Moving home usually means doing two big transactions at once: selling the place you live in and buying the one you want next. Each is manageable on its own. Run them side by side and the hard part becomes timing, because a delay on one side quickly holds up the other. This guide sets out a realistic timeline so you know what to do and when, whether you're selling privately or through an agent.
Decide Your Order Before You Do Anything Else
Before listing or viewing, decide which comes first. There are three common approaches, and each carries a different kind of risk.
Sell first, then buy
This is the lowest-risk route. Once you've accepted an offer you're a "proceedable" buyer, which makes sellers take you more seriously, and you know exactly how much equity you have to work with. The catch is that if nothing suitable comes up, you may need to rent for a while or ask your buyer to wait.
Buy first, then sell
Most sellers won't accept an offer from someone whose home isn't under offer. Unless you can fund the purchase through savings or a bridging loan, you'll often lose out to buyers who are ready to proceed.
Run both in parallel
Most people list their home and start viewing at the same time, aiming for same-day completions. It takes the most coordination but avoids renting and a double move. The rest of this guide assumes this approach.
Weeks 1–2: Get Your Numbers and Paperwork Ready
Start with money. Speak to a mortgage broker or lender and get an agreement in principle for your next purchase. Ask your current lender for a redemption statement so you know what's left to pay off, including any early repayment charges. If your mortgage is portable, ask how porting works and how long it takes.
Then work out your costs: conveyancing on both sides, surveys, Stamp Duty, removals and any listing fees. Selling privately can save a significant sum that can go straight into your deposit.
Pull together your seller documents now rather than later. That means a valid EPC, your title number, the property information form (TA6), the fittings and contents form (TA10), and any certificates for building work, electrics or boilers. Having these ready at the start is one of the easiest ways to stop your sale being the slow link in the chain.
Weeks 2–4: Instruct One Solicitor for Both Sides
Instruct a conveyancer before you accept an offer. Using the same firm for both sides is usually simpler, because one team can coordinate the paperwork and aim for simultaneous exchange and completion. Ask for a fixed-fee quote covering both.
Weeks 2–8: Market Your Home and Start Viewing
Get your listing live with good photos, an honest description and a sensible asking price. On Keyzee you can list your home privately, manage viewing requests and talk to buyers directly without paying commission, which gives you more control over the timing of your own sale.
Keep viewing properties, but until you've accepted an offer many sellers will treat you as a secondary buyer. Use this time to shortlist homes rather than make firm offers.
Accepting an offer
When an offer comes in, look beyond the price. Ask whether the buyer has an agreement in principle, whether they have a home to sell, and what timescale they have in mind. A slightly lower offer from a chain-free buyer can be worth more than a higher one sitting on top of a long, fragile chain.
Weeks 4–10: Make Your Offer and Line Up the Chain
Once your sale is agreed, you're in a much stronger position to offer on your next home. Tell the seller you're under offer and share your agreement in principle. When your offer is accepted, send both solicitors' details to everyone involved so the paperwork can start at the same time on both sides.
Apply for your full mortgage straight away. The lender will arrange a valuation, and you'll want to book your own survey on the new property too. A Level 2 survey suits most conventional homes; older or altered properties are better served by a Level 3.
Weeks 8–16: Keep Both Transactions Moving
This is the stretch where chains stall. The main causes are slow searches, unanswered enquiries and mortgage offers taking longer than expected. You can help by:
- Answering your solicitor's questions within 24 hours. Every delay on your side holds up everyone above and below you.
- Checking in weekly with your conveyancer for a short progress update on both files.
- Keeping in touch with your buyer. Selling privately means you can speak to them directly, and a quick friendly update often heads off nerves before they turn into a withdrawal.
- Watching your mortgage offer expiry date. Most offers last three to six months, so ask about extensions early if the chain is slow.
If one side runs into trouble
If your buyer pulls out or your purchase falls through, act quickly. Relist your home, tell your seller honestly where things stand, and ask whether they'll wait. Renting or a bridging loan can fill the gap, but compare the costs carefully first.
Exchange and Completion: Getting the Dates to Line Up
When all the searches, enquiries and mortgage conditions are cleared, your solicitor will propose an exchange date. For a simultaneous move, you'll exchange contracts on your sale and purchase on the same day, which makes both legally binding. At this point you'll pay the deposit on your purchase, usually 5–10%, often partly funded by your buyer's deposit.
Agree a completion date that works for everyone, typically one to four weeks after exchange. Avoid Fridays if you can: if funds are delayed, you may not get your keys until Monday.
Moving day
On completion day, money moves up the chain in order, so you may not get your new keys until the afternoon. Book removals for the full day, pack essentials separately, and take meter readings at both properties.
Keeping Control of the Process
Buying and selling at once is mainly a coordination job. Decide your order early, sort paperwork and finances before you list, use one solicitor for both sides, and stay in close contact with everyone in the chain.
If you're ready to sell your current home while you search for your next one, list your property on Keyzee and deal directly with buyers, with no agent commission taken out of the equity you need for your move.