Selling process
My Quick Sale Checklist
The quick-sale checklist: 1) choose your route (cash buyer, auction, or keenly priced open market); 2) get your paperwork ready (title, EPC, ID, mortgage redemption); 3) price realistically from comparables; 4) present and photograph well (or sell as-is to a cash buyer); 5) instruct a fast conveyancer; and 6) stay responsive to keep the sale moving. The fastest, most certain route is a cash buyer, completing in 7-28 days.
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Get genuine offers from checked & vetted buyers.
- 6 stepsto a quick sale
- Pricethe biggest factor
- 7-28 dayscash is fastest
Step 1: Choose your route
First, decide how you’ll sell, based on your priority. A cash buyer is the fastest and most certain (7-28 days, no chain, buys as-is) but at a lower price. Auction has fast, fixed timescales and suits certain properties. A keenly priced open-market sale can be quick and nearer full value but carries chain/mortgage risk. Match the route to whether speed, certainty or price matters most (see fast sale vs cash buyer).
Step 2: Get your paperwork ready
| Document | Why |
|---|---|
| Proof of ID & address | Anti-money-laundering checks |
| Title / Land Registry details | Proves ownership |
| Valid EPC | Legally required to market |
| Mortgage redemption figure | To calculate net proceeds |
| Guarantees, consents, lease | Speeds the buyer’s enquiries |
Having paperwork ready up front is where much delay is avoided.
Step 3: Price it right
Pricing is the single biggest factor in how fast you sell. Check recent sold prices of comparable homes (see comparables) and price at or slightly below current value to attract early interest and competing offers. Over-pricing is the enemy of a quick sale — it leaves a home sitting, going stale, and selling for less after reductions. For a cash sale, get the offer benchmarked against an independent valuation so you know it’s fair.
Step 4-5: Present, then progress
Present well — declutter, clean, fix niggles, boost kerb appeal, and get good photos (see getting ready) — or, for a cash sale, skip this and sell as-is. Once under offer, instruct a proactive conveyancer, return everything promptly, and chase the right bottleneck if things stall (see speeding up your solicitor). Being the fast, organised party keeps the sale moving — much delay is avoidable client-side.
Step 6: The fastest path
If your priority is guaranteed speed and certainty, the whole checklist simplifies: a cash buyer needs no presentation, no chain, no mortgage, just your paperwork and a firm offer, completing in 7-28 days. Verify the buyer (NAPB membership, proof of funds), benchmark the offer against a valuation, and you have a fast, reliable sale. The trade-off is a price below full market value. We can help you compare your options and get a no-obligation offer to weigh against the alternatives.
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Written & reviewed by Lisa Hayes, Founder
Lisa Hayes is the founder of Ready Steady Sell and an independent UK home-selling expert with over a decade helping homeowners weigh cash house buyers, property investors and the wider fast house-sale industry — without pressure or hidden fees. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy under our editorial standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
What’s the checklist for selling a house fast?
Choose your route, get your paperwork ready, price realistically, present and photograph well (or sell as-is to a cash buyer), instruct a fast conveyancer, and stay responsive.
What paperwork do I need to sell quickly?
Proof of ID and address, title/Land Registry details, a valid EPC, your mortgage redemption figure, and any guarantees, consents and lease details to speed the buyer’s enquiries.
What’s the fastest way to sell a house?
A cash buyer — no presentation, chain or mortgage needed, just your paperwork and a firm offer, completing in 7-28 days. The trade-off is a price below full market value.
How do I avoid delays in a quick sale?
Get paperwork ready up front, price right, instruct a proactive conveyancer, return everything promptly, and chase the right bottleneck. Much delay is avoidable client-side.
How should I price for a quick sale?
At or slightly below current value, based on recent sold comparables, to attract early interest and competing offers. Over-pricing leaves a home sitting and selling for less.
How do I check a cash offer is fair?
Benchmark it against an independent agent valuation and sold comparables, and verify the buyer (NAPB membership, proof of funds). A genuine offer is typically 75-85% of value.