Legal & process
What Happens After Accepting a Cash Offer on a House?
After accepting a cash offer, the sale moves quickly because there is no mortgage or chain: you both instruct solicitors, the buyer provides proof of funds and passes ID/anti-money-laundering checks, your solicitor handles searches and enquiries and the buyer may commission a survey, then you exchange contracts (legally binding) and complete — frequently within 7-28 days. The legal work, not the buyer, is usually the only thing setting the pace.
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- 7–28days after acceptance
- Proof of fundsverified first
- Exchangewhen it becomes binding
- Legalsthe only real variable
The timeline after acceptance
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Instruct solicitors | Both sides appoint conveyancers | Day 1 |
| 2. Proof of funds & ID | Buyer evidences cash; AML checks | Days 1-5 |
| 3. Searches & enquiries | Solicitor orders searches, answers enquiries | 1-3 weeks |
| 4. Survey (optional) | Buyer may inspect the property | Within first 2 weeks |
| 5. Exchange | Contracts signed — legally binding | ~2-3 weeks |
| 6. Completion | Funds transfer; keys handed over | 7-28 days total |
Proof of funds and checks
The first thing to confirm is that the buyer genuinely has the cash. Your solicitor will verify proof of funds and carry out ID and anti-money-laundering checks as standard — a legitimate buyer expects this and provides it promptly. This step protects you: it confirms the "cash" is cleared and available, not money tied up in another sale. Reluctance to evidence funds is a red flag worth heeding before you go further.
Searches, enquiries and survey
Even without a mortgage, a careful cash buyer will usually run searches (local authority, water and drainage, environmental) and raise enquiries with your solicitor, and may commission a survey to check condition. Respond to enquiries quickly and have your paperwork ready — EPC, title, certificates, guarantees, and a leasehold management pack if relevant — because this is where any delay happens. A genuine buyer’s survey should only change the price if it reveals a real, evidenced issue (see why offers get reduced).
Exchange and completion
Once searches are back and enquiries are answered, you exchange contracts — the point the sale becomes legally binding and a completion date is fixed — and then complete, when the funds transfer to you and you hand over the keys. With cash, exchange and completion can be days apart, or even simultaneous. After completion your solicitor redeems any mortgage from the proceeds and sends you the balance. The whole process from acceptance can be as little as a week.
How to keep it fast and on track
The buyer is ready; the variable is the legal work. Keep it moving by instructing a conveyancer who can handle an expedited completion, gathering all your documents before you start, and replying to your solicitor within a day. If you are selling to a regulated cash buyer, they often recommend or pay for solicitors experienced in fast transactions. Stay in touch with both solicitors and chase weekly — momentum is what turns a 28-day sale into a 7-day one.
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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
How long does a cash sale take after accepting an offer?
Often 7-28 days, because there is no mortgage or chain. The conveyancing — searches, enquiries and checks — is usually the only thing setting the pace.
What checks happen after I accept a cash offer?
The buyer provides proof of funds and passes ID and anti-money-laundering checks, your solicitor runs searches and answers enquiries, and the buyer may commission a survey.
Is a cash offer legally binding when accepted?
No — acceptance is not binding. The sale becomes legally binding only at exchange of contracts, which with a cash buyer can follow within a couple of weeks.
Can a cash buyer still pull out after I accept?
Until exchange, either side can withdraw. A genuine, regulated cash buyer rarely does, and comparing buyers first means you can switch if one behaves badly.
Do cash buyers do a survey?
They may. A careful cash buyer often runs searches and a survey to check condition, even without a lender, and should only adjust the price for a genuine, evidenced issue.
What do I need to do to speed up a cash sale?
Instruct a conveyancer who handles fast completions, gather all your paperwork up front, and respond to enquiries within a day. The legal work is the only real variable.