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Offer & Purchase

Steps 5 and 6: from offer accepted to collecting your keys. This is where most buyers feel lost — here is who does what.

My offer has been accepted — what now?

Do these in the first week. Speed here saves weeks later.

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Who is involved

Each person has a different job — and works for a different side.

  • Buyer (you)

    Works for
    Yourself
    What they do
    Makes decisions, provides documents, pays deposit and costs, signs the contract.
    Contact them about
    —

  • Seller

    Works for
    Themselves
    What they do
    Sells the home and completes the property forms through their solicitor.
    Contact them about
    Usually only through the agent or solicitors.

  • Estate agent

    Works for
    The seller
    What they do
    Markets the home, passes on offers and keeps the sale moving.
    Contact them about
    Viewings, offers, chain progress, access for surveyor.

  • Mortgage adviser

    Works for
    You (they are paid by fee and/or lender commission — ask)
    What they do
    Recommends a mortgage and submits your application.
    Contact them about
    Application status, valuation, mortgage offer.

  • Lender

    Works for
    Itself
    What they do
    Decides whether to lend, instructs the valuation and issues the mortgage offer.
    Contact them about
    Usually through your adviser.

  • Solicitor / conveyancer

    Works for
    You (and usually also your lender)
    What they do
    Checks the title, runs searches, raises enquiries, handles money, exchange and completion.
    Contact them about
    Legal questions, searches, enquiries, dates, money.

  • Surveyor

    Works for
    You (for your survey) or the lender (for the valuation)
    What they do
    Inspects the property and reports on its condition or value.
    Contact them about
    Questions about the survey report.

What usually happens, in order

Many of these happen at the same time. Timings vary widely — ask your solicitor for their estimate.

  1. 1

    Offer accepted

    Agent issues the memorandum of sale.

  2. 2

    Solicitor instructed

    ID and source-of-funds checks, searches ordered.

  3. 3

    Mortgage application

    Submitted by your adviser; lender instructs a valuation.

  4. 4

    Survey

    Your own surveyor inspects and reports.

  5. 5

    Searches and enquiries

    Your solicitor reviews results and asks the seller's side questions.

  6. 6

    Mortgage offer

    Issued to you and your solicitor.

  7. 7

    Report and signing

    Solicitor explains findings; you sign the contract and mortgage deed.

  8. 8

    Exchange

    Contract becomes binding; completion date fixed.

  9. 9

    Completion

    Money moves, you collect the keys.

Things gone quiet? Who to ask

  • Has the valuation been booked?

    Mortgage adviser (or the agent, who arranges access)

  • Are the searches back?

    Your solicitor

  • Has the seller answered the enquiries?

    Your solicitor, who chases the seller's solicitor

  • Is the rest of the chain ready?

    Estate agent

  • Where is my mortgage offer?

    Mortgage adviser

  • When can we exchange?

    Your solicitor

Step 5

Mortgage & Legal

This is the longest stage. Several professionals work in parallel to check the property, arrange your mortgage and prepare the legal contract.

  • Instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer and complete their ID and source-of-funds checks.
  • Tell your mortgage adviser your offer is accepted so the full application can start.
  • Decide which survey you want and book it.
  • Reply quickly to requests from your solicitor and lender.
  • Read the survey and the solicitor's report carefully and ask questions.
  • Check your mortgage offer arrives and note its expiry date.
Open stage: Mortgage & Legal

Step 6

Exchange & Keys

The final stage: the contract becomes legally binding at exchange, and at completion the money is transferred and the home becomes yours.

  • Read and sign the contract and mortgage deed when your solicitor asks.
  • Agree the completion date with everyone in the chain.
  • Transfer the deposit and balance to your solicitor in good time — confirm bank details by phone.
  • Arrange buildings insurance by the date your solicitor and lender require.
  • Check the completion statement.
  • Book removals, then collect keys on completion day.
  • Take meter readings and set up council tax and utilities.
Open stage: Exchange & Keys

Official and independent sources

This is general information, not legal advice. Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer is responsible for the legal work and legal advice on your purchase.