You don't need an estate agent
If you've found a buyer directly, you can negotiate the sale yourself and use a conveyancer to handle the legal process. Here's how a private sale works, start to finish.
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Arrange a viewing
Contact the prospective buyer to arrange a convenient time for them to view the property. You can show them around yourself and answer any questions they have about the property.
Get an independent valuation
Let them go away and think about whether they wish to make you an offer. In the meantime, obtain an independent valuation of your property so you have a clear understanding of its current market value and to act as a basis for your negotiations.
e.surv Chartered Surveyors
An RICS-regulated valuation of your home, so you know what it's worth before you start negotiating.
Get a valuation quote →We're paid a fee if you book a survey with e.surv. It doesn't change what you pay.
Arrange an EPC
If you decide to sell, make sure the property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC is required when marketing a property for sale in England and Wales.
Once you've agreed to sell
Agree the price and basic terms
Agree the sale price with the buyer and confirm what is included in the sale, such as fixtures, fittings and appliances.
Create a memorandum of sale
Prepare a simple document confirming the property address, agreed price, buyer and seller details, and the basic terms of the sale. Send it to both parties and their conveyancers.
We have a free tool for this — fill it in, send it to your buyer to confirm, and you both get a PDF to forward on.
Instruct a conveyancer or solicitor
Instruct a conveyancer to handle the legal side of the sale. The buyer should instruct their own conveyancer too.
Open Door Legal
Conveyancing for the legal side of your sale, covering England and Wales.
Get a conveyancing quote →We're paid a fee if your sale completes with Open Door. It doesn't change what you pay.
Complete the property paperwork
Your conveyancer will ask you to provide information about the property and complete the relevant property information and fixtures and fittings forms.
Buyer arranges their mortgage and surveys
If applicable, the buyer arranges their mortgage, valuation and/or survey. They may also wish to arrange additional surveys or inspections, such as a HomeBuyer Survey, Gas Safety Record (GSR), Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) or other specialist checks.
These are the buyer's responsibility and, unless otherwise agreed, there is no legal obligation for the seller to arrange or contribute towards the cost of these surveys or inspections.
If an inspection identifies issues, the buyer may wish to use the findings to negotiate a change to the agreed price or other terms. However, the seller is under no obligation to renegotiate and can choose whether or not to accept any proposed rectifications or renegotiations.
Conveyancers deal with searches and enquiries
The buyer's conveyancer carries out searches and raises enquiries. Your conveyancer deals with these on your behalf.
Exchange contracts
Once everything is ready, contracts are signed and formally exchanged once a completion date has been agreed. The sale is legally binding from this point.
Complete the sale
On the agreed completion date, the buyer's funds are transferred to your conveyancer. Once received, the buyer can collect the keys and ownership transfers.
Receive your sale proceeds
Your conveyancer pays off any outstanding mortgage and agreed costs, with the remaining balance transferred to you.
Your onward move
Not part of the sale itself, but the two things most sellers line up alongside it.
L&C Mortgages
Fee-free mortgage advice across the market, for the place you're buying next. L&C are paid by the lender, not by you.
Get mortgage advice →L&C charge you no broker fee — they're paid by the lender. We're paid a fee if you take advice from them.
AnyVan
Quotes from local removals firms for moving day, once your completion date is set.
Get removals quotes →We're paid a fee if you book your move through AnyVan. It doesn't change what you pay.
Free memorandum of sale
Step 5 needs a memorandum of sale — the short document that records what you and your buyer have agreed. Fill one out, send it to your buyer to confirm, and both of you get a PDF to pass to your conveyancers.
Free, no account needed, and nothing you type is stored on our servers.
Create a memorandum of sale →This guide is general information about how a private sale works in England and Wales. It isn't legal or financial advice. Your conveyancer is the right person to advise on your own sale.