Deciding on the best time to sell your home is tricky, especially if you have estate agents, friends and family members all offering their opinions! Like anything, the property market has peaks and troughs and is highly reactive to the socioeconomic situation. This inevitably means that a good time for one seller might not be a good time for another.
There are several factors to consider when figuring out the best time to sell, from market trends to your local area. We outline all the different aspects you should think about before deciding to finally put your property on the market, so you can be sure you’ve chosen the best time to sell your home.
What time of year do homes sell the fastest?
Selling your home in the spring
In general, spring is said to be the best time of year to sell a house. There are many reasons for this; the days begin to get longer and gardens start to bloom again, so properties look their most appealing and are viewed in the best possible light. For many, the Easter holidays offer buyers more time to view and consider their options.
Buying a home in the springtime also means the buyers are likely to get the keys and be moved into their new home by the summer. Result!
Selling your home in the autumn
Another popular time to sell a property is autumn, up to about early November (when the Christmas spending commences!). From the start of the autumn time, the summer madness has died down and people are returning from their holidays and settling back into routine. This timeframe also sets buyers up for a good chance at finding a home and moving into it by Christmas time. And for families, children being back at school grants parents a little more time to go through their options and make their all-important decisions.
When is the worst time of year to sell a home?
As you might have guessed, summer and winter tend to be the least popular times of year to sell.
Selling your home in the winter
Just how the longer, sunnier days of spring tend to be a good time to view houses, the shorter, darker and often wetter days of a British winter make for a less flattering light for viewing homes. Christmas preparations have also begun for many of us, making it a less-than-ideal time to be thinking about buying a home.
Selling your home in the summer
The property market tends to slow down in the summer. Much of the population are focused on the school holidays, enjoying the longer and warmer evenings, and going on much-needed summer breaks. And for families, buying a home in the summer could mean moving into it around the same time that children go back to school.
Should I sell my home in the New Year?
The New Year is often a good time to buy or sell a home for many people. It is seen as a fresh start and it’s a moment in which people begin to reflect and prepare for the year ahead. Activity tends to pick up in January, but buying action doesn’t usually begin until February. This is because at this stage, buyers are at the very start of their purchasing journey and usually need a little time to view enough homes before they can make a decision.
Best time to sell a house depending on region
While market trends are generally the same throughout the country, there might be regional factors to consider before putting your property on the market.
Before deciding to sell your home, it’s worth checking if your local council has granted planning permission for any work nearby. A load of scaffolding and roadwork noises don’t make it easy to sell a home!
What if I can’t wait to sell my house?
Although there are better and worse times to sell a house, we appreciate that not everybody has the luxury of waiting. If you are ready to sell, here are a few tips to consider:
Be realistic with your pricing.
If you have chosen to sell at a time where there is less demand, be prepared to lower your price to appeal to buyers. With less demand, buyers have more choice so you’ll need to do everything you can to appeal to them.
Choose a good estate agent.
Partnering with a great estate agent will help you maximise your chances of selling your home. If you’re wondering how to pick a good estate agent, read our guide.
Make sure you’re prepared.
Before you put your property on the market, make sure you have all the documents you need for the sale to ensure it goes as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Do house prices ever go down?
If the recent property market chatter is anything to go by, property prices are constantly on the rise. But this isn’t strictly true – while house prices have risen significantly in recent years, they do follow a cycle.
House prices naturally rise and fall throughout the year, mainly due to changing levels of buyer demand. Of course, this can be affected by outside events such as changes in the economy and government policies.
A final thing to consider is the overall aim of your sale. If you’re selling up because you’re moving, then you’re likely to be looking to buy a home as well. Keep an eye on the market so that you can align your house sale with your house purchase.
Be sure to also speak with agents before putting your house on the market so you can get an understanding of how long it takes to sell a property in your local area. Start thinking about the sale well in advance, especially if you’re moving because your mortgage product is due to end – you’ll need time to secure your new property before the end of the old mortgage product.
For more information on how best to time a house sale and the end of a mortgage term, speak to our experts.
FAQs
When is the best day to put your property on the market?
Monday is typically the best day to put your property on the market. Houses listed at the start of the week usually sell faster than those listed towards the end of the week.
Is now a good time to sell my house?
This depends on several factors, like your personal situation, the housing market, or what’s happening in your local area. Speak to a local estate agent to find out if this is the best time to sell your home.
Which is the best month to sell a house?
According to data from Rightmove, March is the strongest month to sell a property. In general, spring is a good time to put your house on the market, but March usually sees a peak in buyer enquiries.
