets and ironmongery, make samples available in time for your viewing. Where hardware or building supplies still need to be purchased, draw up a realistic bill of materials, as this additional expense may need to be taken into consideration.

If you still can’t attract a purchaser in time for your move, you may need to consider a specialist buyer, like ZoomProperty, WeBuyAnyHome or WeBuyAnyHouse. Much like the similarly named car buying services, these businesses will make an offer on your property and specialise in achieving a quick turnaround. WeBuyAnyHouse claims it can provide a cash offer in an hour and complete the purchase in as little as seven days if required.

The property doesn’t need to be perfect, either. “The houses we buy range from houses in excellent condition, to houses that are complete tear downs and need to be rebuilt from the ground up,” explains ZoomProperty. “We specialise in buying all types of properties including houses that need major or minor repair. No need to do any fix ups when you sell to us, that’s our job.”

While moving home and having building work done are each stressful in their own right, the two coinciding isn’t necessarily the disaster you might expect, so don’t panic. Approach it with an open mind and remember – you still have options.

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