Overview

Selling a home takes about 5 months on average. The process can take longer if you’re part of a chain of buyers and sellers. 

If you’re also buying a home, read the guide to buying your home.

To sell your home, you’ll need to:

  • check how much you owe on your mortgage (if you have one)
  • find out how much your home is worth
  • decide whether to use an estate agent to sell your home 
  • choose a solicitor or conveyancer who will do the legal work involved in transferring ownership
  • give potential buyers the right paperwork, including an Energy Performance Certificate for your home
  • decide on a selling price 
  • accept or negotiate an offer 
  • exchange contracts 
  • transfer ownership and move out (called ‘completion’)

This guide is about selling a home in England and Wales. Find out how to sell a home in Scotland and how to sell a home in Northern Ireland.

Selling a rented property 

If you’re selling a property you rent out to tenants, you’ll also need to:

You can get help from a solicitor.

Selling a property for someone else

There may be extra steps to sell a property if:

  • the other owner has lost mental capacity
  • you’re selling someone’s home after they die (through ‘probate’)  
  • you’re selling for someone else using power of attorney

Check what you need to do to sell a property for someone else.

Selling a specialist retirement property

If your home is a specialist retirement property, you’ll need to consider if:

  • any charges or exit fees need to be paid
  • there are any conditions on the sale of the property

Protecting yourself from fraud

There’s a risk of fraud when selling a home as this involves transferring large sums of money. It’s important to check that you:

  • are speaking to or emailing the person or business you think it is
  • transfer money to the correct bank account/s 
  • do not reveal too much personal information on social media

Find out how to protect your property from fraud.

You can also speak to your legal professional for help and advice about property fraud.