By Rob Thomas, Joint Chief Executive, PLS Solicitors
If you’ve ever sold a property, you know how frustrating the process can be. You find a buyer, agree on a price, and then… you wait. And wait. In many cases, months pass — and sometimes, after all that waiting, the deal collapses.
At PLS Solicitors, we saw this happening far too often. We knew there had to be a better way. That’s why we created Sale Ready — a proactive legal due diligence service designed to eliminate delays, reduce fall-throughs, and make selling a home smoother and faster.
Why Are Property Transactions Taking Longer?
The data is clear: transactions today take 50% longer than in 2007.
- Average time from instruction to exchange has risen from 65 to 120 days
- Instruction to completion now averages 135 days — up from 75 days
- The time taken just to go from enquiries raised to replies received has more than doubled, taking almost 60 days
The biggest problem? Sellers often wait until an offer is accepted before they begin the legal process. This delay allows title issues, missing paperwork, or other complications to surface after a buyer is emotionally and financially committed — leading to frustration, renegotiation, or even collapse.
And When Transactions Drag… Chains Collapse.
The longer the sale takes, the more likely it is to fall through. It’s estimated that in the UK:
- 1 in 4 sales collapse before completion
- In property chains, the risk is even greater — with a 56% chance of collapse in a chain of three transactions
- Compared to other countries (e.g. US, Germany, France), the UK has one of the highest fall-through rates globally due to legal delays and uncertainty in the process
That’s not just stressful — it’s expensive, time-consuming, and avoidable.
The Sale Ready Solution: Turning Delay into Momentum
Sale Ready flips the script. Instead of waiting for a buyer before doing the legal legwork, we act like the buyer’s solicitor before a buyer even exists. Here’s how:
✔️ We fix issues upfront – Title defects, planning issues, and missing documentation are resolved early
✔️ We anticipate and answer standard enquiries – No waiting weeks for replies
✔️ We prepare and package all legal documents – So they’re ready to go the moment a buyer is found
✔️ We keep everyone informed – Using our digital Sale Ready portal
✔️ We significantly reduce transaction time – Saving sellers and agents weeks, if not months
Inspired by Part-Exchange Resales
When developers take a property in part exchange, they prepare it for resale immediately — so when a new buyer is found, the deal completes in 6–8 weeks rather than 12–16. Sale Ready brings this same level of efficiency and certainty to every seller, not just developers.
Faster Sales. Fewer Fall-Throughs.
Industry pilots have shown that preparing legal documents upfront can:
- Reduce fall-through rates by up to 50%
- Cut average transaction times by 4–6 weeks
- Give buyers more confidence — and more reason to stick with the deal
The Future of Conveyancing Starts Now
The UK property market is evolving, and outdated, reactive conveyancing models no longer serve buyers, sellers, or agents. At PLS Solicitors, we’re driving change through innovation — and Sale Ready is just the beginning.
If you’re selling your property, don’t wait for an offer to start thinking legally. Be Sale Ready from day one — and make your sale faster, smoother, and far more secure.
