What Happens on Completion Day When Selling a House?

Completion day is the day your property sale becomes final — the day ownership transfers to the buyer and you receive your money. Here's exactly what happens, step by step.

Get My Free Cash Offer →

Before Completion Day

Exchange of contracts happens before completion (usually by a few days, or sometimes on the same day in a cash sale). At exchange, both parties are legally committed to the transaction. The completion date is agreed and fixed at this point.

What Happens on Completion Day

Funds are transferred: The buyer's solicitor transfers the agreed purchase price to your solicitor's client account. In a cash sale, this is typically done by bank transfer in the morning.
Your solicitor confirms receipt: Once they confirm the money has arrived, they notify you and authorise you to hand over the keys.
You vacate the property: You need to have moved out and left the property in the agreed condition before the completion time (usually midday, but this can vary).
Keys are handed over: Keys can be left at a local estate agent, given directly to us, or another agreed handover method.
Legal registration: Your solicitor notifies Land Registry of the ownership change. This is processed in the days following completion.
Your mortgage is redeemed: Your solicitor pays off your outstanding mortgage from the proceeds. Any remaining balance is transferred to your bank account — often the same day.

Get Your Free Cash Offer

Takes 60 seconds. Our team will call you within 24 hours.

Postal Code

First Name

Phone *

Email *

When Do You Actually Get Your Money?

In most cases, the money is in your personal bank account on completion day — sometimes within hours of the transfer being confirmed. Your solicitor will send you a completion statement showing the sale price, the mortgage redemption, their fees, and the net amount sent to you.

With Buy My Property Fast, we aim to have funds transferred early in the morning so you have certainty as quickly as possible on completion day.

Top Tips for a Smooth Completion Day

Make sure you've removed all your belongings before the completion time
Leave the property clean and in the agreed condition
Have your bank account details confirmed with your solicitor in advance
Keep your phone charged and accessible — your solicitor will need to reach you
Have a plan for where you're going — don't leave yourself with nowhere to go if there's a minor delay