The hidden risks of moving home
Buying or selling a home can feel unpredictable. Property chains can collapse, paperwork causes hold-ups, and weeks can pass with little visible progress. Around a third of UK adults who bought or sold a home in the past three years were involved in a property chain and 46% experienced delays or saw their transaction fall through, according to the latest Barclays Property Insights report. These figures show just how fragile the traditional home moving process can be and why buyers and sellers often feel stressed and uncertain.
A smarter, faster way to buy and sell property
Despite changes in the property market, moving home has changed little over the past 50 years. It remains slow, reactive, and prone to delays, especially in multi-buyer transactions. At Ashtons, we believe there is a better way to sell your home faster and move with confidence.
Over the past two years, we developed Assured Move, a proactive approach designed to tackle delays and uncertainty. By focusing on what can be controlled, Assured Move makes the home moving process faster, more certain, and less stressful.
Available to a limited number of clients each month, it ensures every transaction receives the highest level of service.
Why the traditional property moving process fails
The main issue is timing. Most steps, from instructing a solicitor to completing searches, only start after an offer is accepted and the legal documentation completed and sent from the sellers side. In property chains, even small delays multiply, increasing the risk of a transaction falling through.
Previous attempts to improve the system, such as the Home Information Pack in 2007, added complexity rather than clarity. Solicitors often preferred to carry out their own searches and use original documents, meaning HIP did little to speed up sales or reduce stress.
How Assured Move helps you sell your home faster
Assured Move starts early. At the point of instruction, while the property is being offered for sale, a legal pre-approved “sale-ready” pack is prepared on behalf of the seller, allowing paperwork to be completed upfront. This means the draft contract pack is ready as soon as a sale is agreed.
The solicitor also commissions the Local Authority search from the start, ensuring it is included in the contract pack from day one. This removes a common cause of delay and keeps property chains moving smoothly.
Reduce stress and save time
Once a buyer instructs their solicitor, they can receive a full draft contract pack within just two days of offer acceptance.
By cutting six to eight weeks from the standard process, Assured Move reduces the risk of chain collapses and gives buyers and sellers greater certainty.
Adding certainty with Assured Move
Our Reservation and Exclusivity Agreement ensures that once an offer is agreed, both parties commit to clear timescales for securing a mortgage and exchanging contracts. This removes the risk of gazumping and provides a clear framework for progress.
Proven results in Hertfordshire property sales
Since launching, our average timeframe from offer acceptance to exchange-ready contracts is 67 days*, compared to the national average of 150 days. That is faster, simpler, and more reliable, helping buyers and sellers avoid the frustrations highlighted in the Barclays data.
Discover how to sell your home faster
Learn how Assured Move at Ashtons can make your next move faster and stress-free by contacting your local Ashtons team in Hertfordshire today.
*Based on Assured Move’s average transaction time. For full terms and conditions, visit our Terms & Conditions page.
