How long from being issued contracts?

[namechange987]

We are being sent the contracts to sell our property today. Once we have signed them and returned them, they then need to be exchanged and then a completion date arranged. Is there anything else that needs to happen? How long does it typically take from this point?

The sale is chain free - we are selling after separation so free to go whenever (I'm not living there), and the buyer is a first time buyer so free to go whenever.

ask your solicitor what else needs to happen. Searches ok? Any queries to answer? Fixtures and fittings? Mortgages arranged?

remember everything stops for tatmas, and that happens at least a week before.

Sorry, it's not clear whether you mean the actual contracts and transfer for the sale, i.e. quite far in the process, or the contractual documents being sent after you have instructed solicitors to act for you in the sale, i.e. at the beginning of the process.

Sorry, it's all a bit unfamiliar for me. I meant contracts being issued and documents for transfer of deeds.

I believe all queries have been answered - there was a list after draft contracts were sent to their solicitor. Fixtures and fittings are taken care of. The buyer has their mortgage approved and they chased us via the estate agent to find out why it was taking so long.

I have asked for things to move quicker as I need to apply for a primary school for my DD by mid January and want to have moved by then.

Ok, I'm assuming you're quite near the end then. However, it is impossible to predict what else needs to be done without knowing what is still outstanding. Usually it's one or two queries which haven't been satisfactorily answered and need further information. Have your buyers had a survey done? Have you been asked any questions in relation to any searches the buyers have had carried out? If you have, then that would tell you that searches were requested and have been done.