Start with stages, not a promised date
This guide discusses the sale process in England and Wales. A property sale moves through preparation, marketing, offers, legal work, exchange and completion. An offer is not the same as an exchanged contract. Treat any target date as an estimate until the relevant parties confirm what has been agreed.
Identify what depends on someone else
Ask whether there is a chain, what funding needs to be arranged and which surveys or other checks are outstanding. Your conveyancer can explain the legal work and unresolved enquiries. A short chain or cash offer does not by itself guarantee a completion date.
Gather documents without guessing
Ask your conveyancer for the documents relevant to your property. Ownership, leasehold information, alterations and occupancy can raise different questions. Keep a list of documents you have, those requested and those missing. Do not manufacture an answer to make a form look complete.
Keep occupancy and timing together
If tenants occupy the property, tell your advisers early and seek advice specific to the tenancy. Do not promise vacant possession or ask an occupier to leave based on a generic sale checklist. Arrange any access appropriately and keep personal tenant information out of a public enquiry.
Choose a realistic next conversation
Write down your preferred timing and the reason behind it, then distinguish the dates you control from those that depend on legal work or another party. L&M can record an initial enquiry. AML supervision pending. Waitlist only; no buyer, price or completion date is promised.
Put this into practice
Use the checklist below, then follow the relevant route when you are ready.
Request a property planPut it into practice
Your preparation checklist
Use these headings to organise your next steps. This is not a legal assessment or a complete compliance checklist.
| Topic | What to record |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Documents held, documents missing and adviser appointed. |
| Offer | What has been agreed and what remains conditional. |
| Legal work | Outstanding enquiries, funding and chain dependencies. |
| Dates | Target dates distinguished from confirmed commitments. |
Invented example. Adapt it to your own situation.
Official sources
Sources checked 5 October 2026. Consult the current guidance and qualified advisers for your circumstances.
This is a practical preparation guide. Decisions about a particular property should be made with relevant qualified advisers and current information.