Immediately your sale is confirmed, a proforma of the sale will be sent to your solicitor. As the HIP pack now has the searches, fixtures and fittings list already in the pack, your solicitors will then need to carryout any necessary legalities regarding the purchase money if your sale is subject to a mortgage, and you will be asked to sign a contract

The contract you will sign will be legally binding upon exchange, and at that time your solicitors will ask you to make payment of a non-refundable deposit of 5% or 10%, and will also at that time fix a date for completion.

Upon exchange of contracts you will be responsible for the insurance of the property you are purchasing.
Upon payment of the purchase moneys by your solicitors to the purchasers solicitors and completion has taken place, keys can be released and arrangements can then be made for you to take up occupation.