From the accepted offer to completion, clear communication can help keep your sale on the right track
Accepting an offer is an exciting milestone, but it is not the end of the selling process. In many ways, it marks the point where the more detailed work begins, as the sale moves from marketing and negotiation into legal, financial and practical steps.
At this stage, the buyer needs to confirm their position, the solicitors or conveyancers begin their work, and the property chain starts to take shape. A sale is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged, so maintaining momentum after accepting an offer is important.
Confirming the buyer’s position
Once you accept an offer, your estate agent will usually confirm the buyer’s details and check how they intend to fund the purchase. This may include asking for evidence of their deposit, mortgage position or proof of funds if they are a cash buyer.
The agent should also clarify the buyer’s position in the chain. A buyer who has already sold, has nothing to sell, or is a first-time buyer may be able to move more quickly than someone who still needs to secure a buyer for their own property.
Instructing your solicitor
If you have not already chosen a solicitor or conveyancer, you will need to do so promptly after accepting an offer. They will handle the legal transfer of ownership and liaise with the buyer’s legal representative throughout the transaction.
You will usually be asked to complete property information forms and provide documents relating to the property. These may include guarantees, planning permissions, building regulation certificates, leasehold information, service records, and details of fixtures and fittings.
Buyer’s checks begin
The buyer’s solicitor will review the contract pack and raise enquiries regarding the property. These enquiries may cover boundaries, alterations, rights of way, disputes, guarantees, lease terms, and any other matters requiring clarification before exchange.
At the same time, the buyer may arrange a survey and continue with their mortgage application. If the lender requires a valuation, this is usually arranged before a formal mortgage offer is issued.
Responding to enquiries
Legal enquiries are a normal part of the process, but they can sometimes feel repetitive or overly detailed. Your solicitor will help you respond accurately and explain what is required.
It is important to reply promptly and provide documents where possible. Delays often occur when information is missing, unclear or difficult to obtain, particularly with leasehold properties or homes that have undergone building work.
Dealing with survey results
If the buyer has a survey, it may raise issues with the property. Some may be minor, while others could prompt the buyer to request further information, ask for repairs, or try to renegotiate the price.
Not every survey comment needs to be treated as a problem. Older homes, for example, may naturally have maintenance issues. However, if a serious issue is raised, your estate agent and solicitor can help you consider the right response.
Managing the property chain
If your sale is part of a chain, several transactions may need to progress simultaneously. This can make timing more complicated because each buyer and seller depends on the others being ready.
Your estate agent should help monitor the chain and keep communication moving. While you cannot control every link, staying organised and responsive can help prevent your part of the sale from becoming the cause of delay.
Preparing for exchange
Exchange of contracts is the point at which the sale becomes legally binding. Before this can happen, the buyer’s mortgage offer, legal checks, searches, enquiries and contract arrangements must all be in place.
You will also need to agree a completion date. This is the day the money is transferred, the sale completes, and the buyer can collect the keys. The completion date must usually work for everyone in the chain.
What completion involves
On completion day, the buyer’s funds are transferred via the solicitors. Once the funds have arrived and the legal steps are complete, the estate agent can release the keys to the buyer.
You will need to have moved out by the agreed time unless a different arrangement has been made. It is also sensible to take final meter readings, leave manuals or keys neatly organised, and ensure the property is left in the agreed condition.
Keeping the sale on track
After accepting an offer, you need to stay organised and responsive. Completing forms early, providing documents quickly and keeping in touch with your solicitor and estate agent can all help the process run more smoothly.
A sale can still be delayed, especially when chains, surveys or legal enquiries are involved. However, understanding what happens after the offer is accepted can help you feel more prepared and less uncertain as you move towards completion.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PROPERTY, FINANCIAL, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE. SALE TIMESCALES, LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, SURVEY OUTCOMES AND COMPLETION DATES CAN VARY DEPENDING ON PROPERTY TYPE, CHAIN POSITION, MARKET CONDITIONS AND INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
