{"id":568,"date":"2022-05-05T13:34:12","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T13:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/?p=568"},"modified":"2024-11-04T11:11:57","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T11:11:57","slug":"how-long-to-move-house-once-offer-accepted-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springbokproperties.co.uk\/blog\/how-long-to-move-house-once-offer-accepted-uk","title":{"rendered":"Accepted an offer? Here\u2019s how long it takes to move house in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re trying to find out how long it\u2019ll usually take to complete on a house sale, we have the information right here for you, and the answer might surprise you\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving house can be a daunting experience. It can sometimes feel like you\u2019re spinning lots of plates trying to get everything organised and running simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But just how long does it take to move house?<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How long will it take for me to move house after an offer has been accepted?<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s first think about all the stages that are involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s time needed to prepare and then list the property, host viewings, negotiate and accept an offer, making the offer legally binding, waiting on surveys; the list goes on.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

According to ViewMyChain \u2013 a data driven chain management tool \u2013 it can take on average, six months and 24 days to purchase a home. That\u2019s right; very nearly seven months!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at the key milestones between sold subject to contract (SSTC) to completion, they found it takes an average of 23 days for searches to be ordered after a property has been sold subject to contract. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>It then takes around 10.2 days for the Local Authority to return searches. This timeframe can vary across the UK, with some areas taking up to 50 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

After searches have been returned, an average of 31 days is needed for enquiries to be satisfied and a further seven days to get the sale ready for exchange.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Funding equates to around a third of the time taken in the completion process. Once sold subject to contract, it can take on average 17 days for the mortgage application to be submitted, and then an additional 21 days for a mortgage to be offered.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

All that assumes that the chain doesn\u2019t fall through. If it does, you\u2019ve potentially wasted time up to that point and will need to start all over again. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>It should be noted that things are different in Scotland because when an offer has been made, it\u2019s legally binding to prevent the frustration caused by offers being made then withdrawn (and sales falling through).<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Chains are one of the main reasons for a sale to be held up. If just one person in the chain walks away from their sale, the whole chain can collapse. And if you do complete as part of a long chain, you\u2019ll have to agree to a completion date that works for everyone else in the chain. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>This isn\u2019t going to be easy and it\u2019ll potentially mean a longer wait than you wanted before you can move. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Not being in a chain will ensure you have a faster house sale.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s time to go into detail on how long it takes to complete on a house if you\u2019re a seller\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the average time taken to move house?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Every house move potentially comes with its own set of challenges to conquer. Some of these will take more time to overcome than others, especially if there are issues highlighted in the surveys.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And let\u2019s not forget the time it will take for you to find a buyer. This can be weeks, and in some instances, it could take a year to find a buyer; even when the market is strong.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the factors that can extend the timescale for moving house?<\/b><\/h3>\n

All of the following are the things that can all potentially slow down your house sale. Understanding them means understanding how to speed-up your sale so that it goes through without delay.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Your buyer<\/b><\/h4>\n

Although you might think that there\u2019s not much you can do about the buyer, you\u2019d be wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your buyer needs to be just as motivated as you are to push the sale along. This will mean you\u2019ll need to rely on them to choose a good conveyancer that won\u2019t drag their feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What you can do is choose your buyer; especially if you\u2019re lucky enough to receive offers from different people. The thing that slows down a house sale is a chain. Waiting for someone in the chain to make a step forwards can have a knock-on effect for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got offers from a buyer that\u2019s in a chain, as well as an offer from a buyer that isn\u2019t in a chain, it would make life easier for you to go for the latter; even if their offer is slightly lower than the buyer in a chain. This is because the whole transaction is likely to be much more straightforward and therefore go through quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The estate agent<\/b><\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re following the traditional route of selling with an estate agent, they will be the ones that gather documents, check that solicitors have been appointed and provide advice. They act as the \u2018go-between\u2019 for you and your buyer, so if they\u2019re slow to respond to emails, or not easy to reach on the phone, your sales process can be delayed.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Even when using major websites like Rightmove, the sale of your house will often depend upon the proactive nature of your estate agent. There\u2019s something that you can do to find out just how efficient they are and if your agent really is working for you. Ask a friend to call your agent and describe a property similar to yours to find out if yours is mentioned. It\u2019s a simple but effective plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re having doubts about the ability of your agent, search for online reviews from real customers like you to find out if others have been in your position.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Solicitors and conveyancers<\/b><\/h4>\n

Having an efficient and proactive solicitor will help you to achieve a fast sale. One of the things they\u2019ll do for their buyer is called a local search. Obtaining the results from these surveys can take a couple of weeks \u2013 sometimes longer \u2013 but if your solicitor requests these as soon as you appoint them, it\u2019ll make sure things are on track for you.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span>Surveys can delay your sales process not only when the local authority is slow to respond, but also when the buyer is slow to make their payment. Solicitors will not request the local searches until payment has cleared because it is a cost to them. Any delay in your buyer making the payment will have ramifications, but it\u2019s out of your hands. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>At this point, all you can do is to chase the estate agent for updates and make sure the buyer has done all they can.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

RICS survey<\/b><\/h4>\n

I mention this because although it isn\u2019t strictly necessary for a buyer to have a RICS survey, they may well want one to be done. The survey itself will take a matter of hours, but it\u2019s the waiting for survey results to be returned that can hold things up. Then if the survey alerts your buyer to anything abnormal, they might drag their feet, request that remedial work is undertaken before the sale progresses, or even ask for a reduction on the price. Naturally, these outcomes would lead to negotiations that would hold up the process. Of course, all that assumes that the buyer requested the RICS survey in good time, and that you\u2019re available for the surveyor to visit.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Mortgage company<\/b><\/h4>\n

If your buyer is using a mortgage to buy your property, it could be that there are delays in getting the finance in place. Obviously, you\u2019ll have wanted them to have done this before they placed an offer, but it isn\u2019t always the case. To some degree, the mortgage application process is out of your buyers\u2019 hands, but then again, if they put in the hard work earlier on, it would speed-up the sale for both parties. Documents from the prospective buyer, official certifications and sending things back and forth through the post can all add up to more delays for you as a seller.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a buyer, so what can I do to keep the process moving and not delay things?<\/b><\/h3>\n

There are a number of things that you can do as a buyer to help the house sale move along and get into your new home sooner. Here are eight tips:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n