Sale completion timeline expectations

9th January 2025

As we enter the new year, many will be seeking a fresh start and making plans to move.
However, with a significant mismatch between the length of time home movers expect a property should take to sell and the reality, its important to align expectations.
82% of home movers expected it to take less than 3 months from under offer to completion but only 43% experienced that.

Many factors impact the timescale from Sold STC to completion. These can include the length of chain, speed of conveyancer and any unexpected issues, such as delays with a mortgage application. Property type can also impact the timescales, its reported that freehold properties typically take 12–20 weeks, while leasehold properties can take 16–24 weeks.

After the Christmas lull, the new year is a popular time to look to move home. Last year, demand for homes surged in the first few weeks of January.

Source: Dataloft by PriceHubble, Property Academy Home Moving Trends Survey 2024, Zoopla