When is the best time to sell your house in the UK?

If you’re thinking about putting your house on sale, you’ve likely wondered whether now really is the best time. There is no 'silver bullet' date to put your property on the market. Each region and property is unique, and so is the sales journey. Your personal circumstances are the most important thing to bear in mind. If you’re looking to move for a new job, or close to a good school in time for September, it’s important to time your sale to those events.

However, if you have a bit more flexibility, you might want to consider timing your sale. We took a closer look at how the different seasons impact selling your home:

Spring comes out on top

Statistically, spring is the best time of year to sell your home in the UK. Gardens are blooming, the weather is (getting) better, and people haven’t yet left for their summer holidays. The longer evenings and warmer weather encourages house hunting. And both buyers and sellers who want to be in their new homes before the end of the school year are keen to move forward with their sales in spring.

Summer

In stark contrast, summer is one of the worst times of year to put a property on the market. This is particularly the case if you’re looking to sell a family home. The school holidays mean that families with children are unlikely to have time to go house hunting. On top of this, many people go away at this time of year. The statistics suggest that most buyers aren’t keen on moving at the same time.

Autumn

Once the dog days of summer are over, autumn provides a more promising time for homeowners looking to take their next step. Fewer families are on holiday, but the mild weather at the beginning of the season means gardens still look beautiful. And, there’s still enough natural light to see a property at it’s best. Moreover, most people will be hoping to complete before the end of the year. So, if you’re buying or selling in Autumn, you’ll likely to be able to move more quickly than at other times of the year.

Bleak Midwinter

The shorter days and colder weather of winter generally put off all but the most keen buyers. Inevitably, Christmas has a huge impact on the property market. Both listings and completions drop in this period. Most people don’t fancy the prospect of moving over the festive period.

New Year, New Property

Saying this, January is becoming an increasingly popular time of year to sell. The New Year presents the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Whether that be: a new job, a new addition to the family, or a break up. And, these life changes could all mean taking the next step on the property ladder. Last year, Rightmove reported that Boxing Day was one of the busiest days for viewing properties online. Speculative buyers viewed 40 million individual listings. Although many of these people are casual browsers, this is indicative of the aspirational feeling that the New Year brings.

Understanding local demand

Although being aware of seasonal fluctuations can be useful for timing your sale, your local property market will also have its own character. An expert local estate agent will be able to help you get to grips with the market in your area. They'll know what sort of properties are in demand, and how long they are taking to sell. By analysing huge amounts of property sales data, GetAgent have also created a handy overview of conditions in areas all over the UK, to help you know what to expect if you choose to sell now.

It’s important to remember that, people need to move house for all sorts of reasons that don’t match up neatly with seasonal or regional trends. A new job in a different city might start in February, or a couple might want to move in together when their leases end in August. In most cases if your home is in good condition, competitively priced, and marketed by an estate agent with a strong track record, there will be demand for it - regardless of the season.