What completion day might look like for a buyer...

What happens on completion day, and what should you expect?

Completion day is the final and most exciting stage of your home buying journey. When ownership of the property officially transfers to you, and you get the keys to your new home.

However, there are a few important steps that need to happen behind the scenes before you can move in. Here’s what completion day looks like from a conveyancer’s perspective and what you should expect.

What happens on completion day?

On completion day, your conveyancer and the seller’s conveyancer(not the agent)handle the legal and financial formalities to finalise the transaction. The key steps include:

📌Mortgage funds are released– Your lender transfers the mortgage funds to your conveyancer, who then sends the full purchase amount to the seller’s solicitor.

📌Final checks are made– The seller’s solicitor confirms that all conditions have been met and that they’re ready to hand over the keys.

📌Property ownership is legally transferred– Once funds are received, the seller’s solicitor confirms completion, and the property officially belongs to you.

📌You collect the keys– The estate agent is informed that completion has taken place and releases the keys to you.

💡 Fact: Completion often happens between 10 am and 2 pm, but delays can occur if bank transfers take longer than expected.

What could cause delays on completion day?

⏳Late mortgage funds– If your lender doesn’t release funds in time, completion could be pushed back.

⏳Bank transfer issues– Large payments need to clear, which can sometimes take longer than expected.

⏳Delays in the chain– If other linked transactions experience issues, this can hold up your completion.

⏳Seller not moving out on time– If the seller isn’t fully packed and ready to leave, you may face unexpected delays.

💡 Tip: If you’re in a chain, be prepared for some waiting time on completion day - it’s a domino effect where each buyer in the chain relies on the transaction before them to complete.

What should you do on completion day?

✔Be ready to collect your keys– Stay in touch with your estate agent within Open Moove to confirm when they’ll be available.

✔Check your solicitor has everything they need– Ensure any outstanding paperwork or payments have been completed in advance.

✔Have a plan for moving in– If you’re using removal services, make sure they’re on standby once you get the keys.

✔Check the property once you arrive– Ensure everything that was agreed upon in the contract (e.g., fixtures and fittings) is in place.

💡 Fact: You cannot move in until completion has officially taken place—even if your belongings are packed and ready to go.

What Open Moove suggests next

• Stay in contact with your conveyancer and estate agent within Open Moove on completion day for live updates.

• Ensure your mortgage funds have been transferred in time to avoid potential last-minute delays.

• Double-check that everything in the contract is as expected when you move in.

• Download the Open Moove app to track every stage of your homebuying journey and stay informed.