When considering the best time to sell a house, it’s worth understanding what is going on in the housing market. There are peaks and troughs of activity in the housing market throughout the year, with some elements of seasonality, but this can vary depending on the area.
Our 2025 research showed that February and March are the best months to list your home, with the highest number of homes listed in these months making it to completion. In fact, nearly seven in ten homes (66.3%) listed during these months went on to complete, in a higher-than-normal success rate.
Strategic timing can help you take advantage of better market conditions and better house prices, but when it comes to selling a home, it’s important to remember that the right timing depends on your own circumstances.
Being aware of current house price trends and popular months for buying and selling a home can help you decide when to put your house up for sale, but it’s best to plan your move based on your own individual situation and your local market trends.
What’s happened in the housing market so far this year?
- Average asking prices fell by 1.8% in December to £358,138, leaving prices 0.6% lower than at the end of 2024
- Property sales for 2025 finished 3% ahead of 2024, despite a quieter second half caused by Autumn Budget uncertainty
- This year’s Boxing Day Bounce is expected to be bigger than usual, with early signs of confidence among sellers
- Looking at 2026, first-time buyers are in a stronger position thanks to more choice, improving affordability and lower mortgage rates than 2025
- We predict asking prices will rise by around 2% in 2026, with activity levels more like the upbeat first half of 2025
You can keep track of what is going on in the market with our monthly House Price Index. Updated 22nd December 2025.
How to know if it’s the right time to sell?
When selling your home, you should first consider if the timing works well for your personal circumstances. Putting your home on the market and getting ready to sell takes time, energy, and admin – so consider this first and foremost.
Of course, there are clear financial benefits in putting your house on the market when the house prices in your area are going up. Equally, if the market is not so good and you are concerned about not making enough money on your property, you could delay the sale until things pick up. This decision depends on your own personal circumstances, such as reason for moving and personal savings.
Monitoring house prices in your area, particularly for properties of the same size and spec as yours, will give you a sense of local market trends. As well as doing your own research, talking to your local estate agents is a great way of understanding what the demand and activity is like in your area. Speak to agents before you put your property on the market to find out how long it is taking to sell a property in the local area and which properties tend to sell faster.
Get a free valuation with a local agent
Selling a home in the New Year
The New Year is a popular time for people to start the search for a new home. This tends to be because people are looking for a fresh start after the holidays – with a sort of “new home, new you” mentality. We typically see more activity on our site after the Christmas break, with more prospective buyers in the market. For those reasons, early January can be a good time to put your home on the market.
Our research shows that January and February are some of the best months to put a home on the market, with the quickest average time to sell. That said, bear in mind that people looking early in the new year could be at the start of their property search. Depending on the types of buyers, it could take several months before they have viewed enough homes to start making decisions.
Selling a home in spring
Spring is typically the most popular time to buy and sell a home. Our research found that March and April are two of the best months to sell a home, due to likelihood of completion and quicker than average time-to-sell. The number of buyers enquiring about homes for sale on Rightmove is usually highest at this time of year.
This tends to be because movers can aim to be in their new homes by the summer months, and properties start viewing better with more hours of daylight and better-looking gardens. The Easter Bank holidays also act as an inflexion point, giving people more time to view, consider their options and make decisions.
As spring is typically a busy time for estate agents, it’s good to prep ahead and get an instant valuation.
Selling a home in summer
There is often a slowdown of activity in the housing market during the summer, as people focus on summer holidays, school break, and enjoying the longer evenings. This means that there can be fewer homes on the market and less activity from buyers.
However, there are some benefits to selling a house in summer. You are more likely to see active buyers, particularly if they are families looking to get in before the school term. Certain homes can also come to life in the summer months and people may have more time to view properties with time off and longer evenings.
Check with your local estate agents to see what the trends are like in your local area.
Selling a home in autumn
Autumn months usually see an increase in home-moving activity through to early November. Most people are back from their holidays and are ready to focus on the search; there is still the opportunity to get into a new home in time for Christmas and children are back at school, giving parents more time.
We usually expect to see a slight uptick in new seller asking prices in September, with the traditional post-holiday behaviours boosting activity heading into autumn, so this can be a good time to keep any eye on the market and list your home for sale.
Selling a home in winter
Unsurprisingly, the months of November and December tend to be a slower time to sell a home. Buyers are preoccupied with Christmas preparations, the nights have closed in, and properties aren’t as good to view in the winter light.
However, if you need to put your home on the market in winter, you could benefit from less competition in the market and receive more serious buyers. Time to complete is typically a little longer for homes listed in the winter, but plenty of sellers still make successful sales.
If you do need to put your home on sale at this time, there are things you can do to prepare your home to sell quickly.
What is the worst month to sell a house?
November and December tend to be the months with the longest lead time in completing a sale. New buyers taking to the market tend to slow down before Christmas and fewer people put their homes on sale due to the festive period.
It is still possible to get viewings, attract serious buyers and make a sale over these months, so speak to your agent about how to prepare your home for the best chance of selling.
Selling your house: FAQs
What makes a home sell quicker?
There are many factors that impact how quickly a home sells. The housing market in your area plays a big part, with factors like buyer demand, number of properties on sale and the economic climate having an impact on how quickly the process progresses.
A speedy sale also depends on having realistic pricing from the start; keep an eye on the local sold prices in your area to get a sense of what properties like yours are selling for.
Finally, preparing your home is presented in the best possible light will also help attract prospective buyers and secure a quicker sale.
Ben Hudson, Managing Director at Hudson Moody in York, shared some expert tips to help sellers make the best possible first impression:
“It’s really important to present your home at its best. It may sound obvious, but clean up, de-clutter and make sure any obvious defects are put right before the photos are taken and viewers start coming round.
“Kerb appeal is very important, as when people arrive to view your property, or even when walking or driving past, they’ll likely form a first impression of your home. The more attractive you can make it look on the outside, the more likely people are going to want to come inside.”
Should I put my house on the market before looking?
If you’re seriously planning to move, agents will typically advise you to put your property on the market before you start searching for your next home. It may seem nerve-wracking but this will make you a more appealing buyer when you make an offer. If you accept an offer on your home before starting your search, you also have a better understanding of your budget for your next home.
Our advice is to get in touch with your agent early on in the process before your search, so you have the best chances of a quick and successful move. You can book a free agent valuation online or arrange for them to visit your home.
Do different property types sell quicker?
Yes, there can be variations on what sort of properties sell faster than others. But this depends on the market in your local area. For example, some areas may have higher demand for 3 or 4 bed properties with gardens, whilst urban areas may see more demand for 1 or 2 bed flats.
It’s best to speak to agents before you put your property on the market, to understand how long it will take to sell a property in your local area and which properties tend to sell faster.
How long does it take to sell a house?
In 2025, according to our House Price Index, the average time to sell a home ranged between 59 and 77 days. The length of time to sell a house depends on the length of your chain; the amount of people involved in your chain could impact the time it takes to sell, due to how long it takes for your buyers or sellers complete their own sales and administrative tasks.
If your move is time sensitive always allow more time to give yourself some flexibility to find your next home. If you are moving because your mortgage is due to end soon, make sure you give yourself enough time to secure your new property by the time your term ends.
There are many factors that influence the best time to sell a home, so it’s a decision that takes consideration, planning and research of the market. While there are better months for putting a home on the market, it really depends on your own personal circumstances and what is going on in your local area.
For more personalised advice, speak to your local agent or make use of our selling tools to make the right choice for you.
Prepare for your next move with our home-moving toolkit
Sources:
“February & March are the best months to list a home for sale” – Rightmove research published 5th February 2025.
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