What happens when you sell a home in England and Wales, and how to keep your sale moving.
Think about timing, where you’re moving to and what you still owe on your mortgage.
Estate agents visit and suggest an asking price. Two or three valuations give you a fair picture.
You’ll need an Energy Performance Certificate before marketing. Then it’s photos, a floor plan and listing.
Instructing a solicitor before you have a buyer lets them prepare your forms and documents in advance.
The agent passes on offers and checks each buyer’s position.
The agent sends a memorandum of sale. Your solicitor sends the draft contract to the buyer’s solicitor.
The buyer’s solicitor asks questions about the property. Your solicitor helps you answer them.
Your solicitor gets a redemption statement from your lender so the mortgage can be paid off on completion.
Everyone in the chain needs to be ready before anyone can exchange.
Contracts are swapped and the completion date is fixed. The sale is now legally binding.
The buyer’s money arrives, your mortgage is paid off and the balance is sent to you. You hand over the keys.
Take final meter readings, leave the property as agreed and tell people you’ve moved.
Buying, selling, remortgaging or simply not sure where to start? Tell us what you’re trying to do and we’ll help you work out what you need.