Stage 13 of Buying a House | Exchange Has Taken Place

Business & Agricultural Property Relief Changes 2026

What’s My Legacy? Remember A Charity Week 2026

Lyons Bowe client-focused solicitors graphic

A Fairer End to Relationships: What Proposed Legal Reforms Could Mean for Unmarried Couples

Lyons Bowe client-focused solicitors graphic

Clean Break Financial Order

Inheritance Tax UK: What We Can Learn From Recent HMRC Cases

Lyons Bowe client-focused solicitors graphic

Lawyer for Child Custody: How the Pathfinder Pilot Is Reshaping Family Justice in England and Wales

Stage 13 of Buying a House | Exchange Has Taken Place

This is the step at which everyone is now legally bound to the transaction of the property and you are one step away from completion! It is safe to start packing your bags and picking out paint and wallpaper. Get ready to see those colour swatches and Pinterest boards come to life whilst preparing for the most exciting step, completion.Completion is the point at which ownership of the property is transferred. Exchange and completion can happen on the same day in some instances; however, we would recommend leaving 1-2 weeks between your exchange date and completion date so that all parties have time to prepare for moving house. Your solicitor will have agreed your completion date with the seller’s side.

Our To Do List

  • Complete your transaction on the agreed completion date with the seller’s solicitor.

Your To Do List

  • Keep an eye out for your phone and emails to organise completion with your solicitor.

FAQs About Exchange

What happens when contracts are exchanged?

You need to read and understand the contract, then sign it in black, wet ink. You and the seller sign identical contracts, then your solicitors read the contracts to confirm that they are indeed identical. The solicitors then check that they have all the relevant legal documents and verify that any other buyers and sellers in the chain are ready to proceed. The Contracts are then exchanged and all parties become legally bound to the transaction.

Can you exchange contracts without a completion date?

No, a completion date must be included in your final Contract. This allows everyone in the chain to make suitable arrangements such as removal vans, time off work and packing.

When will I complete on my purchase?

Completion will always occur on a Friday. You will either exchange and completion on the same day, or you and your seller may wish to allow some breathing room between exchange and completion, typically 1-2 weeks. This could be to allow everyone time to pack, organise moving and generally get ready.

Scroll to Top

Get a quote

Get your Online Property Estimate

To obtain a quote please select an office from the dropdown below:

Make Enquiry

Write your Will, LPA or Grant of Probate

Get a Quote

Initiate your Free Divorce Consultation

To obtain a quote please select an office from the dropdown below: