Selling your home is exciting, but it can also be stressful, especially when unexpected delays hold things up. While the average property transaction takes 8–12 weeks, even small issues can quickly turn that into months of waiting.
At PLS, we help sellers get legally sale-ready from day one, so you can move faster and avoid unnecessary setbacks. Here’s what causes common conveyancing delays, and how to avoid them.
Get Sale-Ready with PLS
When it comes to selling your home, being sale-ready means having everything in place before you find a buyer, legally, financially, and practically.
Most sellers wait until they accept an offer to start the legal process, but this is often what causes delays. By getting sale-ready early, you can move faster once your offer is agreed, reduce stress, and even make your property more attractive to potential buyers.
At PLS, our Free Sale-Ready Service is designed to help you take control of your sale from day one. We prepare all the essential legal groundwork early, including:
- Early ID and AML checks – so your conveyancer can start work immediately.
- Preparation of draft contracts and property forms – ready to issue as soon as you accept an offer.
- Review of title deeds and legal documents – to spot and resolve any potential issues before they cause delays.
- Guidance on required certificates and compliance checks – such as boiler servicing, planning permissions, and building control sign-offs.
This proactive approach gives buyers confidence that your sale will progress smoothly, and helps prevent many of the most common conveyancing delays before they happen.
In short, being sale-ready means you’re legally prepared, paperwork-ready, and positioned to move faster than the competition.
1. Property Chains: The Biggest Cause of Delays
A property chain happens when several transactions are linked together, for example, your buyer also needs to sell their own home before they can complete on yours. If one person in the chain experiences delays, everyone else is affected.
How to avoid chain delays:
- Find out if your buyer is in a chain before accepting their offer.
- Prefer buyers who are chain-free or already have their sale agreed.
- Get sale-ready with PLS, by preparing your paperwork early, you can exchange contracts faster once your buyer is ready.
2. Missing Paperwork and Legal Documents
One of the most common and avoidable reasons for home sale delays is missing paperwork.
You’ll typically need:
- Proof of identity and address
- Boiler and service certificates
- Planning permission or building regulation documents
- Leasehold information (if applicable)
- Warranties or guarantees for building works
When sellers wait until after an offer to gather documents, everything slows down.
Tip: Get your paperwork together before your property even hits the market. PLS can help by preparing a personalised Sale-Ready File for you, ensuring all essential documents are ready to go.
3. Mortgage Application Delays
Even if your side of the sale is ready, your buyer’s mortgage process could be the bottleneck. Lenders often require strict documentation, including:
- Proof of deposit and source of funds
- Recent payslips and bank statements
- A mortgage agreement in principle (AIP)
- Clean credit history
How to minimise this delay:
Ask potential buyers if they already have an AIP. Buyers who are financially prepared can move forward much faster.
At PLS, we also help buyers get organised early, keeping the entire chain moving smoothly.
4. Slow Property Searches and Local Authority Delays
Every property sale requires certain searches and legal checks, including local authority, drainage, and environmental searches. Unfortunately, some local councils have long turnaround times, particularly during busy periods.
How to avoid delays:
- Work with a conveyancer who has local knowledge, they’ll know average search times in your area.
- Order searches early in the process.
- Stay in touch with your conveyancing team for regular updates.
5. Leasehold and Complex Properties
Selling a leasehold property can take longer due to additional paperwork from freeholders or managing agents. This includes service charge accounts, insurance details, and ground rent statements.
PLS Tip: Request your management pack as soon as you decide to sell, not after finding a buyer. This can save several weeks and prevent frustration later in the process.
6. Poor Communication Between Parties
A surprising number of property sales fall through because of communication breakdowns, not legal issues. Delays happen when solicitors, estate agents, and clients aren’t aligned or responsive.
At PLS, communication is our priority:
We provide regular updates at every stage.
We work directly with estate agents and other solicitors.
We use digital signing and secure document sharing to keep your sale moving.
Good communication doesn’t just save time, it can save your sale.
7. Post-Offer Negotiations and Buyer Queries
Once an offer is accepted, the buyer’s solicitor will raise legal enquiries. These can range from boundary questions to confirmation of fixtures and fittings.
How to speed this up:
- Discuss any potential issues with your solicitor early.
- Be clear about what’s included in the sale (appliances, furniture, etc.).
- Stay pragmatic, don’t let small disagreements cause big delays.
Move Faster with PLS
Every week counts when selling your home. By being prepared, communicating clearly, and partnering with a proactive conveyancing team, you can reduce stress, save time, and keep your sale on track.
Get Sale-Ready with PLS.
Our expert conveyancing team can prepare all your legal paperwork before you list your property, so you’re ready to move the moment you find your buyer.
Get a free quote today and take the first step toward a faster, smoother move.
