Ideally, they should move out and in on the same day, advises Rowan Alexander, director of the Alexander Swart Property Group.
While this is often not possible, especially if the seller and buyer both have a substantial amount of items to move, it is important that both parties agree on the moving dates in advance.
“This should be a signed, legal contract which cannot be broken without the offending signatory paying heavily in compensation for the inconvenience almost invariably caused if such agreements are not kept. If a property will be left unoccupied for a day, or longer, provision should be made to ensure it is not broken into.”