There’s change on the horizon for the way homes are sold in England, and it’s designed to make the experience smoother for everyone involved. The government is preparing to introduce new requirements for estate agents and sellers to provide more information upfront before a property comes to market.
At first glance, that might sound like extra legwork, but we see it as a positive step, one that could reduce fall-throughs, speed up the process, and make selling a home in the Newcastle more predictable and less stressful.
Why change is needed
Anyone who has bought or sold a home knows that the process can be unpredictable. Around a quarter of all agreed sales in the UK still fall through before completion. The most common reasons are missing documents, late legal information, or unexpected issues discovered after an offer is accepted.
These delays cost time, money and confidence, not just for sellers, but for buyers too. The proposed changes aim to tackle this by ensuring that more key details are ready at the very start.
What’s changing
Under the upcoming reforms, sellers and their agents will be expected to gather and share a fuller set of information before marketing begins. That means things like title documents, planning permissions, details about service charges or boundaries, and other points that might previously have been handled later in the conveyancing process.
The idea is simple: the more information buyers have early on, the fewer surprises there are later. This should make offers more secure, reduce back-and-forth between solicitors, and give both sides more confidence that once a sale is agreed, it will actually complete.
How this benefits sellers and buyers
While this approach means a little more preparation before going live, it’s ultimately designed to make sales faster and more reliable. For sellers, that could mean fewer weeks waiting in limbo and fewer deals collapsing after survey or legal checks. For buyers, it offers clearer insight into what they’re purchasing before making an offer.
In practice, that could lead to shorter transaction times, smoother communication and far less uncertainty in the middle stages of a sale.
Why we welcome the change
At Bowson, we see this as a natural evolution of the market. Transparency builds trust, and trust builds confidence, both of which are good for sellers. We already encourage our clients to prepare key documents early, and these reforms will simply make that the norm.
By gathering everything upfront, sellers can present their property with clarity and avoid avoidable delays later on. We’re confident that in the long run, this shift will help reduce stress, improve completion rates and speed up the entire process.
Our advice for sellers
If you’re thinking of selling soon, it’s worth starting early with your preparation. Having documents, certificates and planning details ready before your home goes to market will soon become standard practice, and it could already give you an edge when buyers are choosing between properties.
We’re already helping sellers in the Newcastle suburbs prepare for these changes. Our team can guide you through what’s needed, recommend the best way to gather key information, and ensure your property is ready to launch confidently when the time is right.
If you’d like to discuss how to prepare, you can start with a free instant valuation or learn more about our selling service.