Less than a week to go...

Moving

All the stuff I want to go to the US has gone and is now all paid for. My sister has been through my house and found so much stuff that I simply couldn't take - it's heartbreaking.

Selling the House

The company buying my house is doing everything in a weird order. I had to pay a deposit to get them to value my property. They sent me an offer without looking at the house. I've now got a solicitor (lawyer) who has put together the paperwork and sent it to the buyers. Now the buyers want to view the house. This is all taking time and should, in theory, delay my emigration.


Leaving the UK

As I've filled in US customs forms declaring the actual date of my immigration, I will be entering the US on that date - no matter what else is happening.

I'm hiring a car, driving it down to Gatwick, using Virgin's "Twilight Check-in" (nothing to do with sparkly vampires) to get rid of my luggage the night before, sleeping in a hotel, dropping off the rental car at the airport and strolling into the airport with only hand luggage.

Some more expenses

So, selling a house involves the odd extra expense.

Legal bills - If a company is buying your house they may pay for some/all of your legal bills (mine is). I have picked a solicitor that uses email (as it's faster).

Energy Performance Certificate - As I live in the EU I have to have my home "energy rated" and receive an EPC before I can sell it. I have paid a company that will rush this through and email me the certificate (which I can forward to my solicitor).

House clearing - Finally, I have to get rid of the stuff left in my house that not only didn't go to the US but got rejected by my family.

Sold(ish)

The house buying company made a bid for my house without even looking at it.

The offer was less than I hoped for but more than I feared.

I'm now finding a solicitor (lawyer) to push the paperwork through for me. I'd like it to be quick as I'm leaving the UK in about two weeks...

Yes, in two weeks I'll be Coming To America (see what I did there?)

Sorted . . . nearly

Phew!

It turns out that I have a LOT more stuff than I thought. It's killing my back, sorting through books, DVDs and various ephemera. I also noticed that, even though I told my movers that my belongings will be going into storage in Las Vegas, they've opted to send everything by air. I've got to contact them this morning to try to get them to ship it.

Also I'm moving along with my house sale. I'm using a quick sale company - Note: None of them seem to answer their emails so, if you're in a hurry you'll have to phone them. The first one I called was very unenthusiastic and hasn't called me back. The second was pretty keen but charge an up-front fee. The third ones finally phoned me after I'd given up and gone with the second ones.

We'll see how things progress...