New Industry Charter Aims For 28 Day Property Sale Process

Selling a home can be exciting— yet the process from sale agreed to exchange can experience delays. Today, the property sector has launched a new charter with the aim of making that period much shorter, more transparent and less frustrating, for sellers and buyers alike.

What’s the Charter About?

– A group of leading organisations across conveyancing, lenders, and related services has set out a blueprint to overhaul how property transactions happen.
– Key goals include better data sharing, removing needless obstacles and using digital tools more effectively.
– One of the headline targets is ambitious: cut the time between sale agreed and exchange down to 28 days. In 2024, the average interval was recorded as 109 days. Depending on the circumstances it is sometimes much longer, while sellers and buyers will just want to move on.
– The charter also seeks to reduce the amount of transactions that fall through and to bring more consistency, so everyone involved knows what’s expected and what the likely timescales are.

Why It Matters

– For buyers and sellers, a faster exchange is likely to mean less stress, fewer moving-date uncertainties and reduced costs.
– For professionals—solicitors, conveyancers and agents, it means there should be more predictable workflows and time spent more efficiently, with an improved service.
– Overall, the hope is this will encourage more faith in the property process, for example, in reducing the impact of one party or service holding up the chain.

Where Things Stand

While the charter is new, many in the industry are already working toward its promises. The tools and agreements needed—like improved digital reports, clearer timelines and more collaborative communication— are increasingly in place.

Of course, making 28 days realistic everywhere will take time. Some of the parts of the chain—searches, legal checks, mortgage offers—rely on third parties and external systems. But the principle is gaining support, and that momentum indicates change is on the way.

Mackenzie Smith: Already Helping You Move Faster

We believe in putting clients first—and that means getting things done effectively, without compromising on care. We’re consistently working to stay on top of all the moving pieces and our Trustpilot reviews reveal just that- often describing us as going “above and beyond” in liaising with solicitors and other parties.

Thanks to our hands-on approach, when a sale is agreed, we’re frequently able to reach exchange in about two months—significantly quicker than many in the market. With the new charter in place, there’s every reason to think we could become even faster. If everyone operates to the same standards—communicating clearly, sharing data promptly, using digital tools effectively—then the 28-day goal would become a reality for many homeowners selling their property with us.

At Mackenzie Smith, we already aim to make home moves progress more smoothly. With us, you’ll receive frequent updates about where things are in the process. If you’re thinking of selling and want to understand what comes next, we’ll be happy to guide you through it. Please feel free to get in touch with your nearest branch to find out more, or book an expert valuation, here.

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