Spring brings with it a noticeable rise in property sales — and with that, two questions that both buyers and sellers often ask:
How does the property transfer process actually work?
And how long does it take for the buyer to become the registered owner and the seller to receive payment?
To start, take a look at our “Transfer Process in a Nutshell” flowchart, which gives a clear overview of the key stages — from signing the sale agreement right through to registration at the Deeds Office.
Once you’ve seen how the process unfolds, we’ll tackle the second big question: “How long does it all take?”
How long does it all take?
How long is a piece of string? If everything goes swimmingly and the bureaucratic stars truly align in your favour, the total timeframe from signing the sale agreement to popping the champagne could be as little as eight weeks. On average, however, it’s safer to work on no less than ten to 12 weeks, and possibly a lot more.
What could delay things? This is a complicated process involving a disparate array of role-players and a host of opportunities for unforeseen delay. Some of the more common sources of delay (and frustration!) centre on bond approval, bank processes, SARS and municipal delays, clearance certificates and repairs, lost title deeds, intervening public holidays, and Deeds Office backlogs. But the list really is endless.
