How to Speed Up Your House Purchase: 12 Things That Actually Work

The average time from offer accepted to exchange of contracts in England and Wales is 12–16 weeks. For a transaction without complications, this is far too long. In many European countries the same process takes 4–6 weeks. This guide explains what causes the delays and what buyers and sellers can do to move faster.

The Most Common Causes of Delay

Understanding why transactions take long is the first step to speeding them up:

• **Search delays** — local authority searches in some councils take 4–8 weeks
• **Mortgage offer delays** — lender valuation, underwriting, and formal offer can take 2–4 weeks
• **Slow solicitors** — overloaded firms, inexperienced case handlers, and poor communication
• **Enquiry rounds** — sellers who cannot answer enquiries promptly due to missing documents
• **Chain complications** — everyone in the chain must be ready simultaneously
• **Survey issues** — if a survey triggers renegotiation, this adds 1–3 weeks
• **Leasehold delays** — management information packs from freeholders can take 4–6 weeks

12 Steps to Speed Up Your Purchase

1. Instruct a Solicitor Before Your Offer Is Accepted

Do not wait until the offer is accepted to research solicitors. Have a shortlist ready and instruct immediately on acceptance. Every day spent choosing a solicitor is a day lost.

2. Use Indemnity Insurance for Searches

Instead of waiting for official local authority searches (which can take weeks in some councils), ask your solicitor about personal search companies combined with indemnity insurance. This is often accepted by mortgage lenders and can reduce the search process to 24–48 hours.

3. Get a Mortgage Decision in Principle Before Your Search

A mortgage in principle (MIP) takes 24–48 hours to obtain. Having one ready means you can instruct your lender to carry out the full application the same day your offer is accepted.

4. Submit All Documents on the Day of Instruction

Solicitors need certified ID, proof of address, proof of deposit funds (source of funds), and mortgage details. Prepare these documents in advance and submit them on day one. Anti-money laundering (AML) checks that take days when done slowly can be completed in hours.

5. Chase Proactively

Do not wait for your solicitor to update you. Contact them every 2–3 days during the first four weeks to confirm that searches have been submitted, the mortgage valuation has been booked, and enquiries are being drafted.

6. Sellers: Prepare Your Sale Pack in Advance

Sellers can significantly speed things up by preparing:

• Copies of all planning permissions for any extensions or alterations
• Building regulations completion certificates
• FENSA certificates for replacement windows
• Guarantees for any works carried out (damp, roof, electrics)
• Lease documents and service charge history (leasehold)

The TA6 and TA10 forms (property information form and fixtures and fittings form) can be completed before the sale is agreed and sent to the solicitor immediately on instruction.

7. Use a Verified Digital Property Record

Properties with a complete Property Passport on Property Passport UK — including official EPC data, title information, and uploaded documents — give the buyer’s solicitor more information from the start. This reduces enquiry rounds.

8. Order the Leasehold Management Pack Early

For leasehold properties, the management information pack (from the freeholder or managing agent) is often the longest lead time item. Ask the seller’s solicitor to order it immediately, even before a buyer is found.

9. Keep Your Chain Short

Chains fail and delay because every party must be ready simultaneously. If you are able to:

• Buy before you sell, using bridging finance or delayed completion
• Sell to a cash buyer or a buyer with no chain
• Accept a lower offer from a chain-free buyer

…you can significantly reduce completion risk and timescale.

10. Fix Problems Before Listing

Sellers who have outstanding issues — a short lease, missing building regs, an undocumented extension — should resolve these before listing. These issues will come up in enquiries and cause delays.

11. Use an Experienced Estate Agent

A good estate agent manages the chain, chases all parties, and alerts you to problems early. An agent who simply introduces buyer and seller and then disappears adds weeks to every transaction.

12. Set a Target Exchange Date Early

Agree a target exchange date with all parties at the point of offer. This creates a shared expectation and gives everyone something to work towards. Transactions with no target date tend to drift.

What Good Looks Like

A well-run, uncomplicated freehold transaction should exchange contracts within **8–10 weeks** of offer accepted. Leasehold and chain transactions may take 12–14 weeks. If you are approaching week 16 with no exchange in sight, ask your solicitor for a specific explanation of what is outstanding and a realistic timeline to resolve it.