Never Sold a House Before? The Step-by-Step Guide

Selling a home for the first time can feel daunting when you do not know the steps or the jargon. In truth it follows a well-worn path. This guide walks you through selling a house in England and Wales from start to finish, so you know what happens at each stage and roughly how long it takes.

At a glance

Start with: A valuation and an EPC
Typical conveyancing: 12 to 16 weeks
Legally binding at: Exchange of contracts
It's done at: Completion, when you hand over the keys

Key takeaways

Get a valuation and an EPC first. They set your price and are legally required to market the home.
Conveyancing usually takes 12 to 16 weeks, and is the part most likely to cause delays.
Nothing is binding until exchange of contracts, after which both sides are committed.
Completion is the finish line, when the money transfers and you hand over the keys.

Step 1: Get a valuation and set a price

Start by getting your home valued, ideally by two or three local estate agents, so you can set a realistic asking price. Price too high and the home sits unsold; too low and you leave money on the table. Our house value calculator gives you an independent, data-based figure to sanity-check what agents tell you.

Step 2: Sort your EPC and choose an agent

Every seller must provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to potential buyers, so arrange one early if yours has expired. Then choose an estate agent, comparing their fees, contract length and marketing. Our guide to estate agent fees explains what to expect, and how to choose an estate agent covers what to look for.

Step 3: Prepare and market the property

Declutter, tackle minor repairs, and let the agent arrange professional photos. Your home is then listed on the major portals like Rightmove and Zoopla. Small, cheap improvements at this stage genuinely help; see cheap ways to add value to your home.

Step 4: Viewings and offers

Your agent handles viewings and passes on feedback. When offers come in, they collate them and negotiate on your behalf. You are not obliged to accept the highest offer; a slightly lower one from a chain-free, mortgage-ready buyer can be more likely to complete.

Step 5: Accept an offer and instruct a solicitor

Once you accept an offer, you instruct a conveyancing solicitor, and the buyer does the same. You will complete key forms, including the Property Information Form (TA6) and the Fittings and Contents Form (TA10). Your solicitor also carries out anti-money-laundering identity checks.

Step 6: Conveyancing

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership, and it usually takes 12 to 16 weeks. The buyer's solicitor raises enquiries and searches, the buyer's mortgage and survey are arranged, and the two solicitors work towards a completion date. This stage is where most delays happen, so stay responsive to keep things moving.

Step 7: Exchange of contracts

Exchange is the point of no return. Contracts are signed and swapped, a completion date is fixed, and the sale becomes legally binding on both sides. Until exchange, either party can still pull out; after it, they cannot without serious penalties.

Step 8: Completion

On completion day, the buyer's funds transfer through the solicitors, your mortgage is repaid from the proceeds, and ownership passes to the buyer. You hand over the keys and the home is theirs. If you have a mortgage, read when you stop paying the mortgage when selling so the timing holds no surprises.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to sell a house? From listing to completion, commonly three to six months, with conveyancing alone taking 12 to 16 weeks. Chains and search delays can extend it.

Do I need an EPC to sell? Yes. You must have a valid EPC to market the property, so arrange one early if it has expired.

When can the buyer pull out? At any point before exchange of contracts. After exchange, both sides are legally committed.

Ready to sell? Check your home's worth with the house value calculator, then read how to choose an estate agent and how to negotiate a better house price from the seller's side.