The Big Shift in Home Buying - What It Means for You 🏡
At Keystone, we’re always watching out for important changes in the property market — not just in pricing, presentation or sales strategy, but also how the system itself works. Recently, the government has announced a set of proposals that could reshape how homes are bought and sold in England and Wales.
These changes could have real impact for both sellers and buyers - and for a trusted agent like us, it’s our job to interpret what this all means.
Why the change is happening
The current process of buying a home is often described as slow, unpredictable and expensive. According to statistics:
Some deals collapse late in the chain, costing time, money and stress.
The average time from offer to completion is lengthy, with many buyers and sellers frustrated by the process.
In response, Housing Secretary Steve Reed has outlined proposals that aim to:
Remove unnecessary delays and make the journey more efficient.
Reduce upfront uncertainty and protect buyers from hidden costs or chain collapse.
Improve transparency, regulation and digital-enabled processes across the board.
In short: buying a home should be a dream, not a nightmare. And that aligns with how we at Keystone see things too.
What the main proposals are
Here are some of the most significant parts of the proposed reform that every client-whether selling or buying-should be aware of:
1. Up-front information from sellers / agents
Sellers (and their agents) may be required to provide key information at the point of marketing: the condition of the property, leasehold costs (if any), chain details, tenure, floor plans, and so on. This means fewer nasty surprises later on.
2. Binding contracts earlier in the process
One of the biggest issues is deals falling through late — leaving buyers and sellers in limbo. These reforms propose introducing binding agreements much earlier to help reduce that risk.
3. Digital tools + data sharing
The proposals include better use of technology: digital ID verification, standardised data sharing, “property logbooks” or dossiers, and more streamlined workflows.
4. Professional standards and regulation for agents
To raise standards across the industry, there are plans for mandatory professional qualifications, a Code of Practice for estate/letting/managing agents, and more transparency around agent/conveyancer performance.
5. Potential cost / time savings
The government estimates that first-time buyers could save on average around ÂŁ710 under the reforms and the process could be cut by about four weeks.
Why this matters for our clients
As a busy professional selling your home, or as someone buying, you care about three things: speed, certainty and value. These reforms speak directly into those priorities.
For sellers:
If fewer deals fall through, your sale is more likely to complete, helping you move on confidently.
Having to provide more information upfront may add to your prep work, but it also means your property is marketed in a stronger position.
As agents, we’ll guide you through the new expectations, so you’re ahead of the curve, not reacting to them.
For buyers:
More information upfront means fewer surprises—and fewer delays. That means you can plan better.
A shorter, smoother process helps reduce uncertainty (especially important when you’re juggling work and family life).
Knowing that your agent (that’s us) is working under higher standards gives you extra peace of mind.
How Keystone is adapting to support you
We’re not just watching the reforms unfold — we’re already preparing for them. Here’s how we’re aligning our service to give you an even better experience:
Pre-marketing readiness: Before your home goes live, we’ll ensure all available information (comparable evidence, surveys, lease details if relevant) is gathered so that you’re positioned for the new standard.
Transparent communication: We’ll proactively explain what these changes mean for your sale or purchase, how they may influence timings or expectations, and how we’re managing them on your behalf.
Efficient processes: Our digital systems and workflows are being continuously refined so that when the reforms come into effect, we’re already functioning in a way that supports them — reducing delays, improving responsiveness.
Negotiation with the new rules in mind: With faster, more certain transactions, we can leverage that strength when negotiating on your behalf — whether you’re selling or buying.
What to keep an eye on
While these reforms are promising, as with any major change, there are details to work through. A few things to watch:
Implementation timing: The proposals are subject to consultation and legislation. That means while direction is clear, exact timings and mechanisms may vary.
Costs on sellers: Some extra work/up-front cost may be required from sellers (e.g., survey/condition reports). As your agent, we’ll help you understand what these might be.
Market response: If the process becomes smoother and more transparent, it could improve buyer confidence — which is great. But we’ll still watch for how the local market in Flintshire and surrounding areas responds.
Regional differences: Title, conveyancing, leasehold vs freehold differences exist here in Wales and the England border areas — we’ll keep you informed on how it interacts with local rules.
The big takeaway
For our clients at Keystone — whether you’re selling, buying or simply thinking about your future move — these reforms signal a positive shift. The idea that the home-buying process can be faster, more transparent and less stressful is very much in line with how we believe great estate agency should work.
By staying ahead of the changes and using our local market expertise, we’re well placed to help you benefit from this new era of property transactions.
So if you’re considering a move, or just curious how these reforms could affect you, we'd be delighted to talk it through. Our promise remains the same: we take the stress out of selling, help you buy with confidence, and deliver the service you’d expect from a refined, professional—but friendly—agency.
At Keystone, we believe knowledge is power — and that starts with knowing where you stand.
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