You’ve accepted an offer - congrats! But… now what?

It’s totally normal to feel unsure about what happens next. This guide breaks down what to expect once your sale is agreed, so you feel more confident and less overwhelmed.

You formally agree to the sale

Once you tell your agent you’re happy with the offer, they’ll mark the property as “Sold STC” (Subject to Contract). At this point, nothing’s legally binding yet - but everyone’s working towards that goal.

The buyer arranges a survey

Most buyers will book a survey to check the condition of the property. Don’t worry, this is standard!

Depending on the type of survey (basic or detailed), this might involve anything from a quick visit to a more thorough inspection.

Both parties instruct a solicitor/conveyancer

You’ll need a solicitor (or licensed conveyancer) to handle the legal side of your sale. If you haven’t already chosen one, now’s the time to do it. They will:

• Send out the draft contract to the buyer’s solicitor
• Begin pulling together the legal documents for the sale
• Handle questions from the buyer’s side

Meanwhile, your buyer’s solicitor will start doing legal checks (called searches).

You’ll fill in some forms

To move things along, you’ll need to complete a few forms for your solicitor. These help the buyer understand your property and what’s included in the sale. You may be asked to provide:

• A Property Information Form (TA6)
• A Fittings and Contents Form (TA10)
• Leasehold Information (if applicable)

This is also a good time to gather any documents related to guarantees, building work, or service charges if you haven’t already.

The buyer might ask questions

It’s totally normal for their solicitor to come back with questions - maybe about planning permission, the boiler warranty, or garden boundaries. Your solicitor will help you answer them.

Contracts are exchanged

Once both sides are happy and everything’s in place, you’ll exchange contracts. At this point, the sale becomes legally binding and the move-in date (completion) is agreed.

You complete the sale

On completion day, you hand over the keys and the buyer officially becomes the new owner. Your solicitor will handle the money transfer, and the sale is done!