How long does it take to move home in 2024?

Moving house—it’s one of life’s big milestones, isn’t it? There’s excitement, of course, but also a fair bit of stress. The moment you decide to move, you’re naturally eager to get everything done as quickly as possible. But the reality? Well, it’s often a long journey, full of twists, turns, and unexpected delays, especially if you’re both selling and buying at the same time.

From our most recent data, we know that the average time from having an offer accepted on a property to exchanging contracts sits at around seven weeks. Now, keep in mind, this doesn’t even include the time it takes to get an offer on your own home or to find one you’d like to buy. And, of course, your offer has to be accepted, which is no small task in today’s market.

Once you factor in the time from exchange to completion, the whole process could easily stretch to five or six months from the moment you decide to move. And that’s assuming everything goes smoothly. If a sale falls through or there are other hold-ups, it could take even longer.

But here’s the thing—if you know what to expect and do a bit of planning, you can at least take comfort in knowing you’re doing everything in your power to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible.

Hiring a conveyancer solicitor (1-2 weeks)

One of the first things you’ll need to do is find a conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle the legal aspects of your move. Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one person to another, and without a good conveyancer, you’re likely to hit some snags.

A smart move? Get this sorted as soon as your home goes on the market. If you instruct your conveyancer early, you can complete all the initial paperwork and identity checks ahead of time. Then, when your offer is accepted (or when you accept an offer), you’re not left scrambling. A little bit of early organisation here can save you valuable time later.

Hiring an estate agent (1-2 weeks)

Choosing the right estate agent is a crucial step in the moving process, and it’s one you don’t want to rush. Your estate agent is responsible for marketing your property, negotiating on your behalf, and keeping the sale moving along, so it’s essential to find someone you can trust.

Most people tend to stick with the first agent they come across, but I recommend taking the time to compare at least three. Look at their track records, their knowledge of your local area, and their approach to selling homes like yours. Ideally, you’ll want an agent who’s proactive, understands the current market, and knows how to attract serious buyers.

When you’re hiring an agent, it’s not just about fees (although that’s important too); it’s about finding someone who’s as committed to selling your home as you are. The sooner you instruct them, the sooner they can start generating interest, so don’t let this step linger. An organised and motivated estate agent can help shave valuable time off the entire process, getting your home in front of the right buyers as quickly as possible.

Propertistics have a full list of vetted estate agents for every area in the UK should you need some guidance.

Getting a buyer (4-16 weeks)

Once your property is listed, you’ll need to be patient while you wait for an offer you’re happy with. Our data shows this can take anywhere from four to sixteen weeks on average.

If you’re buying and selling simultaneously, the timing becomes even more critical. Sellers are often hesitant to accept an offer from you if you haven’t yet secured a buyer for your current home. So, even if you’ve found your dream home, you might have to wait before your offer is accepted, just because you’re still waiting on a buyer.

Finding your new home (4-16 weeks)

How long it takes to find your next home depends on a lot of factors—your budget, your must-have features, and the overall availability of properties in your chosen area.

Naturally, you’ll want a home that ticks all the boxes—a garden, a certain number of bedrooms, or maybe proximity to good schools. But it’s worth remembering that things like local crime rates, transport links, and future-proofing your move (especially if you’re planning to start or grow a family) should also weigh into your decision. Luckily this is where Propertistics can really help.

Sometimes you’ll face stiff competition from other buyers, meaning it could take a few attempts before you finally secure a home. This part of the process can be frustratingly slow, especially when you’re emotionally ready to move.

Arranging a mortgage (1-3 weeks)

If you’ve got a mortgage, the good news is that most are now portable. You can move your existing deal to your new property without having to pay early repayment charges—unless, of course, you need to borrow more.

That said, even if you’re porting your mortgage, you’ll still need to go through the application process again, effectively paying off the mortgage on your current home and taking it out on the new one. If you’re borrowing more, that part will likely be under a different deal with a separate rate. It’s worth getting your finances lined up early, as delays in mortgage approvals are one of the most common reasons for hold-ups.

Surveying your new home (2-3 weeks)

Once your offer is accepted, it’s time to get a survey done. There are three levels of home surveys, and the right one depends on the age and condition of the property you’re buying.

This can take up to three weeks from the moment you contact the surveyor to when you receive the report. And, of course, if the survey reveals any significant issues, like subsidence or woodworm, it might mean renegotiating the price or requesting repairs, which adds even more time to the process.

Navigating the legal exchange (8-12 weeks)

The conveyancing process can feel like a bit of a slog. During this time, your conveyancer will be working to ensure everything is in order with the property, that no legal issues crop up, and that all the details are buttoned down before you exchange contracts.

When both parties are ready, contracts are signed and exchanged, and at this point, the sale becomes legally binding. Completion day usually follows one or two weeks later, and that’s when you’ll be handing over the keys to your old home and getting the keys to your new one. If you’re using a removal company, aim to book it four to six weeks before your expected move date to avoid any last-minute hiccups.

Moving into your new home (1-2 weeks)

After contracts are exchanged, it’s time for the final bit of packing and organisation. On completion day, the remaining money is transferred from the buyer’s conveyancer to the seller’s, and just like that—you get your keys and can finally move in.

Potential delays to avoid

As much as we all hope for a smooth ride, the reality is that house moves rarely go off without a hitch. Delays can crop up for a variety of reasons, including:

• Slow conveyancing or legal issues with the properties
• Problems with mortgage approval
• Issues found during the survey
• Complications with other buyers or sellers in the chain
• Gazumping (when a seller accepts a higher offer after already accepting yours)
• Buyers or sellers pulling out of the sale

In short, the process of moving home can be unpredictable. But with a bit of preparation and patience, you can navigate it as efficiently as possible. It might not always go to plan, but when you finally get those keys in hand, it’ll all feel worth it.