How soon can you move home?

Moving home can feel like several things happening at once. You may be selling your current property, searching for your next home, checking your mortgage options, arranging legal work and preparing for completion.

The exact timeline can vary depending on your property chain, lender, solicitor, survey results and how quickly documents are provided. However, most movers follow a similar journey, from checking their equity through to completion day.

This guide walks through the main stages, how long each step may take and where delays can sometimes appear.

01 Check how much equity you have in your current home

Estimated time: Instant to a few days

Your equity is the difference between what your current home may be worth and how much you still owe on your mortgage. It is one of the first figures to check because it can shape your deposit, moving budget and next mortgage amount.

For example, if your home is worth £350,000 and your outstanding mortgage is £220,000, your estimated equity is £130,000. However, the amount you can put towards your next purchase may be lower once you allow for estate agent fees, legal fees, removal costs and any early repayment charges.

At this stage, you do not need an exact figure. You need a realistic starting point. A property valuation, recent local sales and your latest mortgage balance can help you estimate where you stand.

02 Estimate what you could borrow for your next home

Estimated time: Instant to a few days

Once you have an idea of your equity, the next step is to estimate how much you could borrow for your next home. This can help you understand your likely purchase budget before you start viewing properties or making offers.

Lenders usually look at your income, regular commitments, credit profile, deposit, loan-to-value and the type of property you want to buy. They may also review childcare costs, loans, credit cards, existing mortgage payments and any recent changes to your financial situation.

This step is especially important if you want to move to a more expensive property, borrow more, port your current mortgage or change the structure of your next mortgage. A quick estimate can help, but personalised mortgage advice can give you a more realistic view across different lenders.

03 Get an Agreement in Principle

Estimated time: Around 1 week

An Agreement in Principle gives you an early indication of how much you may be able to borrow. It can be useful when viewing properties or making an offer because it shows estate agents and sellers that you have started checking your mortgage position.

You may need to provide basic details about your income, employment, deposit, credit commitments and property plans. Some lenders may use a soft credit check, while others may use a hard credit check, so it is worth checking how the process works before you apply.

An Agreement in Principle is not a guaranteed mortgage offer. The lender will still need to assess your full application, supporting documents, property valuation and affordability before making a final decision.

04 Find your next property

Estimated time: Often 12 to 24 weeks

Finding your next home can be one of the longest parts of the moving process. Some buyers find the right property quickly, while others may take several months, especially if they are selling at the same time.

During this stage, it helps to keep your budget realistic. Your maximum borrowing figure is not always the same as the amount you should comfortably spend. You may also need to allow for stamp duty, legal costs, surveys, removals, mortgage fees and a cash buffer for furnishing, repairs or unexpected costs after you move.

If your Agreement in Principle expires during your search, you may need to refresh it. Your mortgage options may also change if rates move, your income changes or your deposit position becomes clearer after selling your current property.

05 Submit your mortgage application

Estimated time: A few days to 1 week to prepare and submit

Once your offer has been accepted, you can usually move from an Agreement in Principle to a full mortgage application. At this point, the lender will check your income, deposit, current mortgage, property details and wider financial position in more detail.

You may need to provide payslips, bank statements, proof of deposit, ID, address history and details of any financial commitments. If you are self-employed, have variable income or want to borrow more when moving home, the lender may ask for extra documents.

Submitting a complete application can help reduce delays. Missing information, unclear bank statements or changes to your circumstances can slow the process down.

06 Arrange the mortgage valuation and property survey

Estimated time: Around 1 to 2 weeks

After your mortgage application is submitted, the lender will usually arrange a mortgage valuation. This checks whether the property is suitable security for the loan. It is mainly for the lender’s benefit, so it should not be treated as a detailed survey of the property’s condition.

You may also choose to arrange your own property survey. This can give you more detail about the condition of the home, including possible issues such as damp, roof problems, structural movement or repairs that may be needed.

A valuation or survey can sometimes lead to further questions. For example, the lender may reduce the valuation, ask for specialist reports or place conditions on the mortgage offer. If this happens, your adviser, solicitor and estate agent may need to work through the next steps with you.

07 Receive your mortgage offer

Estimated time: Often 1 to 2 weeks after lender checks are complete

Your mortgage offer is the lender’s formal confirmation that they are prepared to provide the mortgage, subject to the terms and conditions in the offer. It will set out the loan amount, interest rate, mortgage term, monthly payments, fees and any special conditions.

You should review the offer carefully, especially if you are porting your mortgage, adding extra borrowing or splitting your borrowing across different mortgage parts. In some cases, your current mortgage and additional borrowing may have different rates, end dates and repayment conditions.

Your solicitor will also receive a copy of the mortgage offer. They will check the legal details and make sure any lender requirements are satisfied before exchange and completion.

08 Complete legal checks and searches

Estimated time: Often 6 to 12 weeks

Your solicitor or conveyancer handles the legal side of buying your next home. This can include reviewing the contract pack, checking the title, raising enquiries, reviewing search results and making sure the property can be legally transferred to you.

Searches may include local authority, drainage, environmental and other property-related checks. The timing can vary depending on the local authority, the complexity of the property and how quickly the seller’s solicitor responds to enquiries.

This stage often overlaps with the mortgage process. Even if your mortgage offer is ready, you may still need to wait for legal checks, search results and the wider property chain before you can exchange contracts.

09 Exchange contracts and pay your exchange deposit

Estimated time: Usually once your mortgage and legal work are complete

Exchange is the point where the purchase becomes legally binding. Before exchange, your solicitor will usually ask you to sign the contract, confirm your buildings insurance is arranged and transfer the exchange deposit.

The exchange deposit is often 10% of the purchase price, although the exact amount can vary. If you are selling and buying at the same time, your solicitor may be able to use the deposit from your buyer towards your onward purchase.

At exchange, your completion date is also agreed. This is the date you officially move, receive the keys and complete the purchase.

10 Complete and move into your new home

Estimated time: Usually same day to 2 weeks after exchange

Completion is the final stage of the moving home process. Your lender releases the mortgage funds to your solicitor, who then transfers the money to the seller’s solicitor. Once this has happened, ownership of the property can pass to you.

After completion has taken place, the estate agent can release the keys and you can move into your new home. If you are selling your current property at the same time, your sale and purchase usually need to complete on the same day, especially if both transactions are part of a chain.

After completion, your solicitor will handle the remaining legal tasks. This can include registering your ownership and arranging payment of any stamp duty due.

Moving home mortgage timeline summary

Stage	Typical timing
Check how much equity you have	Instant to a few days
Estimate what you could borrow	Instant to a few days
Get an Agreement in Principle	Around 1 week
Find your next property	Often 12 to 24 weeks
Submit your mortgage application	A few days to 1 week to prepare and submit
Arrange the valuation and survey	Around 1 to 2 weeks
Receive your mortgage offer	Often 1 to 2 weeks after lender checks are complete
Complete legal checks and searches	Often 6 to 12 weeks
Exchange contracts and pay your exchange deposit	Once the mortgage and legal work are complete
Complete and move into your new home	Usually same day to 2 weeks after exchange

Where Muttuo Mortgages can help

Moving home is not just about finding a new property. Your mortgage, equity, deposit, timing, legal work and moving costs all need to fit together.

Muttuo Mortgages can help you understand your options before you make an offer. That could include porting your current mortgage, switching to a new deal or borrowing more for your next home.

We can also help you compare lenders, prepare your application and keep the mortgage side of your move on track once your offer has been accepted.

Getting advice early can help you plan the next step with fewer surprises.