A Local Estate Agent’s Guide from Hunters Woodseats, Sheffield
You’ve accepted an offer on your property — congratulations! 🎉
It’s an exciting moment and one of the biggest steps towards selling your home. But if you’re wondering what happens next, you’re not alone. Many sellers ask us, “What do I need to do now?”
As your local property experts here at Hunters Woodseats, we help homeowners across Sheffield through this stage every day. So, here’s a straightforward guide — from an estate agent’s point of view — to explain exactly what happens between offer, exchange, and completion.
1. Your Offer Is Accepted – But It’s Not Legally Binding Yet
When we call to tell you that an offer has been accepted, we know how exciting it feels. However, the sale isn’t legally binding until contracts are exchanged.
At this stage, your property is classed as “sold subject to contract” (SSTC). We’ll immediately:
-
Confirm the sale in writing to all parties.
-
Prepare the memorandum of sale for your solicitor and the buyer’s.
-
Remove your property from the market.
From this point, solicitors will take over much of the process — but we’ll stay closely involved to keep things moving and communicate with both sides.
2. Instruct Your Solicitor or Conveyancer
If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to appoint a solicitor or conveyancer. They’ll handle the legal side of the sale, such as preparing contracts and answering any questions from the buyer’s solicitor.
As the seller, you’ll complete forms about your property — covering fixtures, fittings, boundaries, and any recent work or guarantees.
💡 Tip from our team:
We always recommend choosing a proactive, communicative solicitor. A good relationship between your agent and solicitor can make all the difference to a smooth sale.
3. The Buyer’s Mortgage and Survey
The buyer’s lender will now arrange a valuation survey to confirm the property’s worth. Some buyers also book their own home survey for peace of mind.
Don’t worry — this is standard practice. If any issues are raised, your estate agent (that’s us!) will help to mediate discussions and keep negotiations on track.
4. Legal Checks and Enquiries
Next comes the exchange of documents between solicitors. The buyer’s solicitor will raise enquiries about your property — these could include questions about planning permissions, boundaries, or warranties.
Your solicitor will respond to these with the necessary information. This stage can take a few weeks, depending on how quickly everyone replies and how many parties are in the chain.
Throughout, we’ll stay in touch with you and the buyer’s agent to keep everything moving smoothly.
5. Exchange of Contracts
Once everyone is happy and the buyer’s mortgage offer is confirmed, both sides are ready to exchange contracts.
This is a big milestone — it’s when the sale becomes legally binding. A completion date will be agreed, and the buyer will pay a deposit (usually 10%).
From this point on, neither party can pull out without serious financial consequences.
6. Completion Day – Moving Out and Handing Over the Keys
Completion is the moment you’ve been waiting for — the day funds are transferred and ownership officially changes hands.
Your solicitor will confirm when the money has cleared, and once that’s done, we’ll give the buyer their keys.
For most sellers, completion happens one to two weeks after exchange, although same-day completion can sometimes be arranged if everyone agrees.
7. After Completion
Once the sale has gone through, your solicitor will:
-
Pay off any outstanding mortgage.
-
Settle estate agent and legal fees.
-
Transfer the remaining balance to you.
If you’re buying another property, these funds can be used towards your next purchase — and if you’re staying in Sheffield, we’d be delighted to help you find your next home.
A Final Word from the Hunters Woodseats Team
The time between accepting an offer and completing can feel like a waiting game, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right agent and solicitor on your side, it’s a straightforward process.
At Hunters Woodseats, we’re here to support you every step of the way — keeping in touch with solicitors, updating you regularly, and ensuring your sale progresses smoothly from start to finish.
📞 Thinking of selling your home?
Get in touch with our friendly team for a free property valuation and expert advice on selling in Sheffield on 0114 258 0111.
