Progress Checklist
Once you have made the decision to move, this is what should happen barring any complications. The reality is, however, often different. Experience suggests that it pays to be aware of what should be happening and to regularly enquire as to the progress that has been made! At least then you will understand where and how your conveyance has come off the tracks.
Timeframe |
Vendor |
Purchaser |
Vendor’s conveyancer |
Purchaser’s conveyancer |
Before agreeing the purchase/sale of a property |
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At the earliest possible opportunity – (as soon as possible once you have decided to move) preferably a couple of weeks before a sale/purchase has been negotiated. |
Select conveyancer and agree terms and estimated costs. Instruct them and advise where they can find the Title Deeds (they’ll need your mortgage account number etc.) If the property is leasehold, now is the best time to supply copies of all relevant papers – receipts for maintenance, ground rent, insurance etc. |
Be prepared in case a fast transaction is needed. Find a conveyancer with whom you are happy. Agree terms and anticipated approximate moving costs. If you are also selling a property then it might pay to use the same conveyancer as for that transaction. |
Obtains Office Copy Entries from the Land Registry as well as Title Deeds from vendor, or from vendor’s mortgage lender. Gathers all relevant information ready for sending to the purchaser’s solicitor when the sale is first negotiated. |
Confirms what is required of the purchaser and what expenses they might expect. |
Once the sale/purchase has been negotiated |
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Ideally within a week of agreeing the sale/purchase (subject to contract) |
Advise your solicitor what terms have been agreed for the sale of your property. |
Advise your solicitor what terms have been agreed for the purchase of the property. Make application for mortgage. Pay solicitor any out-of-pocket expenses they require. |
Provided the vendor supplied the correct information two weeks before reaching this stage, hopefully by now the solicitor has the information necessary for preparing and sending a Draft Contract to the purchaser’s solicitor. He/she should now also ask the vendor for answers to Standard Preliminary Enquiries, in anticipation of the Purchaser’s solicitor raising them. |
Money for Search and, possibly, other out-of-pocket expenses may be required in advance of any work being done. On receiving the Draft Contract, the purchaser’s solicitor should immediately apply for Local Search using the Title Plan for identification. Should also immediately raise Standard Preliminary Inquiries of the Vendor’s solicitor and may make Additional Enquiries. |
Ideally by the 2nd week. |
Reply to Standard Inquiries. Return these to own solicitor. |
Check whether mortgage lender has inspected the property yet. If not, then get their commitment to a date for this to happen. |
Returns replies to Standard Inquiries to the Purchaser’s solicitor. Replies to Additional Inquiries or forwards those requiring Vendor assistance to the Vendor. |
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| Ideally by the 3rd week. | Reply to Additional Inquiries. Return these to own solicitor. | Think about getting your Contract Deposit ready, especially if it is in a 7-day (or longer) account! Note: If you are selling another house, then you may be able to transfer the Contract Deposit from your buyer onto your vendor – so you won’t need to use as much of your own cash. Ask your solicitor about this. | Should by now have received the Local Authority Search and answers to Inquiries. Should ask the purchaser for the Contract Deposit and any other necessary monies. | |
| Ideally by the 4th-5th week | You should be invited to sign the contract for sale. Advise your solicitor what moving dates can be worked to. Give several dates to work around. Especially where there are chains, getting a date upon which everyone can move can often prove difficult. The greater the flexibility, the better! Ensure there is a removals firm available. | You should by now have a mortgage offer. If not, then questions should be asked of your lender. You should be invited to sign the contract for purchase. Advise your solicitor what moving dates can be worked to. Give several dates to work around. Especially where there are chains, getting a date upon which everyone can move can often prove difficult. The greater the flexibility, the better! Ensure there is a removals firm available. | Invites the vendor to sign the contract and transfer documents in preparation for exchange of contracts. | Should be able to approve the contract and make a Report on Title to the purchaser. Hopefully now is the time for the contract to be signed and the contract deposit made available ready for exchange. Makes a search to establish that the vendor is still entitled to sell the property. |
Agree completion date – this is usually the same as the moving date and is typically 2 weeks after exchange. |
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EXCHANGE CONTRACTS – the transaction is now legally binding on both parties. |
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| Hopefully by the 6th-7th week | Start packing Notify people about your move – checklist. | Notify people about your move – checklist. | Applies to the mortgage lender for funds on completion day. | |
| Hopefully by the 8th-10th week. | COMPLETION/MOVING DAY |
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Advice:
- House Prices
- Tips for buying property
- Tips for selling property
- Progress Check
- Jargon Buster
- Moving Day
- Trees and Preservation Orders
- Removals
- Find out a property’s Council Tax Band
