Many sellers assume the legal process begins once an offer is accepted, when in fact there's plenty you can do before an offer even comes in.
While you're celebrating finding a buyer, your conveyancer is only just starting to gather identity documents, property forms and supporting paperwork. Depending on your property, preparing the initial contract pack alone can take several weeks, creating unnecessary delays at the very point when momentum matters most.
The good news? A little preparation before your property sells can make a significant difference.
Here are five things every seller should do before an offer comes in.
One of the biggest misconceptions in property sales is that you should wait until you've accepted an offer before appointing a conveyancer. In reality this can actually delay the process by up to three weeks.
By instructing a conveyancer as soon as your property goes on the market, you allow the legal preparation to begin immediately. Identity checks can be completed, paperwork can be reviewed and any missing information can be identified before a buyer is waiting.
At DezrezLegal, our free LegallyReady service starts this work at the earliest opportunity, helping sellers get ahead of the traditional conveyancing timeline.
Every seller is required to complete property information forms, including details about:
These forms often become a major source of delay because sellers rush through them after accepting an offer, only to discover they need additional paperwork or clarification.
Completing these documents early gives your conveyancer time to review everything sooner and resolve any questions before they become issues for the buyer.
LegallyReady includes issuing and reviewing the key seller forms (TA6, TA7 where applicable and TA10) before a sale is agreed, meaning your contract pack is ready to go within 24 hours of accepting an offer!
It's surprising how much time can be spent searching for paperwork once a buyer is waiting.
Depending on your property, your conveyancer may need documents such as:
If you're selling a leasehold property, you may also need management information from your managing agent. This process can take several weeks if left until after an offer has been accepted. LegallyReady can even arrange management packs early, with the seller's permission, helping avoid one of the most common causes of delay.
Identity verification is a legal requirement for every property sale. Although it sounds straightforward, delays often occur when sellers cannot provide the correct documents or complete checks promptly.
Completing these checks early removes another potential bottleneck and allows your conveyancer to focus on progressing the transaction rather than waiting for compliance requirements to be met.
With LegallyReady, seller identity checks are completed at the outset, meaning one more task is already ticked off before a buyer is found. DezrezLegal also partners with Credas for this step, the UK's top digital identity verification app, so you can quickly and easily prove who you are in a few steps using your phone.
Buyers want certainty. When a property is legally prepared, it demonstrates that the seller is organised, committed and ready to move quickly.
Rather than spending weeks preparing contracts after accepting an offer, your conveyancer can issue the contract pack almost immediately, helping maintain momentum and reducing opportunities for delays, uncertainty and fall-throughs.
Being LegallyReady offers several advantages:
If you're planning to sell your home, don't wait until you've accepted an offer to begin the legal process.
With LegallyReady, DezrezLegal helps you prepare your sale in advance by completing essential legal work early, so when an offer arrives, you're ready to keep things moving.
Speak to the DezrezLegal team today and discover how getting LegallyReady can help make your move faster, smoother and more certain.