What happens after you instruct an agent: a realistic timeline
Congratulations on taking the step to put your home on the market. Whichever agent you are working with, the process that follows is broadly similar, and it helps to know roughly what to expect at each stage.
Preparation, usually one to two weeks
Before your property goes live, most agents will arrange photography, a floorplan, and write up the listing itself.
Marketing and viewings
Once live, your property is marketed across the major portals, and viewings are arranged as interest comes in. How quickly a buyer is found varies considerably by price, location and presentation, so it is worth asking your agent what a realistic timescale looks like for a property like yours specifically.
Offer and acceptance
Once an offer is accepted, the property is marked sold subject to contract, and a memorandum of sale is usually issued to everyone involved.
Searches, surveys and the legal process
This stage typically takes the longest, often several weeks to a couple of months, while solicitors carry out local searches and any enquiries are raised and answered.
Exchange and completion
Once everyone is ready, contracts are exchanged, deposits are paid, and a completion date is agreed, usually a few weeks later.
Why the stages rarely move at an even pace
It is worth knowing upfront that progress is rarely a smooth, steady line. Some weeks feel busy, with viewings and updates arriving often, while others, particularly during the legal stage, can feel quiet even though work is genuinely happening behind the scenes. That unevenness is normal, not a sign something has gone wrong.
It helps to know what a normal pace looks like at each stage, what questions are worth asking along the way, and what to consider if things ever feel like they have gone quiet, regardless of which agent you are working with.