The length of time it will take from receiving your instructions to acting for you until you
complete the sale of your property will depend on various factors. The average process takes
between 8-14 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For
example, if your buyer is a cash purchaser, with no chain and not obtaining searches or having a
survey carried out, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are selling to a buyer in a chain or there
are any legal issues relating to your property that need to be resolved, it can take significantly longer,
between 4 and 6 months. In such a situation, additional charges may apply. Below is an outline of the key stages of selling a property.

1. Instructing your solicitor
   Once you have made the decision to sell your property and appointed an estate agent, you
   will need to instruct a solicitor to handle the legal process for you.
2. Property deeds obtained
   When a buyer is found, your solicitor will download a copy of the title from the Land
   Registry, or if the property is not registered, your solicitor will look to obtain the title
   deeds.
3. The contract pack
   Your solicitor will then compile what is called a ‘contract pack’ which contains the title
   documents, a contract and information about the property you are selling and includes
   everything from fixtures and fittings to the boiler guarantee / servicing history. The pack
   also usually includes any planning permissions granted and guarantees on work carried out
   on the property.
4. Replies to enquiries from the buyer
   The buyer’s solicitor will then usually carry out conveyancing searches and, on receipt of the
   search results (and sometimes before), raise additional enquiries.
   Your solicitor will reply to any enquiries from the buyer and answer their questions to the
   best of their (and your) knowledge.
5. Signing the contract
   Your solicitor will provide you with a contract to sign and will discuss this with you prior to
   signing. They will also usually provide you with the Transfer Deed to sign before exchange
   of contracts.
6. Exchange contracts
   At this stage, you become legally bound to proceed with the transaction by the agreed
   completion date. On average there is around a week between exchange and completion.
7. Completion and moving out
   The sale is completed when your solicitor has received the monies from the buyer’s solicitor
   and any mortgages secured on the property are redeemed. The seller’s solicitor releases the
   property deeds to the buyer’s solicitor, the keys are provided via the estate agent and the
   net proceeds of sale are paid.

Pricing
Information regarding costs involved are available on our pricing page here.