“Three months to buy my dream home?”
That’s what the estate agent told me. They were wrong.
Having helped thousands navigate house purchases, I now know the real timeline. Many buyers waste months through simple mistakes.
I’ll reveal the actual time needed to buy your home. You’ll learn which stages cause delays and how to avoid them.
No confusing jargon – just clear steps to follow.
Let me guide you through your purchase timeline. From viewing to getting keys, you’ll know what to expect.
Together, we’ll make your house purchase smoother and faster.
Understanding the House Buying Timeline
Most house sales take between 4-9 months from start to finish. That’s if you are buying on the open market using an estate agent.
But selling a house takes different amounts of time for each person.
I’ve helped many people sell their homes during tough times like divorce or repossession. The key is knowing what to expect at each step.
Your sale might take longer if you need special court papers first. This happens a lot when couples split up and sell their home.
Getting ready is the most important part.
You’ll need some helpers to make your sale go smoothly. Getting a lawyer and estate agent early can speed things up. They know what papers you need and can spot problems before they slow you down.
These things affect how fast you can sell:
- Having all your papers ready before you start showing the house
- Making sure all owners agree on the sale price and timing
- Getting your mortgage company to confirm what you still owe
- Having a clear plan for where you’ll move next
Also the property type affects your timeline significantly.
New builds often complete faster than older properties needing surveys. Understanding these differences helps set realistic moving dates.
Making Your Sale Move Faster
I know waiting to buy can feel stressful. But rushing can cause bigger problems later.
Make a list of everything you need to do first. This helps you stay organised when things get busy.
Your lawyer needs to check important things about your house. They look at who owns it and if there are any special rules about selling.
These steps help speed up your sale:
- Get your own lawyer right away
- Ask for a house value check before you start
- Keep copies of all important papers in one place
- Talk to your mortgage company about their rules
Looking to move quickly? Discover how to sell your house fast and speed up your purchase. Working with experienced professionals helps avoid common delays that slow many buyers down.
Initial House Buying Steps and Timeframes
Buying your first home can feel overwhelming.
So breaking it down into simple steps makes it easier to handle. Take it one stage at a time and you’ll find the process much less stressful.
- Getting a Mortgage Agreement in Principle
- Looking at Properties
- Making and Negotiating Offers
- Waiting for Seller Responses
- Working with Solicitors
Getting started is easier than you think.
Most lenders give you an agreement in principle in just 24 hours. This quick check looks at things like your salary and savings to see how much you could borrow.
Your mortgage agreement shows sellers you’re a serious buyer. Having this ready means you can move fast when you find the right house. Plus, it gives you a clear budget to work with during your search.
House hunting usually takes about 2-3 months.
You might see up to 10 houses before finding the right one. Some buyers get lucky and spot their dream home quickly, while others need more time to explore different areas and house types. It’s worth taking your time to find exactly what you want.
Remember to get a proper valuation of any house you’re serious about.
The offer stage typically lasts 1-2 weeks.
Most buyers go back and forth with the seller several times before reaching a deal. Your first offer might not get accepted right away, but don’t let this discourage you – it’s all part of the normal buying process.
You can change or pull out of your offer at any point before contracts are signed.
Sellers usually take 2-3 days to respond to offers.
Having your mortgage agreement ready helps speed things up. Good estate agents chase up answers for you and keep you updated about what’s happening. This regular communication helps reduce stress during the waiting period.
Finding and hiring a solicitor takes about a week.
Your solicitor handles all the complicated paperwork once your offer is accepted. They check important details about the house and make sure everything is legal, which typically takes 8-12 weeks to complete.
Pick someone who explains things clearly to you.
The Conveyancing Process Timeline
Selling a house needs lots of paperwork to keep everything safe.
I help families understand all the steps needed to sell their home. The local council needs to check important things about your house. Some councils work quickly while others take much longer.
Answering questions quickly helps stop your sale from getting stuck. Papers need signing on time.
Your house papers tell us how long things might take.
These are the main steps and how long they take:
- Getting your house papers ready: 1-2 weeks
- Council checking your house area: 2-6 weeks
- Checking who owns the land: 1-2 weeks
- Writing up sale papers: 1-2 weeks
- Signing the final papers: 1 week
Every town hall works at their own speed when checking houses. Some finish all their checks in two weeks. Others might need six weeks to do the same work.
Keeping Things Moving
Quick answers help your sale go faster.
Different types of houses need different checks done. Your helper will tell you what papers they need. They’ll explain everything in simple words.
The people checking your house papers work carefully to keep everyone safe.
Make sure you have all your house papers ready.
Someone called a solicitor helps with all the legal bits. They know exactly what needs checking.
The rules about selling houses are very strict to protect everyone. Your solicitor checks everything carefully to keep you safe. They make sure all the important papers are done properly.
Survey and Mortgage Application Stages
Every house needs checking before someone can buy it.
Getting a mortgage means letting the bank check your house carefully. They want to make sure it’s worth the money they’re lending. In my experience, it takes most banks about three weeks to say yes or no.
Different surveys give you different levels of house checks. Home buyers can pick what’s best for them.
Your bank sends someone to look at the house.
Types of survey you can choose from:
- Basic condition check: 1-2 days
- Mid-level home survey: 2-3 days
- Full building survey: 3-5 days
- Special checks for flats: 2-4 days
- Bank’s valuation: 1-2 days
If you’re wondering why isn’t my house selling, survey problems might be the reason. Sometimes houses need fixing before banks will help buyers.
Getting Your Mortgage Sorted
The bank needs lots of information to help you buy.
Your mortgage helper will ask for things like pay slips and bank statements. They check these carefully to make sure you can afford the payments. Most banks take about three weeks to look at everything.
The bank’s offer usually lasts for six months.
Getting a survey helps buyers feel safe about buying.
Banks check everything twice to make sure it’s all correct. They want to be sure your new house is worth what you’re paying. Your mortgage helper will explain what the bank needs in simple words.
Exchange and Completion Timelines
The last part of buying a house is super exciting! It’s a bit like a big puzzle where different pieces need to fit together perfectly.
Let’s look at what happens near the end of buying your new home.
- Contract Review Process
- Exchange of Contract Process
- Completion Day Preparations
- Moving Day Timing
- What Can Go Wrong and How to Fix It
Your helper (called a solicitor) reads through all the important house papers.
They spend about two weeks making sure everything is correct. They’re like detectives, checking that the house is safe to buy and that there aren’t any problems hiding in the paperwork.
Getting all your forms ready early helps make things go faster. Sometimes you have to wait for other people who are buying and selling houses at the same time – it’s like a big chain of people all moving on the same day!
This is the day when everything gets real!
Two solicitors talk on the phone and read out all the important bits about buying the house. After this chat, you can’t change your mind, and you need to pay some money to show you’re serious about buying the house.
Everyone needs to be ready on the same day. It’s like getting ready for a big race – everyone needs to be at the starting line with everything they need!
You choose how long you want between saying yes and moving in.
Most families pick 1-2 weeks to get everything sorted. You’ll need to pick which day you’re moving, find some people with a big van to help you move, and make sure your bank is ready with the money.
Start packing your toys and clothes early so you’re not in a rush at the end.
When you get your keys depends on other people moving too.
If no one else is moving on your day, you might get your keys before lunchtime! Sometimes you have to wait until after lunch while the grown-ups sort out all the money bits.
Want to know more about how long moving house takes? Click here to find out!
Sometimes the money takes longer than expected to move between banks.
Computers might go slow or banks might have problems. Your solicitor tries their best to fix any problems quickly, but sometimes you just need to wait a little bit.
Sometimes papers go missing and slow everything down. Keep all your important papers safe and reply quickly when your solicitor asks you for something. This stops lots of the normal problems that can make moving day take longer.
Methods of Selling Your House
Most people only consider the estate agent route but there are other options available to you…
Estate Agents
The traditional route requires patience and investment:
- Average sale time: 6-9 months
- 1 in 3 transactions falls through
- Success depends on local market conditions & buyers can pull out
- You’ll face several costs:
- Commission fees (up to 3%)
- Conveyancing fees (up to £3,000)
- Potential home staging expenses
- Certificate renewal if needed (i.e. EPC certificate)
Property Buyers Today
When speed is your priority:
- Completion in as little as 7 days
- No chain complications
- Clear benefits:
- No estate agent fees
- Legal fees covered
- No viewings or negotiations
- Guaranteed completion date
- Trade-off: Expect up to 85% of market value (note- this can be similar to other options after fees and mortgage payments)
Good cash property buying firms (like Property Buyers Today) have funds available and make it hands off for you.
Property Auction
Going under the hammer offers fast, certain sales:
- Timeline: 3-4 months
- Exchange happens immediately when hammer falls
- Key considerations:
- Risk of selling for lower than you may think
- Allow 4-8 weeks until auction day
- Allow 28 days to complete purchase
- Entry fees apply (up to £1,000)
- Auction house commission (up to 6%)
- More specialised knowledge required
There is Another Way: Property Buyers Today
If you’re wanting to speed up the process and are having issues selling your house, then Property Buyers Today may be a great solution for you.
Here are some of the reasons hundreds of sellers have chosen to work with us…
Speed
Most house sales take months, but we can buy your property in as little as 7 days.
This quick process is perfect if you need to move soon or want to avoid being stuck in a long chain of buyers and sellers. We have the cash on hand so don’t need to wait for mortgages or a chain to collapse.
Guaranteed Sale
Did you know 1 in 3 sales fall through on the open market?
We know how frustrating it is to get 6 months into a process and have a buyer pull out.
When we give you the final price for your house, that’s the amount you’ll get. Guaranteed!
No Costs
You won’t face any costs with us.
We handle all the expenses involved in buying your property, including legal fees and surveys. You get cash in your bank when the sale is complete, and there are no surprise estate agent commissions to worry about.
No Stress Or Hassle
Our team supports you through the whole selling process.
We keep you updated about what’s happening and answer any questions quickly. You’ll always understand what’s going on with your sale and what happens next.
Free Property Valuation
Our property experts will value your house at no cost to you.
They look carefully at your property and check local market prices to give you an accurate figure. This professional service comes with no obligations.
No Viewings Required
Forget about cleaning and tidying for viewings.
We don’t need multiple visits or open houses to make our offer. This means no strangers walking through your home, and no disruption to your daily life.
All Properties Welcome
Whether your house needs work or is in perfect condition, we’ll buy it.
We have experience with all types of properties and conditions. This means you can sell your house to us no matter what state it’s in.
Professional Legal Service
Our expert team manages all the legal requirements for you.
We work with experienced property lawyers who make sure everything runs smoothly, and put your property at the top of their list. This gives you peace of mind that your sale is being handled properly from start to finish.
