Conveyancing timeline: What’s the process and how long does it take?

The conveyancing timeline and process

We’re giving a broad overview of the conveyancing timeline for both buying and selling here. But if you want a more specific guide, check out our seller’s guide or buyer’s guide that outlines exactly what happens after an offer has been accepted.

Let’s get into how long conveyancing takes in this complete step-by-step guide.

Putting in an offer or accepting an offer

We know the excitement and nerves of putting in or accepting an offer. As big as this moment feels, try to take a deep breath. Buying or selling a home is a marathon, not a sprint.

If you’re a buyer and you’re first offer isn’t accepted, don’t sweat it. You can always go back to the negotiating table. And sellers – you’re not obligated to accept the very first offer. Take time to carefully weigh all your options to find the right fit.

Here are a few tips for when you get here.

For buyers:

• Make an offer you feel good about – don’t overextend
• Be open to negotiation and compromise
• Ask for support on your strategy from those who have experience

How to make an offer on a house. 

For sellers:

• Consider all factors – not just the highest offer
• Think about the type of buyer and timing needs
• Consult your agent for advice if needed

Find a conveyancer

Choosing a conveyancer sounds easier than it is. There’s a lot on the market and a lot to consider.

Purchasing or selling a property is a big transaction, make sure you choose a conveyancer that you trust. Here are some tips to consider when it comes to choosing:

• Evaluate their communication style. How often will they update you? Is it easy to contact them? Who will you directly work with? Good communication prevents headaches.
• Read client reviews for unbiased opinions. Check Google, Trustpilot, and social media. Compare conveyancers to get a sense of service quality.
• Ask about their use of technology for updates, document sharing, ID checks and more. Outdated processes can cause delays and added stress.
• Look for transparent pricing. Review inclusions/exclusions closely, ask questions, and avoid assumptions.
• Inquire about their caseload and support staff. Do they rely on assistants versus directly handling your transaction?

Step 2 – Instruction (a few days – 2 weeks)

You’ve found the perfect home or buyer, and the offer has been accepted – congratulations! Now comes the important step of instructing (hiring) your conveyancer to handle the legal side of things. We recommend getting your conveyancer on board ASAP to get the ball rolling. The sooner you can kick start the conveyancing timeline, the better.

At this stage, your conveyancer will need some key details from you about both yourself and the property transaction. Things like your name, ID, contact info, property address, purchase or sale prices, mortgage details and more.

The quicker you can provide this crucial information, the faster your conveyancer can get started on the legal work for your purchase or sale. Slow responses from you will slow down the whole process. We encourage you to be as responsive as possible to your conveyancer’s request so you can complete sooner.

Step 3 – Pre-exchange (4 weeks – 12 weeks)

Once your conveyancer has done the necessary checks to ensure the property transaction can legally go ahead, you’ll enter the pre-exchange stage. This is the longest stage of the conveyancing process as it involves a lot of preparation before contracts can be exchanged.

The complexity of the sale, the responsiveness of everyone involved, and potential hiccups impact the timeline here. Both the buyer’s and seller’s conveyancer communicate throughout the pre-exchange to draft contracts, review searches, and address any questions.

A breakdown of searches. 

Here’s what happens during the pre-exchange phase:

Property searches – the buyer’s conveyancer conducts searches to gather key details about the property. This includes checks with the local authority, as well as environmental and drainage searches.

Surveys and valuations – the buyer may choose to arrange a survey to assess the property’s condition. If mortgaging, the lender often requires a valuation. Any issues uncovered can extend timelines if problems arise that need negotiating or fixing.

What type of survey do I need?

Negotiations – both parties may need to negotiate any concerns from searches, surveys, or other aspects of the transaction.

Legal paperwork – Both conveyancers prepare and finalise essential documents like the contract of sale and supporting paperwork.

Mortgage approval – If the buyer is obtaining a mortgage, they must secure a formal offer. The conveyancer will then clarify the title before completion.

Exchange and completion date – suitable exchange and completion dates must be agreed upon by both the buyer and seller, as well as factoring in the impact of the property chain.

Resolving issues – Conveyancers work to resolve any outstanding issues (from searches, queries etc.) so everything is settled before exchanging contracts.

Deposit clear – Before exchange, the buyer’s conveyancer ensures the deposit is ready, to either send on exchange or be held to order for completion.

Step 5 – Pre-completion (7 - 28 days, or whatever is agreed)

Whether it’s taken you 3 months, 6 months, or more, you’ve come a long way to get to this stage. Now you can breathe a sigh of relief as the period of uncertainty is wrapping up.

Average time from exchange to completion

You just need to wait for completion day to roll around now. Your completion day has been agreed upon during the pre-exchange stage by everyone involved in your transaction. The average time between exchange and completion is one week, but it can be up to whatever is agreed, there is no minimum or maximum requirement.

The period between the exchange of contracts and completion is best used for preparation. As a buyer, book your removals team for moving day and start packing early – don’t leave it until the last minute. As a seller, you may need to do the same, but also ensure the property is left in the agreed contractual condition.

Aim to pack non-essentials first, working up to daily essentials as you near completion. We know that it can feel stressful and tiring, but the finish line is close now. Try to enjoy this time getting organised and starting your next chapter.

How to avoid delays in conveyancing

We know buying or selling a property is an exciting time. You likely want to get everything finalised as quickly as possible. Here are some tips to help you avoid delays in the conveyancing process:

Start strongly: Have your conveyancer lined up and ready to start their work as soon as they can. It’s up to you to make sure this happens. Ensure you know which conveyancer you’re going with before accepting/having an offer accepted.

Close contact: Stay in close contact with your conveyancer throughout the process. The more available you are to promptly answer their questions and provide any information they need, the faster they can process your transaction.

Chain reactions: Be mindful of your chain (if you’re in one). If someone above you in the chain unexpectedly backs out, it can create significant delays that stall everything. While you can’t control this, do consider the chain length and stability when first inquiring about a sale or purchase.

Choose wisely: Take time to research and choose experienced professionals that you trust. Things tend to move faster when you have a knowledgeable conveyancer, surveyor, estate agent, and other third parties on your team.

Act fast: If you encounter an issue that needs resolving, act fast to keep the transaction on track. Maybe problems arise from the survey, and you need to renegotiate, or perhaps your mortgage offer expired, and you need to reapply. Whatever the issue, act fast to avoid delays.

Keep it flexible: Try to remain as flexible as possible throughout the process. With so many moving parts, being less rigid where you can make everything go much smoother. This is especially important if you’re buying or selling during an exceptionally busy time of year.

How long does new build conveyancing take?

Purchasing a new build property involves a slightly more complex conveyancing process compared to buying an existing home. It takes more work but doesn’t necessarily mean it will take longer overall.

Here’s what you need to know.

Developers often want a quick turnaround time to access funds faster and progress construction. So, they may require faster timelines.

You may buy mid-construction or before building even starts, so changes or delays can impact the conveyancing process.

New build conveyancing is more complex because your conveyancer must review permissions and deeds for the entire estate to determine what applies to your property. Whereas with existing properties, they only need to review documents for the individual building.

If you want to learn more and get a full step-by-step process check out our guide to new build conveyancing here.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the conveyancing timeline differ for everyone and how can it be delayed?

The conveyancing timeline will differ for everyone because each property transaction is unique. Things that impact your timeline include:

• Property type: Leasehold properties tend to take longer than freehold properties.
• Property chains: If you are part of a chain of linked buyers and sellers, this can introduce delays as each transaction relies on one another.
• Results of searches: If any conveyancing searches uncover issues like boundary disputes or planning limitations, resolving these may take time.
• Response times: Delays from the buyer, seller, conveyancers, estate agents, or any other parties in providing promptly requested information can cause setbacks.
• Construction delays: For new build purchases, delays in the building schedule will impact when the conveyancing can be completed.

When does the conveyancing timeline start?

The conveyancing timeline officially starts once an offer on a property has been accepted by the seller and the conveyancers are instructed by both parties.

At this point, the buyer’s conveyancer will order initial property searches and begin gathering documentation from the seller’s conveyancer to initiate their due diligence checks. The sooner all parties engage conveyancing professionals after an offer has been accepted, the quicker the process can begin.

What can speed up the conveyancing timeline?

While you can’t control some aspects of the conveyancing timeline, there are certainly some strategies you can adhere to to help the process move forward:

• Open communication: With multiple parties involved, frequent communication, progress tracking, and proactively resolving issues are crucial.
• Be realistic: Set realistic timelines from the start and remain flexible where possible. Trying to rush things invites chaos.
• Managing paperwork: There’s going to be a lot of documents to review and sign. Ensuring you stay on top of this and keep copies of every form, report, and document along the way allows you to quickly reference anything needed.
• Use an experienced conveyancer: Choosing the right conveyancer is key, make sure to research and request quotes from a few at least to find a good match.

Is conveyancing faster for cash buyers?

Cash buyers often enjoy a slightly faster conveyancing process compared to those requiring a mortgage. Without the need for mortgage approvals and lender valuations, several steps in the timeline can be bypassed.

However, it’s important to note that many aspects of conveyancing, such as property searches and legal paperwork, still need to be completed regardless of payment method. While cash purchases can potentially shave a few weeks off the process, they’re not immune to other factors that might cause delays, like issues uncovered in surveys or complications in the property chain.

Ultimately, while cash buyers may have a smoother journey, they should still expect the conveyancing process to take several weeks to complete.

How does simultaneous exchange and completion affect the conveyancing process?

Simultaneous exchange and completion can significantly compress how long conveyancing takes, requiring all parties to be extremely prepared and coordinated. This approach increases pressure on conveyancers, lenders, and clients to have all documentation, funds, and arrangements in place on a single day.

While it can potentially speed up the process, it also introduces higher risks of last-minute issues or delays.

It is also only possible in certain circumstances. Read our completion day guide for more.