Best and Final Offers: How the Process Works

When your property attracts strong interest and multiple buyers are making offers at or above the asking price, your estate agent will often recommend going to "best and final offers." This is a well-established process in the residential property market in England and Wales that gives every interested buyer a fair chance to put their strongest bid forward, and gives you, the seller, a clear basis on which to make your decision.

Despite being common, the process is poorly understood by many sellers. This guide explains how best and final offers works from start to finish, when it is the right approach, what criteria you should use to evaluate submissions, and how to avoid the mistakes that lead to the wrong buyer being chosen or the sale falling through after the process is complete.

What is a best and final offers process?

Best and final offers (sometimes abbreviated to BAFO) is a process where the estate agent invites all interested buyers to submit their highest and best offer for the property by a fixed deadline. Each buyer submits their offer independently, without knowing what the other buyers have bid. The seller then reviews all submissions and chooses the buyer who presents the strongest overall package.

The process is used when a property has attracted competing interest from multiple buyers. It is not a legal process — there is no statute governing it and no standard form — but it follows well-established conventions in the residential sales market. The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) and the Property Ombudsman both expect agents to conduct the process fairly and transparently.

Critically, best and final offers does not create a legally binding contract. In England and Wales, property transactions remain subject to contract until exchange of contracts. The winning buyer can still withdraw, and the seller can still change their mind. However, the process creates a strong practical expectation that both parties will proceed on the agreed terms.

When should you use best and final offers?

Best and final offers is not appropriate for every sale. It works best in specific circumstances:

Situations where the process works well

Three or more buyers have made offers at or close to the asking price, and you need a fair way to choose between them.
The property has generated unusually strong interest and you expect offers above the asking price. The process captures the full extent of buyer willingness to pay.
Offers are clustered within a narrow range and you cannot separate the buyers on price alone. The process forces buyers to differentiate themselves on terms as well as price.
You want a transparent, defensible process. If you are worried about accusations of favouritism or if your agent has a personal connection to one of the buyers, best and final offers gives every party equal treatment.

Situations where it may not be the right approach

Only two buyers are interested. With just two parties, direct negotiation is usually more effective. A formal best and final process with two buyers can feel heavy-handed and may push one buyer to disengage. See our guide on negotiating as a seller for handling this scenario.
One buyer is clearly stronger than the rest. If you have one cash buyer offering above asking and two mortgage buyers at asking price, the decision is usually straightforward. Running a formal process adds delay without adding value.
Your property has been on the market a long time. If interest is fragile, a best and final process risks putting off buyers who do not want to compete. In a slow market, you are usually better off negotiating with whoever is in front of you.
You need to sell quickly. The process adds three to five working days (at minimum) to your timeline. If speed is your priority, accepting the strongest offer immediately may be the better choice. See our guide on how to sell your house fast.

How the process works: step by step

The estate agent manages the best and final offers process on your behalf. Here is the typical sequence of events from start to finish:

Your agent identifies competing interest. Multiple buyers have viewed the property and either made offers or expressed serious intent to offer. Your agent advises you that best and final offers is the appropriate route.
You agree to proceed. You confirm with your agent that you want to go to best and final. Discuss the deadline, what information buyers should submit, and any minimum price below which you will not accept an offer.
The agent contacts all interested buyers. Each buyer receives a written invitation (usually by email) explaining the process, the deadline, and what their submission should include. All buyers receive the same information at the same time.
Buyers prepare and submit their offers. Each buyer submits their offer independently before the deadline. Submissions are typically sent to the agent by email, not in sealed envelopes (true sealed bids are rare in standard residential sales).
The deadline passes. Once the deadline has passed, the agent collates all submissions and prepares a summary for you. No late submissions should be accepted unless you specifically agree to it.
You review the submissions with your agent. Your agent presents each offer with the supporting details — price, funding, chain status, timescale, solicitor details, and any conditions. You assess the offers against your own criteria.
You choose a buyer. You select the offer that represents the best overall package. You are not obliged to accept the highest bid, and you are not obliged to accept any bid at all.
The agent notifies all parties. The successful buyer is informed that their offer has been accepted subject to contract. Unsuccessful buyers are notified promptly. The sale then proceeds through the normal conveyancing process.

What buyers should be asked to submit

The quality of the information you receive determines the quality of your decision. Your estate agent should ask each buyer to provide:

Information	Why it matters
Offer price	The headline figure. This is important but should not be the only factor in your decision.
Funding type (cash or mortgage)	Cash buyers can typically complete faster and carry less risk of the sale falling through due to a down-valuation or mortgage refusal. See our guide on cash buyer vs mortgage buyer.
Agreement in principle (AIP) or proof of funds	Evidence that the buyer can actually afford the property at the price they are offering. An AIP from a mortgage lender or a bank statement showing available cash. See our guide on proof of funds.
Chain status	Whether the buyer has a property to sell, and if so, what stage that sale is at. A chain-free buyer carries significantly less risk.
Proposed timescale	When the buyer expects to exchange and complete. This tells you whether their timeline aligns with yours.
Solicitor details	Whether the buyer has already instructed a solicitor. A buyer who has not yet instructed a solicitor is likely to add weeks to the timeline.
Conditions	Any conditions attached to the offer, such as subject to survey, subject to the buyer selling their own property, or subject to planning permission. Fewer conditions mean a cleaner offer. See our guide on conditional vs unconditional offers.
Flexibility	Whether the buyer is flexible on completion dates, willing to accommodate your preferred timeline, or able to adjust to changes in the chain.

How to evaluate best and final offers

The most common mistake sellers make is choosing the highest offer without considering the buyer behind it. The best offer is the one most likely to result in a completed sale at a price close to the submitted figure within a timeframe that works for you. Here is a framework for evaluating submissions:

1. Price vs deliverability

A high offer from a buyer who cannot deliver is worth nothing. If a buyer offers £350,000 but needs a mortgage and has not yet had the property valued by their lender, there is a real risk of a down-valuation — the lender's surveyor may value the property lower than the offer, forcing the buyer to renegotiate or withdraw. Meanwhile, a buyer offering £340,000 in cash with funds verified is offering near certainty of completion. The £10,000 difference is often illusory.

2. Chain risk

According to industry data, approximately 30% of property transactions in England and Wales fall through before exchange of contracts. Chain collapses are one of the most common causes. A buyer who needs to sell their own property before they can buy yours introduces chain risk. If their sale falls through, yours falls through with it. Assess each buyer's chain position carefully:

No chain (first-time buyer or renting): Lowest risk. The buyer controls their own timeline.
Property under offer, sale progressing: Moderate risk. Ask what stage the sale is at and whether the buyer in their chain is also in a chain.
Property on the market, no offer yet: High risk. The buyer may not be able to proceed for months.
No property to sell (cash, or selling after completion): Lowest risk. For more on choosing between buyer types, see our guide on first-time buyers vs chain buyers.

3. Mortgage readiness

If the buyer is using a mortgage, check where they are in the lending process. An agreement in principle (AIP) is a positive signal, but it is not a guarantee — the lender still needs to carry out a full assessment and a property valuation. A buyer with a full mortgage offer already in place (for example, someone who has recently had a purchase fall through) is in a much stronger position than someone with only an AIP.

4. Solicitor readiness

A buyer who has already instructed a solicitor can begin the conveyancing process immediately after you accept their offer. A buyer who has not yet chosen a solicitor will typically take one to two weeks just to get set up, pushing back your entire timeline. For more on what happens once the legal process begins, see our guide on what your solicitor actually does.

5. Conditions and flexibility

Some buyers attach conditions to their offers — subject to survey, subject to sale of their property, subject to planning approval, or subject to a satisfactory searches outcome. Every condition is a potential exit route for the buyer. Fewer conditions mean a cleaner, more reliable offer. Equally, a buyer who is flexible on your preferred completion date, or who is willing to work around your onward purchase timeline, has practical value that does not show up in the headline price.

Scoring matrix: a practical tool

Some sellers and agents use a weighted scoring matrix to compare offers objectively. Here is an example you can adapt:

Criterion	Weight	Buyer A	Buyer B	Buyer C
Offer price (relative to highest)	30%	Score 1–10	Score 1–10	Score 1–10
Funding certainty (cash = 10, AIP = 7, no evidence = 3)	25%	Score 1–10	Score 1–10	Score 1–10
Chain position (no chain = 10, under offer = 6, on market = 3)	20%	Score 1–10	Score 1–10	Score 1–10
Timescale alignment with your needs	10%	Score 1–10	Score 1–10	Score 1–10
Solicitor already instructed	10%	Yes (10) / No (3)	Yes (10) / No (3)	Yes (10) / No (3)
Conditions attached (none = 10, standard = 7, onerous = 3)	5%	Score 1–10	Score 1–10	Score 1–10

You do not need to use a formal scoring system, but the exercise of weighting your priorities before you see the offers helps you make a more rational decision. Discuss the weightings with your estate agent and adjust them based on your personal circumstances. If you are buying onward and need to hit a specific completion date, for example, timescale alignment might warrant a higher weighting than 30%.

Setting the deadline

The deadline is one of the most important decisions in the process. Get it wrong and you risk either losing buyers or receiving weak submissions.

How much time to give

Three to five working days from the date the invitation is sent is the standard timeframe. This gives buyers enough time to:

Review or revisit the property if they want a second viewing
Speak to their mortgage broker and confirm their maximum budget
Instruct a solicitor if they have not already done so
Prepare a considered submission with supporting documents

Less than two working days is generally too short. Buyers may feel pressured and submit rushed offers, or they may disengage entirely. More than seven working days is usually too long — it gives buyers time to have second thoughts, find alternative properties, or lose emotional connection to yours.

Choosing the day and time

Most agents set the deadline at 12:00 noon or 5:00 pm on a specific date. A midweek deadline (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) is generally preferred because it avoids weekend distractions and gives you the rest of the week to review submissions and make your decision. Avoid setting a deadline on a Friday afternoon — if you need to follow up with a buyer or clarify a detail, you lose the entire weekend.

The estate agent's role and obligations

Your estate agent plays a central role in the best and final offers process, and their conduct is governed by law. Understanding their obligations helps you ensure the process is run properly.

Legal duties

Under the Estate Agents Act 1979, your agent has a duty to:

Pass on all offers to you promptly and in writing, unless you have given specific written instructions not to receive offers below a certain level.
Not discriminate between buyers based on whether they are using the agent's in-house services (such as mortgage broking or conveyancing).
Declare any personal interest in the transaction — for example, if the agent or a connected person is one of the buyers.

Under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the agent must not engage in misleading actions or omissions that could distort a buyer's decision-making. This includes telling buyers (or implying) that a higher offer has been received when it has not, or disclosing the specific amounts of competing offers during the best and final process.

What a good agent will do

Beyond the legal minimum, a competent agent managing best and final offers will:

Send a written invitation to all interested buyers at the same time, with the same information about the property and the process
Specify clearly what each submission should include (price, funding evidence, chain status, timescale, solicitor details, conditions)
Confirm the deadline in writing with a specific date and time
Decline to share the amounts or details of competing offers with any buyer
Present all submissions to you in a clear, comparable format after the deadline
Contact unsuccessful buyers promptly after you have made your decision

Common mistakes to avoid

The best and final offers process is straightforward in principle, but sellers frequently make mistakes that cost them money, time, or the right buyer. Here are the most common ones:

Choosing the highest price without checking deliverability

This is the single most common mistake. A buyer who offers £20,000 more than anyone else but cannot secure a mortgage at that level, or who has a long chain that could collapse, is a liability rather than an asset. Always verify the buyer's ability to proceed at the price offered. Your estate agent should be vetting every buyer before presenting their offer to you.

Running the process when it is not warranted

If you only have two interested buyers, or if one buyer is clearly the strongest candidate, a formal best and final process can feel like an unnecessary hoop to jump through. Good buyers may walk away rather than compete. Use the process only when you genuinely have multiple competitive offers and need a structured way to choose between them.

Setting an unrealistic deadline

Giving buyers 24 hours to submit their best and final offer may seem like a way to create urgency, but it usually backfires. Buyers who feel rushed submit lower offers or withdraw entirely. Equally, a two-week deadline allows too much time for buyers to reconsider, shop around, or find competing properties. Stick to three to five working days.

Accepting a conditional offer without understanding the conditions

Some buyers attach conditions to their best and final offers — "subject to satisfactory survey," "subject to sale of my property," or "subject to planning permission for an extension." Each condition is a potential reason for the buyer to renegotiate or withdraw after you have taken the property off the market. Make sure you understand what each condition means in practice and whether you are willing to accept the risk. For more on this topic, see our guide on buyer renegotiation after survey.

Failing to keep unsuccessful buyers informed

After choosing your buyer, you should instruct your estate agent to notify the unsuccessful bidders promptly. If your chosen buyer falls through in the weeks that follow, those other buyers are your backup options. If they were left waiting without communication, they will have moved on. A courteous rejection that thanks them for their interest and invites them to stay in touch keeps the door open.

After you accept: protecting the deal

The best and final offers process ends when you accept an offer, but the transaction is still subject to contract. The winning buyer can still withdraw at any point before exchange of contracts. Here are some steps you can take to protect the deal:

Move quickly on conveyancing

The faster you get the legal process moving, the less time there is for the buyer to have second thoughts or for a competing property to catch their eye. If you have already prepared your sale documents upfront — which is exactly what Pine helps you do — your solicitor can send the draft contract pack to the buyer's solicitor within days rather than weeks. See our guide on how to speed up conveyancing as a seller for a full breakdown.

Consider a lock-out agreement

A lock-out agreement (also called an exclusivity agreement) is a legally binding agreement in which you promise not to negotiate with any other buyer for a set period, typically four to eight weeks. In return, the buyer commits to proceeding with their purchase within that period. This gives the buyer confidence that they will not be gazumped, and gives you confidence that the buyer is serious. Lock-out agreements are relatively inexpensive to draw up (typically £200 to £500 in legal fees) and can be an effective way to hold a deal together after a competitive best and final process.

Consider a reservation agreement

A reservation agreement goes further than a lock-out agreement. Both parties pay a reservation fee (typically £500 to £2,000 each) into a managed account. If either party withdraws without good reason, they forfeit their fee to the other side. This creates a financial incentive for both parties to proceed, which can be particularly valuable after a competitive best and final process where the buyer has stretched their budget to win.

Keep backup buyers warm

Do not burn bridges with the unsuccessful bidders. If your chosen buyer falls through — and around 30% of sales in England and Wales do collapse before exchange — those other buyers may still be interested. Ask your estate agent to let them know that while you have accepted another offer, you would welcome hearing from them if their circumstances allow. For more on what to do when a sale collapses, see our guide on why house sales fall through.

Best and final offers vs sealed bids vs informal offers

The terms "best and final offers" and "sealed bids" are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are practical differences. Here is how the three main approaches compare:

Feature	Best and final offers	Sealed bids	Informal offers
How offers are submitted	By email or letter to the agent by a deadline	In sealed envelopes, opened simultaneously	Verbally or in writing, on a rolling basis
What the seller evaluates	Whole package: price, funding, chain, timescale	Primarily price, though other factors can be considered	Each offer as it comes in
Typical use case	Standard residential sales with multiple interested buyers	Higher-value, unusual, or development-potential properties	Most property sales (single buyer or low competition)
Transparency	High — all buyers given the same information and deadline	High — formally structured	Low — buyers may not know they are competing
Legally binding?	No — subject to contract	No — subject to contract (unless at auction)	No — subject to contract

For the vast majority of residential property sales in England and Wales, best and final offers is the appropriate competitive process. True sealed bids are more common in Scotland (where the legal system differs) and in certain niche situations in England, such as probate sales, development plots, or properties being sold by local authorities. For more detail, see our guide on sealed bids.

The seller's ethical obligations

While you are not legally required to accept the highest offer, and you are free to choose any buyer for any reason, there are ethical and practical considerations:

Do not use the process to fish for a price. If you have no intention of selling at the prices buyers are likely to offer, do not invite best and final offers. You will waste everyone's time and damage your agent's reputation.
Do not accept an offer and then re-open the process. Once you have accepted a best and final offer, treat it as your decision. Accepting an offer and then going back to other buyers for a higher price is gazumping, which while legal in England and Wales, damages trust and risks losing all your buyers.
Be honest about your criteria. If you tell buyers you are evaluating on the whole package but then simply accept the highest bid, buyers who spent time preparing detailed submissions about their chain status and timescale will feel misled.
Notify unsuccessful buyers promptly. Leaving buyers in limbo for days after the deadline is disrespectful and risks losing them as backup options.

Special considerations

Best and final offers when you are in a chain

If you are selling and buying simultaneously, the best and final offers process needs to account for your own onward purchase. A buyer who can be flexible on completion dates may be more valuable than one offering a higher price but insisting on a specific completion date that does not align with your purchase. Make sure your agent communicates your preferred timescale to all buyers as part of the invitation, so their submissions reflect realistic expectations.

Best and final offers on leasehold properties

If you are selling a leasehold flat, the best and final process works the same way. However, it is worth noting that leasehold sales take longer to complete (typically 16 to 22 weeks), so a buyer's readiness to proceed quickly — having a solicitor with leasehold experience already instructed, for example — is even more valuable. You may also want to check whether any of the buyers have previous experience purchasing leasehold properties, as this can reduce the risk of them being surprised by the additional costs and timescales involved.

What if no buyer is acceptable?

If the submissions are all below your expectations, or if every buyer has attached conditions you are not willing to accept, you have several options:

Reject all offers and continue marketing the property at the same or a revised asking price
Go back to one or two of the stronger bidders and negotiate privately
Run a second round of best and final offers (though this is unusual and may put buyers off)
Consider whether your asking price is realistic given the offers received

Preparing your sale documents in advance

One of the most effective ways to strengthen your position after the best and final offers process — and to demonstrate to buyers that you are a serious, organised seller — is to have your sale documents ready before you even list the property. This includes:

The TA6 Property Information Form
The TA10 Fittings and Contents Form
Your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
Title deeds and any supporting documents
The TA7 Leasehold Information Form (if selling a leasehold property)

When buyers know you have everything ready to go, it signals that you are committed and that the conveyancing process will move quickly once they are selected. This can actually encourage stronger offers, because buyers perceive a lower risk of delay and collapse. It is the approach Pine was built around — helping sellers get their paperwork, compliance certificates, and legal documents prepared before going to market, so the transaction can move at pace from day one.

Checklist for running best and final offers

Use this checklist to ensure the process runs smoothly:

Confirm with your estate agent that best and final offers is the right approach given the number and quality of interested buyers
Agree the deadline (three to five working days) and what information buyers must submit
Set your own minimum acceptable price before the process starts — do not share it with buyers
Decide your weighting criteria: how much does price matter vs chain status vs timescale vs funding certainty?
Ensure your agent sends a written invitation to all interested buyers at the same time with the same information
Decline any requests from buyers or their agents for information about competing offers
After the deadline, review all submissions with your agent using your agreed criteria
Choose the strongest overall package, not just the highest price
Instruct your agent to notify the successful buyer and all unsuccessful buyers promptly
Move quickly to instruct your solicitor and get the draft contract pack sent — momentum matters
Consider a lock-out or reservation agreement if you want extra commitment from the winning buyer
Keep unsuccessful buyers as warm leads in case your chosen buyer withdraws before exchange

Sources

Estate Agents Act 1979 — legislation.gov.uk
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 — legislation.gov.uk
The Property Ombudsman Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agents — tpos.co.uk
National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) guidance on property sales — nationaltradingstandards.uk
Citizens Advice — "Problems with estate agents" — citizensadvice.org.uk
Law Society Conveyancing Protocol, 5th edition — lawsociety.org.uk
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) — UK Residential Market Survey — rics.org
GOV.UK — "How to sell your home" — gov.uk

Frequently asked questions

What does best and final offers mean?

Best and final offers is a process used in residential property sales in England and Wales when multiple buyers are competing for the same property. The estate agent invites all interested parties to submit their highest and best offer by a set deadline, along with details of their financial position, chain status, proposed timescales, and any conditions. The seller then reviews all submissions side by side and chooses the buyer who offers the strongest overall package. The process is not legally binding — everything remains subject to contract until exchange — but it provides a structured, transparent way for the seller to make a decision.

Is a best and final offer legally binding?

No. In England and Wales, a best and final offer is not legally binding on either party. The entire property transaction remains subject to contract until exchange of contracts. This means a buyer can withdraw their best and final offer at any time before exchange, and the seller is free to accept a different offer or re-open negotiations. However, the process creates a strong moral and practical expectation that the winning bidder will proceed at the price they submitted. If you are concerned about a buyer pulling out after the process, you can ask them to sign a reservation agreement or lock-out agreement, although these carry their own limitations.

How many buyers do you need for best and final offers?

Most estate agents recommend best and final offers when there are at least three competing buyers, as this creates genuine competition and gives the seller a meaningful choice. With only two buyers, it is usually more effective to negotiate directly with each party. That said, there is no fixed rule — the process can work with two buyers if both are serious and have similar offer levels. If you have more than five or six interested parties, the process works well but requires strong organisation from your estate agent to manage communications and ensure every buyer has equal information and time to prepare their submission.

Can I reject all best and final offers?

Yes. You are under no obligation to accept any of the offers submitted. If none of the bids reach a level you are willing to accept, or if the terms attached to every offer are unacceptable, you can reject them all. You could then choose to re-market the property, hold a second round of best and final offers, or negotiate privately with one or more of the bidders. However, rejecting all offers after running the process can damage buyer trust and willingness to re-engage, so you should set a realistic reserve price in your own mind before the deadline to avoid this situation.

What should I include in my best and final offer letter?

If you are a seller running the process, your estate agent will typically handle the invitation. If you are advising buyers on what to submit, a strong best and final offer letter should include: the offer price, whether the buyer is a cash purchaser or mortgage-funded (with a copy of the agreement in principle), the deposit amount available, whether the buyer has a property to sell and its current status, the buyer’s proposed timeline to exchange and completion, the buyer’s solicitor details (showing they are already instructed), and any conditions attached to the offer. The more complete and transparent the submission, the stronger it appears to the seller.

How long should I give buyers to submit their best and final offers?

The standard timeframe is three to five working days from the date the estate agent formally invites offers. This gives buyers enough time to review their finances, speak to their mortgage broker, inspect the property again if needed, and prepare a considered submission. Less than two working days is generally too short and may result in lower-quality offers or accusations of unfairness. More than a week risks losing buyer momentum and gives too much time for second-guessing. Your estate agent should confirm the exact deadline in writing and ensure all buyers receive the same information and the same amount of time.

Should I always accept the highest best and final offer?

Not necessarily. The highest offer is only the best offer if the buyer can actually complete the purchase at that price within a reasonable timeframe. A slightly lower offer from a chain-free cash buyer with a solicitor already instructed may be more valuable than a higher offer from a buyer who needs to sell their own property first, has not yet applied for a mortgage, or has attached conditions. The purpose of best and final offers is to evaluate the whole package, not just the price. Consider the buyer’s financial position, chain status, flexibility on timescales, and readiness to proceed alongside the headline figure.

What is the difference between best and final offers and sealed bids?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a practical distinction. Best and final offers is a broader process where the estate agent invites all buyers to submit their best offer along with supporting information about their position, and the seller evaluates the whole package. Sealed bids is a more formal process — sometimes used for higher-value or unusual properties — where offers are submitted in sealed envelopes and opened simultaneously, often with a stronger emphasis on the offer price as the deciding factor. In everyday residential sales in England and Wales, the process is almost always best and final offers rather than true sealed bids.

Can the estate agent tell buyers what other people have offered?

Estate agents in England and Wales are bound by the Estate Agents Act 1979 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. They must pass on all offers to the seller, and they must not mislead buyers. During a best and final offers process, the agent should not disclose the specific amounts other buyers have offered, as this would undermine the fairness of the process. However, the agent can confirm how many buyers are participating and can provide general guidance about the level of interest. If you suspect an agent is sharing offer details to drive up prices, this could constitute a breach of their professional obligations.

What happens after the best and final offers deadline?

After the deadline passes, your estate agent collects all submissions and presents them to you, usually in a summary format that shows each buyer’s offer price, funding status, chain position, proposed timescale, solicitor details, and any conditions. You and your agent then review the offers together and decide which buyer to proceed with. The agent contacts the successful buyer to confirm the accepted offer (subject to contract) and notifies the unsuccessful buyers. The sale then proceeds through the normal conveyancing process — your solicitor prepares the draft contract pack and sends it to the buyer’s solicitor. Nothing is legally binding until exchange of contracts.

What you need to know