Step 7 of 8

Legal and paperwork

The boring but essential bit. From all the fiddly paperwork you’ll need to fill out to sorting those final bill payments, here’s the lowdown on the paperwork side of a home sale.

The legal bit

Your buyer’s solicitor will have lots of questions to ask about your property. So it’s a good idea to bring in your own legal eagle to help you to answer them.

The money bit

As you near the completion date, you’ll need to either pay off - or port - your mortgage. Then there’s the final bill payments and postal redirects to sort.

  • You can port some mortgages when you move home. Let's look into the advantages of doing this, what the process involves and how it compares to taking out a new mortgage deal.

  • You could save money and get other benefits by switching your mortgage provider. We look at how it works and the best time to do it.

  • Planning to leave your home to your partner or children? With a bit of careful groundwork, you can help to reduce the amount of inheritance tax that’s paid.

  • Downsizing can be a great way to unlock money tied up in your home, but there are tax implications to think through. Let's take a look at what they are.

  • You’ve sold your home! Before you leave the building, there’ll be a few final bill payments and redirects to sort. Let's get down to business.

Get your documents in order

You'll need plenty of forms and legal documents in place when you come to sell your home. Let's get things in order.

Sold house prices provided by Land Registry/Registers of Scotland. © Crown copyright 2025. Our website is completely free for you to use but we may receive a commission from some of the companies we link to on the site.

Zoopla Limited is an appointed representative of Uswitch Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 312850) to provide the mortgage calculator tool and incorporated with company registration number 06074771 and registered office at The Cooperage, 5 Copper Row, London SE1 2LH. Uswitch Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 312850.

Zoopla.co.uk is not a mortgage intermediary and makes introductions to Mojo Mortgages to provide mortgage solutions. Zoopla.co.uk and Mojo Mortgages are part of the same group of companies. Zoopla may receive an introduction fee from Mojo Mortgages on completion of successful mortgage applications. This fee is based on a percentage of your loan amount. Mojo is a trading style of Life's Great Limited which is registered in England and Wales (06246376) and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is on the Financial Services Register (478215). Mojo's registered office is The Cooperage, 5 Copper Row, London, SE1 2LH. To contact Mojo by phone, please call 0333 123 0012.