Completing Before Christmas: A Practical Guide for Buyers and Sellers

In many cases, yes. However, property transactions involve multiple parties, lenders, surveyors, search providers and solicitors, so timing will depend on everyone playing their part.

The sooner instructions are given and paperwork is completed, the smoother the process is likely to be.

If You’re Selling

• •Instruct your solicitor as soon as your property goes on the market.
• •Complete ID checks and property forms promptly.
• •Gather guarantees, warranties, planning permissions and building regulation documents early.
• •For leasehold properties, order the management information pack as soon as a sale is agreed.
• •Respond to enquiries fully and without delay.

If You’re Buying

• •Have a mortgage agreement in principle before making an offer.
• •Submit your mortgage application as soon as your offer is accepted.
• •Arrange your survey early.
• •Provide any documents requested by your solicitor or lender promptly.
• •Ensure your deposit funds are readily available when needed.

For Everyone in the Chain

• •Keep communication flowing between solicitors, estate agents, buyers and sellers.
• •Make all parties aware of any preferred completion dates at the start of the transaction.
• •Instruct a law firm that commits to keeping you and your estate agent updated throughout the entire process. You have enough to manage: chasing your solicitor or agent shouldn’t be adding to your to-do list.
• •Aim for an early December completion where possible to allow flexibility if issues arise at the eleventh hour.

Even straightforward transactions can encounter unexpected hurdles, including:

• •Delays with property searches.
• •Survey findings that require further investigation.
• •Mortgage lenders requesting additional information.
• •Missing planning or title documents.
• •Leasehold enquiries requiring information from freeholders or managing agents.
• •Delays elsewhere in the property chain.

While you cannot control every aspect of the transaction, you can help prevent avoidable delays by responding quickly whenever information is requested.

Completion is the day ownership transfers and the buyer receives the keys.

Before this can happen, contracts must usually be exchanged. Until exchange has taken place, neither party is legally committed to the transaction. For this reason, it’s sensible to avoid booking non-refundable removals or making firm moving arrangements too early.

Christmas can bring additional challenges:

• •Lenders, local authorities and other organisations may operate reduced hours and slower turnaround times due to annual leave across their teams.
• •Removal companies often become fully booked.
• •Winter weather can occasionally affect moving plans.

Being organised and proactive can make all the difference.

At Ashlings Legal, we understand that a home move is about more than paperwork. Our conveyancing team takes a proactive, practical approach, keeping transactions moving, communicating clearly and helping clients navigate potential obstacles before they become delays.

If you’re hoping to complete before Christmas, now is the time to get started.

Contact Ashlings Legal today for a free, no-obligation quote and let our experienced conveyancing team help make your move happen before the festive season.