We have outlined each step you can expect to follow in the process of selling a house or a flat below. Every transaction is different, as are the timescales. Typically, if there is no chain involved, then you should expect the process to take between 6-8 weeks. If there is a chain involved then whilst the matter might still take the same time, it will also depend upon the needs of the chain.

The Process

The Beginning

• You decide to sell your property – you will need to instruct us to deal with the legal formalities as soon as you have found a buyer for it.
• We will arrange to satisfy ID and Money Laundering requirements and send you our initial forms to complete, including a property information form, fittings and contents form, leasehold information form, client sale questionnaire and our client care letter. We will also ask for some money on account of costs and disbursements.
• We will obtain details of your title from the Land Registry.
• We will obtain a mortgage redemption statement from your current lender (if any).
• Once you have completed the relevant forms, we will send the contract pack to the buyer’s solicitors.
• For leasehold properties, we will obtain a leasehold property enquiry pack from the managing agent or freeholder.
• We will deal with additional enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitors, having sent you out draft replies for your approval.
• We will ask you to sign the sale contract and liaise with you about completion dates.

The Middle

• We will liaise with the buyer’s solicitors and, if appropriate, the estate agents in order to proceed to exchange of contracts with the buyer’s solicitors and will receive a deposit from the buyer’s solicitors. This is the stage where both you and the buyer are legally committed to the transaction.
• We will obtain a mortgage redemption figure from your lender (if any).
• We will send you the Transfer Deed for execution.
• We will send you a detailed financial statement giving details of all amounts received and spent. 

The End

• On the completion date, the buyer’s solicitors will transfer to us the balance of the purchase monies.
• You will vacate the property, ensuring the property is clear of all items apart from those which have agreed to remain.
• We will send the Transfer Deed and other relevant documents to the buyer’s solicitors and redeem your mortgage.
• We will settle the Estate Agents commission account and deduct our fees, and remit the remaining monies to you or put them towards any related purchase.

We hope that this covers the process, however please let us know if you have any queries.