Sold STC Is Only The Start. Here’s How To Make Sure Your Move Actually Reaches Completion
Getting an offer feels like the finish line. It isn’t. Around 1 in 3 transactions fall through and the average purchase takes around 120 days after an offer is accepted. Here is what homeowners can do before and after selling to give their move the strongest chance of completing.
Sold STC Is Only The Start
You have prepared the house, hosted the viewings, negotiated the offer and finally see those magic words:
SOLD STC.
It is a brilliant milestone, but your property is not actually sold until the transaction completes.
The Government’s June 2026 home buying and selling reform roadmap says the average purchase currently takes around 120 days from offer accepted to completion, while around 1 in 3 transactions fall through.
That means finding a buyer is only half the job.
What happens next can determine whether you actually move.
Source: gov.uk
The 5 Things You Can Do To Protect Your Sale
1. Get Your Solicitor Ready Early
You do not have to wait until an offer arrives to choose your solicitor.
Instructing them earlier means identification checks, initial paperwork and property information can begin before a buyer is found.
It also gives you time to uncover problems that might otherwise appear several weeks into the transaction.
2. Build Your Property File
If somebody offered on your home tomorrow, could you quickly find your important paperwork?
Depending on the property, this could include planning permissions, Building Regulation approvals, FENSA certificates, guarantees, boiler documents, electrical certificates, lease information and details relating to extensions or alterations.
You will not necessarily need everything, but the principle is simple:
Find missing information before your buyer does.
This is particularly relevant because the Government’s planned reforms place much greater emphasis on important property information being available earlier in the process.
3. Look Beyond The Offer Price
Imagine receiving 2 offers.
Buyer A: £500,000
Long chain, mortgage required, solicitor not instructed.
Buyer B: £495,000
Chain free, finance agreed in principle, solicitor ready.
Which is the better offer?
There is no automatic answer.
But it demonstrates why sellers should consider price, position, certainty and timescale, rather than simply choosing the biggest number.
A good estate agent should establish a buyer’s position before advising you on an offer.
4. Expect The Survey
If there is something you already know about your property, assume there is a possibility the buyer’s surveyor will find it too.
That does not mean every imperfection needs fixing before you sell.
It means surprises create risk.
A survey discovering something unexpected can lead to further investigations, specialist reports, renegotiation or concern from the buyer.
Problems are generally easier to manage when everybody understands them early.
5. Keep The Transaction Moving
Once the offer is accepted, momentum matters.
Mortgage applications, surveys, searches, enquiries and legal paperwork all need to progress.
If your solicitor asks you for information, respond quickly. If something appears to have stalled, ask why.
And your estate agent should still be actively involved.
Good sales progression is not simply calling everybody and asking, “Any updates?”
It is understanding:
What has happened? What needs to happen next? Who is responsible? What is holding things up?
Someone needs to keep the complete transaction moving.
Why This Matters More Than Most Sellers Realise
Rightmove’s 2026 analysis found that 23% of transactions initially fall through, although some subsequently return to the market and eventually complete. A further 6% fall through and do not return to the market and complete within 12 months.
For the homeowner, a collapse can mean losing the property they wanted to buy, returning to the market, restarting viewings, breaking the chain and potentially losing money already spent on the move.
This is why we believe estate agency should be measured by far more than how quickly an agent can put a Sold board outside your home.
The objective is completion.
Source: rightmove.co.uk
The Property Industry Is Changing Because Of This
In June 2026, the Government announced a roadmap designed to tackle delays and failed transactions.
Plans include greater use of upfront property information, digital property data, earlier binding agreements, digital identity checks and minimum standards for property agents.
The Government estimates the wider reforms could eventually reduce the home buying process by around 4 weeks.
Not all of these measures are currently in force. Some require further consultation and legislation.
But the direction is important for homeowners:
Prepare earlier. Share information sooner. Reduce uncertainty.
Source: gov.uk
The Avenue View
Getting the offer is exciting.
Getting the keys exchanged is what matters.
The strongest transactions usually have 3 things in common: good preparation before the offer, clear communication afterwards and somebody actively driving the process forward.
You cannot remove every risk from moving home.
But you can remove a lot of the avoidable risk.
That is why our job does not stop when the board changes from For Sale to Sold STC.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is my property actually sold?
Sold STC means an offer has been accepted, but the transaction is not yet legally complete. In England and Wales, the agreement becomes legally binding at exchange of contracts, with ownership transferring at completion.
How long does it take after accepting an offer?
The Government’s June 2026 roadmap puts the current average at around 120 days from offer accepted to completion. Individual transactions can be considerably quicker or slower.
Should I instruct a solicitor before accepting an offer?
You can. Doing so allows some of the preparation, checks and paperwork to begin earlier.
Should I always accept the highest offer?
Not necessarily. Price matters, but the buyer’s financial position, chain, timescale and readiness to proceed should also form part of the decision.
What is a Reservation Agreement?
It is designed to create greater commitment between buyer and seller once an offer has been accepted.
Planning A Move? Prepare Before You Sell.
You do not need to wait until your property is on Rightmove to start preparing.
Understand its value. Get your paperwork together. Think about your onward move. Speak to your solicitor. And choose an agent who has a strategy for getting you to completion, not simply getting you an offer.