Residential property - Procedures for selling and buying a UK house

• Check you can get a mortgage and have enough money for a deposit.
  
• Ensure you have enough money to pay the moving costs which include legal and solicitors fees, valuations, surveys, stamp duty and removal costs.
  
• Get your property valued by an estate agent, most will provide a free valuation.
  
• Click here to identify estate agents in your local area.
  
• Decide which valuation you feel is most appropriate and the estate agents you would prefer to sell your house with.
  
• Engage your chosen estate agent. Prices cost between 0.5% and 1.5% of the property value for the estate agent to see you house.
  
• Obtain an initial insurance quote for a residential property.
  
• Get the residential property ready for selling (link to selling_ a_house)
  
• Put the property up for sale - a For Sale board provides an additional method of advertising you wish to sell.
  
• You may also wish to sell via auction.
  
• Accept an offer on your house
  
• Find a new home, locate local estate agents or look on the internet (link)
  
• Arrange a survey either a homebuyers report or a building survey
  
• Confirm the offer price
  
• Arrange an exchange date and buy your new home
  
• Ensure a deposit is accessible
  
• Book buildings insurance
  
• Fill out fixtures and fittings form
  
• Exchange and sign contracts
  
• Organise and book removals
  
• Prepare money
  
• Organise transfer of utilities
  
• Notify change of address - consider post office redirection
  
• Moving day - sort out own cleaning in old and new house
  
• Take meter readings and report to utilities