conveyancing - keys

[tali122]

how long should it take once a cheque has cleared and contracts exchanged for the buyer to recive keys to house - should his solicitor give him advance notice before accepting keys from vendors solicitors ?
thx

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Due to the large sums of money, it is normally done via a CHAPS payment and it is instant. I stood in an estate agents waiting for the transfer once and within minutes the phone rang and the money had transferred, I was handed the key and i walked out with the millstone around my neck!!!