Sometimes the seller does not understand that the purchaser is the one who in the main must decide times and dates because he must provide the money and make the enquiries. If there is a delay in exchanging contracts, it is almost always due to these reasons unless there is a chain of transactions involved.

1. YOU tell the house agent that we are acting for you and he writes to us. If you have sold privately, you write to us.
2. YOU complete and return our Sale Authority Form which we send to you.
3. YOU send us your deeds or your Land Certificate if you have no mortgage on the house. If you have a mortgage we shall obtain the deeds on loan from the lender.
4. WE inform the representatives of the purchaser that we act for you and will issue the contract as soon as we have the deeds.
5. ON receipt of the deeds or copies, we prepare and issue the draft contract to the representatives of the purchaser and inform you.
6. PURCHASER'S representatives/solicitor then send us forms of "Preliminary Enquiries" (questions about the property). We answer these as far as possible from the information you have supplied and send them to you for checking. When complete, we return them to the representatives of the purchaser.
7. WE may send you the contract to sign either
   1. with forms of preliminary enquiries
   2. later when the representatives of the purchaser approve it
   3. if you are also buying, then at the same time as the purchase contract
8. EXCHANGE of contracts takes place when:
   • The representatives of the purchaser are satisfied on the enquiries, client's mortgage arrangements and searches
   • Completion date is agreed - depending on each party's requirements
   • The deposit is paid to us by the representatives of the purchaser and held until the completion day or used (by agreement) for the deposit on your purchase.
9. ON EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS
   Both parties are then legally bound and we so inform you.

   WE

   • send balance copy deeds to the representatives of the purchaser
   • ask your Building Society for the amount required to pay off your present loan and arrange this.
   • Ask you to cancel any standing order with your Building Society.
   
   YOU
   • deal with the cancellation or changeover of the electricity, gas and telephone services. (Have a word with the purchaser about these to avoid unnecessary re-connection charges). We shall send you a list to remind you.
10. THE representatives of the purchaser check the copy deeds and perhaps raise points on them. These are call “Requisitions”. We answer them for you.
11. THE sale deed (Transfer or Conveyance) is prepared by the representatives of the purchaser and sent to us. If agreed we send it to you for checking and signature. Usually we submit our bill at this stage. If we hold a deposit or there are sale proceeds due to you that will be in our favour, we can deduct our account from these.
12. WHEN you move, please check with us about keys. They must not be handed to the purchasers. They should be lodged with us or your estate agent, with strict instructions not to release them without our authority.
13. COMPLETION DAY (the day that you must move). This is the actual handing over of the deeds in exchange for the money.
14. AFTER completion, we report to you with the sale money. Usually, this is within a couple of working days.
    • We try to deal with all letters and documents the day they are received by us.
    • If you have any problems at any time, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you wish to call, please telephone us beforehand. It may save a wasted journey.