Completion Day Checklist: What to Expect
Here’s a completion day checklist to help you along the way as the time to collect your new house keys is almost here!
Before loading up the removals van, it helps to know exactly what to expect. Have you prepared? What can go wrong?
What does completion mean?
The completion of the house occurs on the day when the money is transferred, and at that point, you can officially declare ownership.
The sale becomes legally binding only after contracts have been exchanged and signed by both parties. Completion is when you can begin the process of moving into your new home.
Can you exchange and complete on the same day?
In some cases, the day of completion is the same as exchange day.
However, this isn’t case, as exchanging contracts can be a lengthy process. Plus, there are many things that need to happen between exchange and completion – which would make doing both on the same day extremely stressful.
As well as this, delayed completion is common, however this can have benefits for both buyer and seller.
Making completion day easier
There are ways to make the process easier, such as:
- If you’re a first-time buyer, or chain free, this can significantly speed up the time it takes to complete
- Paying in cash means you don’t have to wait for the banks to process your funds
- Many find themselves asking ‘who do solicitors take so long to exchange contracts?’ So, the better your solicitor – the quicker the process. They should be responsive and communicative at all times
- Build up a rapport with the seller – open lines of communication are key, as you can stay updated with where they are in the process
- Keep records of any exchanges with both your seller and solicitor
How long after the exchange of contracts is completion day?
There’s no rule for this, as it depends on the situation. However, it usually takes place between 7 and 28 days.
After exchanging contracts, both the buyer and seller play a role in setting the completion date. Writing it down increases the likelihood that the date will be upheld.
Ideally, set it for a weekday, as banking systems sometimes experience delays over the weekends.
What happens on completion day?
There are three main stages of completion…
- Your solicitor will receive necessary funds from your mortgage lender
- Your solicitor sends money to the seller
- You can collect your keys
Clearly, when it comes to completion day, being prepared is essential. So, let’s take it through step-by-step…
House sale completion checklist
Now you know what to expect on the day, it’s time for a completion day checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything.
Complete all searches
Typically, when you buy a property, your solicitor or conveyancer will perform thorough checks on it. These searches ensure that your new home isn’t about to find itself surrounded by a motorway, for example.
While sellers have to respond accurately to any direct questions you raise, they are not legally required to volunteer information about the property, so it’s up to you to check all potential issues.
You can include, but are not limited to, the following in your searches:
- The local council’s future plans for your area
- Check your connection to the mains for drainage and water
- Housing issues, such as subsidence
- Finding out any renovations your neighbours may have
- Flood risk (if you live near a river)
- Mining (if you live in an area with mining activity)
- Land registry, to check that the person you’re buying the property from is the legal seller
Ensure you have your funds in place
Before the house completion, make sure you have sufficient funds for your deposit. Failure to organise your funds will result in a delay in the completion process.
This may sound obvious, but we couldn’t leave it off the checklist!
Ensure that you have the formal mortgage offer in place and that these will be released on the correct day.
Make sure all stamp duty tax forms are completed and signed.
Check all contracts
If the property is leasehold, ensure that your solicitor obtains the freeholder’s consent for the purchase of the property.
Double check all final contracts. Cover everything that you expect and have agreed to, such as all fixtures and fittings.
When you’re with your solicitor, have them go through anything in the contracts that you need clarification on.
This is your last chance to make sure nothing is missing, and clear up any miscommunications.
If it feels like you’re micromanaging, so be it. You want to ensure everything is as it should be!
Check the EPC
Check the Energy Performance Certificate of your new home. You should have done this earlier, but it’s important to do it one last time to be sure. A poor rating may mean you end up overspending on your energy bills.
Find out your council tax banding
How much council tax will you be paying? Make sure you know the answer sooner rather than later…
Maintain contact with the seller
House completion is a two-way contract. Sellers can also withdraw during the final stages!
If the seller tries to change the purchase price of the property, make sure you can seek advice from your solicitor as to how to best handle negotiations.
Don’t forget about buildings insurance
Ensure you have home insurance when buying a house in place from the day you exchange.
You may not move into the property immediately, but it is still legally yours.
If it burnt down before completion date, you would still be obliged to purchase it. So, you’d lose anything you paid on exchange of contracts.
Too many of us, first-time buyers in particular, forget about this!
Collect your keys
Usually, you’ll pick up your new house keys from the estate agent. The previous owner of the property will leave them there for safe keeping until you’re ready!
Need more advice?
We understand that the house buying process can be fraught with difficulty and uncertainty. From pre-completion to beyond, we have plenty of tips, tricks and advice for buyers. Regardless of whether you’ve done this before, we can help you get your dream home with minimal hassle or fuss. Find more of our advice for buying a property here.
Alternatively, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel? We post expert property advice videos from Phil Spencer regularly!
Last Updated: November 6th, 2024
