So you’ve found your dream home – congrats! But what happens next?
From the moment your offer is accepted to the exciting day you collect the keys, moving house can feel like a whirlwind of legal steps, paperwork, and playing the waiting game. Whether you’re a first time buyer or moving up the property ladder, understanding the moving house timeline is essential to navigating the process with confidence.
In the UK, a typical property transaction takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months. In this blog we’ll walk you through the key stages of the journey, helping you understand what to expect and how to prepare for each milestone along the way.
- Submitting Your Offer
Once you’ve found your ideal property, you’ll submit an offer through the estate agent. If the seller agrees, the property will be marked as ‘sold subject to contract’ meaning the sale is agreed in principle but not yet legally binding. This is when things really start to move.
2. Connect with a Conveyancing Solicitor
Time to bring in the legal experts! A conveyancing solicitor will handle the legal aspects of the sale such as local authority and property searches, reviewing contracts, liaising with the seller’s solicitor and handling the exchange and completion of the sale.
3. Apply for your Mortgage & Get Approved
If you haven’t done so already, you’ll need to apply for your mortgage. Your lender will carry out a valuation to confirm the property’s value before issuing a formal mortgage offer. You’ll need to provide documents such as proof of income and identity to support your application. Once approved, you can move forward with confidence.
4. Legal Work & Property Searches
Your conveyancer will conduct several checks behind the scenes, including a local authority search, environmental search and water/drainage search. This is to ensure there are no legal issues attached to the property which may cost you further down the line.
5. Survey
This part is optional, however highly recommended. You can commission a survey to assess the condition of the property. This will highlight any structural issues before you legally commit to the purchase.
6. Exchange Contracts
Now it is time for the legal commitment from both parties. You will sign the contract, agree on a completion date, pay your deposit (usually 5-10% of the property price). This is where your sale becomes legally binding – and pulling out after this point could result in losing your deposit.
7. Completion Day!
You are now officially a homeowner! Your solicitor will send the remaining funds to the seller’s solicitor, and once this is all confirmed, you will receive the keys!
8. Post Completion
Your conveyancing solicitor will register you as the new owner with HM Land Registry and you will receive the title deeds. If you paid stamp duty, this will be handled by your solicitor.
Buying a home involves a lot of moving parts – from legal documents and searches to contracts and taxes. It can feel overwhelming, but that’s where a good conveyancer makes all the difference. At Simply Move Home, we take the stress out of the process by connecting you with trusted, fully vetted solicitors. We’ll give you four free quotes so you can compare and choose the one that works best for your needs and timeline.
Top Tips to Keep Your Move on Track
- Stay organised! Keep all important documents in one folder such as your ID, mortgage paperwork and solicitors letters.
- Respond promptly – quick replies to your solicitor/mortgage lender can prevent unnecessary delays.
- Avoid big purchases – from offer to completion, try to avoid missing payments or applying for new credit as they can raise red flags and delay your mortgage approval.
- If you’re buying in a chain, delays elsewhere can affect your move. You can ask your estate agent for regular updates so you stay informed and prepared.
- Start packing early – you can start with non-essentials and work room by room. Label boxes clearly and keep track of what’s going where. It’ll make unpacking so much easier!
🎉 Ready to make your move? With the right solicitor and a little planning, the process can be smoother than you think. At Simply Move Home, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
