As the sale of your house progresses, it’s important to be aware of potential sources of conflict and tension. To avoid this, it’s crucial to set clear expectations with your buyers regarding timelines.

While there are many variables that can affect the timeline, such as surveys, titles, and buyer and seller positions, it’s important not to rush the process by setting dates too early. Generally speaking, a house sale can take 6-10 weeks (quick), 10-14 weeks (average), or 16 weeks or more (slow). Regularly checking in with your solicitor can help keep you informed of progress and allow you to relay information to your buyers and the people you’re buying from. It’s also essential to communicate delays and any issues that arise to ensure a smooth transition.

As the sale progresses and searches, surveys, valuations, and multiple visits from buyers and builders occur, you’ll likely be ready to discuss exchanging contracts and setting a completion date. You’ll also need to organize removals, so it’s best to start planning early. Once the buyer’s monies are transferred, your solicitor will notify you that the sale has officially been completed, and you can release the keys to the new owners. Discussing where to hand over the keys and taking meter readings before leaving is always helpful to ensure successful completion.