Moving home? Make it simpler, calmer and more predictable.
Free guides for home buyers and sellers from the Home Buying and Selling Council
Practical, industry expert guidance from lenders through to removal companies to help your buyers and sellers understand each stage of their move and avoid unnecessary delays.
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Guidance you can trust
The Home Buying and Selling Council brings together government, professional bodies, regulators, redress schemes and industry leaders to make home moving faster, fairer and less stressful. These guides have been developed and agreed by organisations across the home-moving process.
We welcome feedback and recommendations via LinkedIn
For Sellers: Start here
Three simple steps to help a sellers sale go smoothly from the start.
Quick guide to selling a home.
Read and help sellers to change the way they sell a home now by encouraging and helping them to provide information prior to marketing the property
Instruct a conveyancer early
Don't ask sellers to wait until they have a buyer. Starting the legal work while their home is on the market helps you spot issues early and avoid delays later.
Be ready to move by 1 pm
Ensure your sellers have money where it needs to be to complete a sale and being ready to move out of the property by 1pm on moving day can help reduce the stress of moving home.
For Buyers: Start here
Three simple steps to help a buyer’s purchase go smoothly and and reduce fall throughs
Quick guide to selling a home.
Read and help buyers to change the way they purchase a home now by encouraging and helping them to be buyer ready before viewing and making an offer on a property.
Speak to a mortgage adviser before you view
A qualified mortgage adviser or broker can confirm what you can borrow and explain the other costs of buying. Having proof of your identity and funds ready avoids delays once your offer is accepted.
Get your own survey as soon as your offer is accepted
A mortgage valuation is for your lender, not for you. Commission your own independent survey early, before you commit significant legal costs, so you know the condition of the home you are buying.
Know what a property listing should tell you
Sellers and estate agents must tell buyers about property facts and costs that could affect the decision to view or make an offer. Whether you are buying or selling, here is what to look for.
A listing should include, ideally from marketing:
- Whether it is freehold, leasehold, shared ownership or commonhold, leasehold, its length and costs such as service charge and ground rent
- The council tax band or cost
- What parking is available
- Whether there is a garden, and whether it is shared
- Accessibility, such as step-free access
- The utilities: electricity, water, heating, drainage, broadband and mobile signal
- Any rights of way, and whether the property is listed or in a conservation area
- Whether the property has flooded or is at risk of flooding
- Any known building safety issues, any restrictions on use or alterations
Ensure, as an agent, you have all the information for a listing prior to, or shortly after, marketing. If you are a lender, broker, legal firm or surveyor, you ask for material information when receiving information about a new instruction.
Ensure sellers understand they should provide this information upfront and be honest about any known issues or defects with the home, or it could lead to problems post-sale.
Free guides for every stage of the moving process for your buyers and sellers
Feel free to download the following guides, which explain what happens, why it matters and what your buyers and sellers can do to keep their move on track.
Stage 1: Getting ready
Buyers and sellers
How long does it really take to move home?
What happens at each stage, and how to avoid delays.
Sellers
Why instruct a conveyancer early?
How starting the legal work sooner keeps your sale on track.
Buyers and sellers
Why do I need to prove my identity and funds?
What you may be asked for when buying or selling a home.
Buyers and sellers
Should I use the advisers I'm recommended?
Understanding referral fees and what's behind a recommendation.
Stage 2: Checking the property
Buyers and sellers
How is a home valued?
What valuations mean for buyers and sellers.
Buyers
Do I need a survey, and which one?
Choosing the right survey and making the most of the advice.
Stage 3: Moving day
Buyers and sellers
How do we complete by 1pm?
Making moving day go smoothly.
Are you an agent, conveyancer, lender, broker, surveyor or other home moving service?
Help your clients move with confidence by sharing these guides with them.
Register for the FREE Home Moving Reform Toolkit to receive the Moving Made Clear guides to share with clients, along with templates and resources for your own practice, and updates whenever new guides are added.
Register for the ToolkitWant to know more?
- Official government guides: How to buy a home, How to sell a home and How to lease
- The HBSC Pledge: see the commitments organisations have made to buyers and sellers
- Our work: find out how the HBSC is improving the way homes are bought and sold
