What Does an Estate Agent Do After a Sale is Agreed?

A sale has been agreed between seller and buyer, hooray! But, what does that then mean for the estate agent?

Many people think estate agents just list a property online, agree a sale with a buyer, and then sit back and cash in.

…Wrong.

At Robinson David Estate Agents, we know that agreeing a sale is only the halfway mark. In fact, it’s what happens after a sale is agreed — the sales progression journey — that often makes the difference between a smooth completion and a stressful collapse.

This article shines a light on what estate agents really do once a property is “sold subject to contract.”

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What is the Sales Progression Journey?

Once a property sale is agreed, the progression stage begins. This is the vital second half of the journey, where the estate agent helps carry the transaction from offer accepted all the way to exchange and completion.

In England, this stage is particularly important because neither buyers nor sellers are legally bound until contracts are exchanged. That means weeks (sometimes months) of work go into making sure everything stays on track — and either side can still pull out until that point.

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Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Checks

The first step is carrying out the buyer’s Anti-Money Laundering checks. This ensures that the buyer can legally purchase the property and protects both parties from risk.

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Recommending and Working with Solicitors

Having worked with countless solicitors, we know just how much they can influence whether a sale succeeds or fails.

Sadly, sales often fall through when buyers or sellers choose the cheapest solicitor, or rely on a friend’s “great recommendation” from years ago — only to discover that the team has changed, or that communication isn’t what it should be.

That’s why we always recommend solicitors we trust. Our advice isn’t guesswork; it’s based on day-to-day, real-time knowledge of who gets the job done. A good solicitor is worth their weight in gold when it comes to keeping sales moving forward.

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The Estate Agent’s Role in Sales Progression

Once both parties have instructed solicitors, our role is to act as the main point of contact between:

• Buyers and sellers

• Solicitors on both sides

• Mortgage lenders

• Surveyors

• Other estate agents in the chain

Our job is to keep communication flowing, track progress, and spot issues before they become deal-breakers.

In chain sales (where buyers also need to sell their own property), this can involve stepping beyond “our part” of the chain to chase updates, troubleshoot delays, and keep everyone motivated to reach completion.

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Surveys, Searches, and Mortgage Offers

We monitor every stage of the process, including:

• Buyer’s mortgage application and lender survey

• Independent surveys requested by the buyer

• Local authority searches and enquiries

• Mortgage offers being issued

Most bottlenecks happen between solicitors. That’s why a proactive estate agent is essential — chasing for updates, helping resolve queries quickly, and making sure contracts are prepared on time.

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Handling Problems Along the Way

Issues inevitably crop up: a survey might flag a problem, documents might go missing, or a lender might take longer than expected. When this happens, we step in to:

• Troubleshoot the problem

• Negotiate solutions

• Keep the chain moving

Without this hands-on involvement, small hiccups can quickly snowball into sales collapsing.

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Exchange, Completion, and Handover

Towards the end of the journey, we help confirm contracts are signed and deposits paid, working closely with solicitors to agree on completion dates.

On exchange day, contracts are legally binding. Completion usually follows a week later (although in rare cases, it can be the same day).

Finally, on completion day, we arrange the key handover — making sure funds have cleared, buyers are ready to move in, and sellers have the time they need to vacate.

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Why Sales Progression Matters

A diligent estate agent or dedicated sales progressor:

• Minimises delays

• Reduces the risk of sales falling through

• Relieves buyers and sellers of unnecessary stress

Put simply: without sales progression, many sales would never complete.

At Robinson David Estate Agents, our job doesn’t stop once the “Sold” board goes up. We stay by your side, guiding you through every stage until you’re holding the keys to your new home — or handing them over to the next happy owner.