If you had the Scottish system where offers are binding and missives are
concluded typically 10 days after closing date, Sold would mean sold.
(Then
again, only a small percentage of property gets near an estate agent in
the
first place :-)

I saw a castle ruin with a large, painted "for sale" sign on its walls in
Galloway but there was no indication of a contact :-(

So saying, Scots law has a lot to commend it in many ways.

Mary

Owain