September 2026
After exchanging contracts, you’re well on your way to Completion day. After weeks of planning and progress, it’s something to look forward to and with a checklist to help, you can ensure everything runs seamlessly before the keys are handed over.
On completion day, a little preparation can make each stage feel easier to manage. Use our checklist for buyers to help you stay on top of the important tasks.
Contact your solicitor prior to your completion day to ensure they have requested mortgage funds if applicable so they will land in good time and avoid delays.
For many, completion doubles as moving day. It can be helpful to contact your moving company in the morning to check that everything is ready to go. Expect to move in the afternoon, when your purchase is more likely to have completed.
If you’re selling your old home, you won’t be able to return after you move out. Walk through each room and check for anything you may have missed, such as toiletries, cleaning products and garage tools.
Important letters may be sent to your old address after completion day. To avoid this, you should set up a forwarding address with Royal Mail and check that no packages are due to be delivered after you leave.
Find your meters for gas, electricity and water, and take a photo of the reading on each one. You should send these to your current utility supplier so they can arrange your final bill. This helps you avoid being charged for usage after you’ve moved out.
Once completion has taken place, your sales executive will give you a call to let you know and congratulate you on reaching this exciting milestone. You’ll then be ready to collect the keys and start settling into your new home
Once completion has been confirmed, your sales executive will arrange a time to meet you at the marketing suite and hand over the keys to your new home. Then, it’s time to start settling in and making it your own.
Once you have the keys, it’s time to move into your new home. If you’re using a removal company, they can take care of transporting your belongings, leaving you free to focus on settling in and making your new home your own. For valuable or sentimental items, you may prefer to transport these yourself.
Your new council will need to know that you’ve moved, so it’s worth letting them know on completion day or before to help avoid any issues with your council tax. You can also update your electoral registration details to reflect your new address, so you’re able to vote at your new property.
Although redirecting your mail is a great temporary solution, you’ll need to update your address with all service providers, banks and with DVLA.
Your Stamp Duty payment (if applicable) is detailed on your final statement which is due to be paid to your solicitor for your completion to take place.
If you’re selling the property you live in, you’ll need to follow our completion day checklist for buyers.
Just like a buyer, a seller should take pictures of their final meter readings and inform their utility companies of the figures.
One of the main things to do on completion day for a seller is to drop off the keys for collection. Take all keys you have to the estate agent and make sure the house is locked.
Your solicitor will receive the money for the property and will forward it to you after deducting fees. This may take time to land in your account, so you should keep an eye out for it over the next few days. If you have any doubts, call your solicitor for information about the transfer.
If you’re moving into a new house after selling, make sure you review our buyers checklist for more things to do on completion day.
When you buy a house, aftercare is important. That’s why we provide a comprehensive guide about your new home, and our on-site team will be there to answer any questions as you settle in.
