Industry data
Fast Sale Completion Times
A genuine cash sale completes in 7–28 days; the open market takes around 4–6 months. Completion time depends far more on the type of buyer and the legal work than on the brand name — a funded, chain-free buyer with a responsive solicitor is what makes a sale fast. This report benchmarks realistic timelines by buyer category and shows what slows a sale down.
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- 7–28 daysgenuine cash buyer
- 2–6 weeksprofessional investor
- 6–10 weeksauction
- 16–24 weeksopen market
How long does a fast sale take?
From an accepted offer, a funded cash buyer can complete in as little as 7 days where searches and ID checks are quick, and routinely within 2–4 weeks. The slowest steps are usually conveyancing searches, leasehold management packs and the seller’s own readiness — not the buyer’s funding.
Completion time by buyer type
| Route | Offer to completion | Main cause of delay |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine cash buyer (NAPB) | 7–28 days | Searches, leasehold packs |
| Professional investor | 2–6 weeks | Survey, refurb assessment |
| Auction | 6–10 weeks (post-hammer) | Fixed 28-day completion + run-up |
| Open market (with mortgage) | 16–24 weeks | Chains, mortgage offers, fall-throughs |
Relative speed at a glance
- The buyer has proof of funds and no onward chain.
- A solicitor is instructed on day one and searches are ordered immediately.
- The seller has ID, title and (if leasehold) the management pack ready.
Methodology & sources
Timelines are 2026 working estimates from NAPB member practice, conveyancing norms and Ready Steady Sell enquiry data. We do not publish unverified per-company timings; once we hold confirmed, comparable completion data by company we will add it here with sourcing under our data standards.
- RSS Quick-Sale Data Report 2025 (our own data) — Our own figures from 5,000 enquiries: vetted buyers paid 80– 92% of value, 27-day average completion, and a 0% cash fall-through rate vs ~30% on the open market.
- Fast Sale Industry Report 2026 — The size, shape and direction of the UK quick house-sale market — volumes, players, pricing and where the sector is heading.
- Average Cash Offer Percentage (UK) — What cash house buyers actually pay as a percentage of market value in 2026 — by buyer type, property and region.
- Property Investor Purchase Data — Who is buying, what they pay, and which strategies (BTL, BRRR, flips, lease options) drive UK investor purchases in 2026.
- Probate Property Sale Statistics — How long probate property sales take, how often they fall through, and what executors typically achieve on price.
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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
How fast can a cash house sale complete?
A funded, chain-free cash buyer can complete in 7–28 days; best cases reach about one week. The open market typically takes 16–24 weeks.
What slows a fast sale down?
Usually conveyancing searches, leasehold management packs and seller readiness — not the buyer’s funding, if the buyer is genuine.
