But if you've sold before, or spoken to anyone who has, you'll know that an agreed sale is the starting gun. Between that handshake and the day you hand over the keys, there's a process that can feel a little like herding cats, and in a market like Cranleigh and the surrounding villages, where chains can be long, and buyers are often relocating from further afield, staying on top of it matters more than ever.

This is where our job really begins.

Here's our practical guide on how we work alongside you to keep things moving calmly, confidently, and without unnecessary delays.

1. Instruct your solicitor before you find a buyer - not after

This is the one piece of advice we give every seller, and it's the one most people are surprised by: don't wait until you've accepted an offer to instruct a solicitor. Do it before your property even goes on the market.

We know it feels like putting the cart before the horse. But here's the reality: the moment a buyer is found, a clock starts ticking. Everyone wants to move quickly, emotions are running high, and that's exactly the wrong time to be hunting for a solicitor and filling in forms for the first time.

When you instruct early, you do all of that without the pressure. You can take your time, ask questions without feeling rushed, and have the full contract pack ready to issue the day a buyer is found. That alone can shave weeks off a transaction.

If you're not sure which solicitor to use, we're happy to point you towards someone who knows this area well. In a village sale, where titles can carry quirks like grazing rights, shared tracks, or historic covenants, local knowledge and clear communication matter far more than a low headline fee.

2. Start pulling your paperwork together now

Instructing a solicitor early also gives you time to do something just as valuable: start tracking down the documents you'll need, without the pressure of a buyer waiting on the other end.

This is the stuff that gets forgotten about and filed in a drawer. Planning permissions, building regulation certificates, guarantees for windows or a new boiler, warranty documents for work done over the years, anything relating to boundaries or neighbours. You know it exists somewhere, but do you know where?

When we take a property on, we'll walk you through exactly what's likely to be needed so you can start collating it calmly and in your own time. Because the alternative, scrambling to find a completion certificate or a 10-year-old guarantee while a buyer is getting impatient, is one of the most common and most avoidable causes of delay we see.

Getting ahead of the paperwork isn't just good admin. It removes a significant amount of stress from the whole process.

3. We chase, so you don't have to

One of the most important things we do between offer and exchange is chase progress on your behalf. We're in regular contact with both sets of solicitors, the buyer, and where there's a chain above or below you, the other agents involved.

When enquiries are raised by the buyer's solicitor, we'll keep you informed about what's been asked and flag anything that needs your input quickly. We know from experience that slow responses to legal enquiries are one of the most common reasons sales drag, so when your solicitor needs something from you, we'll make sure you know about it promptly and understand why it matters.

You shouldn't have to chase anyone. That's our role.

4. We keep an eye on the whole chain

If you're buying onward, whether that's in Cranleigh itself, or in one of the surrounding villages like Alfold, Shamley Green, Ewhurst, Dunsfold, or Loxwood - we'll be keeping a close eye on your purchase too, not just your sale.

Chains are where transactions most often run into trouble. Someone goes quiet at the top, or a buyer at the bottom has a change of heart, and suddenly a sale that felt solid is under pressure. We stay in contact with all the agents involved in the chain, so we have a clear picture of what's happening at every level, and if something looks like it's stalling, we'll be onto it before it becomes a problem.

You'll always know where things stand. We won't leave you guessing.

5. Surveys, we'll help you navigate them

Most buyers will commission a survey. In older properties, and there are plenty of beautiful period homes across Cranleigh, Bramley, Loxwood and surrounding villages, surveys often flag issues. That doesn't mean your sale is about to fall apart.

If the survey raises something significant and the buyer comes back to renegotiate on price or asks for remedial work, we'll guide you through it. We've handled plenty of these conversations, and we know what's reasonable and what isn't. We'll help you assess your options calmly, whether that's a small price adjustment, a specific repair, or standing firm - and we'll manage the conversation with the buyer, so it doesn't become confrontational.

Most survey-related renegotiations are resolved through sensible, well-handled dialogue. That's exactly what we're here for.

6. We keep everyone talking

One of the biggest causes of sales stalling, or falling through entirely, is a communication breakdown. Buyers get anxious when they hear nothing for weeks. Anxiety leads to doubt. Doubt leads to cold feet.

We make a point of keeping everyone updated, even when there's nothing dramatic to report. A brief call to say everything is progressing well costs nothing and keeps confidence high on both sides. If we sense a buyer going quiet or a solicitor losing momentum, we'll be proactive about getting things back on track before you even need to ask.

Staying in regular contact with you throughout is not an add-on for us; it's the job.

7. Keep the terms clear and agreed in writing

Sometimes sellers decide they want to take certain items - garden furniture, a shed, a light fitting that's been in the family for years. That's absolutely fine. But we'll make sure it's transparent from the start and recorded properly on the fixtures and fittings form before contracts are issued.

Trying to change the terms of a sale after they've been agreed is one of the quickest ways to give a nervous buyer a reason to walk. We'll help you get everything set out clearly upfront so there are no surprises later.

8. We'll guide you to exchange

When both sets of solicitors are satisfied, they'll be ready to exchange contracts, the legal commitment that means neither party can pull out without significant financial penalty. Before that moment arrives, we'll make sure you're fully prepared:

• A completion date agreed that works for both sides
• Your removal company booked (good ones fill up quickly, particularly in the villages where access can be more involved)
• A conversation with your mortgage lender if needed
• Buildings insurance on your new home ready to take effect on exchange

We'll walk you through exactly what to expect so that exchange day is straightforward, not stressful.

9. Completion day, we're with you to the end

Completion day, when the money transfers and you hand over the keys, should feel like a relief, not a panic. We'll be on hand throughout the day, coordinating between solicitors and making sure everything runs to time.

We'll agree with you in advance what time you're aiming to be ready, manage the key handover, and be available on the phone if anything needs sorting at short notice. In rural areas where signal can be patchy, we make sure everyone knows how to reach each other well in advance.

You've trusted us with your sale. We see it through to the very end.

A final word

Selling a home in Cranleigh or the surrounding villages is, for most people, one of the largest financial transactions of their lives. The period between offer and completion can feel uncertain, but it doesn't have to feel unsupported.

We're here at every stage: chasing, communicating, problem-solving, and keeping your sale on track. If you have questions at any point in the process, pick up the phone. That's what we're here for.

Roger Coupe Estate Agent covers Cranleigh, Shamley Green, Bramley, Alfold, Ewhurst, Dunsfold, Loxwood, and the surrounding villages. Get in touch on 01483 268555 or email us at housesales@rogercoupe.com.