How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?

The UK house sales process is notoriously slow, with averages usually falling between four and six months to sell from start to finish. Factor in common problems that can arise when selling on the open market, such as house chain collapses, and the time between a property hitting the market and reaching legal completion can be a lot longer.

The actual time it takes to sell a house can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including:

• The location of the property
• The type of property
• The condition of the property
• The asking price
• The current property market.

There is no simple answer to the question, “How long does it take to sell a house?” The market is in constant flux and the answer changes all the time. In this guide, our property experts will provide an overview of the timeline for selling a house in the UK, highlight common causes of delays and offer some tips on how to speed up the house sale process.

What is the Average Timeline for Selling a House in the UK in 2026?

According to the most recent 2024 data from large real estate portals, the average time it takes to sell a house in the UK is 185 days (or around 25 weeks, or just under six months). Although this is the average, it can take between 17 to 34 weeks, which is approximately up to 8 months. This includes the time it takes to market the property, find a buyer, agree on a sale price, and complete the legal process.

Looking at the house sale process broken down like this, it’s a little easier to understand why it can take so long! And of course, your buyer must progress through several stages too. In brief, these stages include:

1. Finding the Right Property.
2. Getting a Mortgage in Principle.
3. Making an Offer.
4. Instructing a Conveyancer.
5. Having a Survey and Searches Done.
6. Exchange and Completion.

Stages of Selling a House With an Estate Agent and How Long They Take

It may take around 25 weeks to sell your home but this timeline can be broken down further into the different selling stages.

Listing the property for the first time: 1-3 days

Once you’ve chosen a real estate agent and agreed on fees, they’ll ensure your property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and take photos during a visit, a process taking one to three days. Prepare the necessary paperwork for selling your home.

Later, your solicitor will request essential documents for your buyer, including FENSA certificates, gas and boiler safety certificates, and electrical installation safety certificates for any past work. If you’ve made significant property changes, like extensions or refurbishments, provide planning certificates. Be aware that retroactively applying for planning permission may take at least 13 weeks.

Receiving an offer: 5-14 weeks

The duration from listing your property to receiving an offer hinges on the local market’s activity.

In a hot market with high demand, offers typically come in around 35 days (seven weeks). In comparison, a cold market experiences slower sales and fewer buyers, leading to a prolonged selling process. In such cases, it may take up to 101 days (just over 14 weeks) for a seller to accept an offer.

The conveyancing and mortgage application process: 12-16 weeks

Conveyancing, the lengthiest part of the buying and selling process, begins upon accepting an offer on your property. While the buyer organises and covers the costs of conveyancing, you need a solicitor to address their queries.

The buyer’s solicitor conducts various searches, including:

• Local authorities search for potential issues with roads, railways and planned building works.
• Environmental searches focus on flooding, landslides, subsidence, contaminated land, gas hazards, and landfill sites.
• Water and drainage searches ensure proper connections and permissions for home extensions.
• A Land Registry search verifies property ownership, a prerequisite for the sale to proceed.

Meanwhile, the buyer’s solicitor coordinates with others in the chain to draft exchange and completion contracts.

Exchange to completion: 1-28 days

To exchange contracts is the point in the buying process that marks the legal commitment. If the buyer backs out after contracts are exchanged, it would cost them 10% of the purchase price.

After the exchange comes the final stage of completion, granting legal ownership to the buyer, and allowing them to move in. With most tasks completed at the exchange, a lengthy gap between exchange and completion is unnecessary. While some opt for same-day exchange and completion, it’s often challenging and not widely advised. Therefore the typical gap between exchange and completion is 7 to 28 days.

What Options Do I Have If I Want To Sell My Home Quickly?

If you’re eager to sell your home swiftly, two viable options are property auctions and quick house selling companies.

Property auctions offer a time-efficient method, providing a platform where buyers competitively bid for your property, potentially leading to a fast sale. While this method ensures a quick turnaround, it may not guarantee the best price.

On the other hand, quick house selling companies specialise in rapid property transactions, often completing the sale in a matter of weeks. These companies purchase homes directly, bypassing the traditional selling process. While convenient, sellers should carefully consider the offered price, as it might be lower than the market value.

Both options cater to individuals seeking prompt property sales, and the choice depends on the seller’s priorities, whether it be speed, price, or a balance of both.

What Affects How Long It Takes to Sell a House?

Why does it take so long to buy or sell a house? What are the essential steps of the house selling process? The journey from offer to legal completion on a house can seem somewhat mysterious, especially to first-time sellers.

We’ve broken down the key stages of the process for you. While the pre-marketing stages are not factored into statistics relating to how long it takes to sell a house, these will add to the duration between the decision to sell and a completed transaction, so they are worth considering.

• Apply for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Every seller must provide the buyer with a certificate that details the energy efficiency of the property. A homeowner must have at least applied for an EPC before putting their property on the market.
• Prepare Your Home for Sale. You may choose to complete basic repairs and home improvements to increase the chances of your property selling quickly and for a good price.
• Have Your Home Valued. Ask several estate agents to value your property. Valuations can vary significantly and some unscrupulous agents will quote an inflated figure to secure your business. You should also do your own research by looking at similar properties locally. If a property has been on the market for some time without selling, there is a good chance it is priced too high.
• Hire a Conveyancing Solicitor. You will need to engage the services of a conveyancing solicitor to manage all the legal formalities of selling your property. There is no requirement to hire a solicitor before accepting an offer, but it is wise to do so as it can take a little shopping around to find someone you are happy with. Delaying this part of the process until you have agreed on a sale could result in delays and a lost sale.
• Put Your Property on the Market. If you choose to take the traditional route of an on-market sale, you will need to identify an estate agent you are happy with and advertise your home. Take your time choosing; there are plenty of options and a poor estate agent is one common reason for a house not selling. You can choose one of the estate agents who value your property or a new one. Alternatively, you can opt to sell without an estate agent.
• Host Property Viewings. You can elect to host viewings yourself or ask the estate agent to do so. An open house is an efficient way to offer multiple viewings simultaneously and this can instigate competition that will boost the final sale price. During COVID-19, open houses are prohibited and sellers are being encouraged to offer online viewings where possible.
• Accept an Offer. If you have multiple offers, you will need to weigh up the pros and cons of each. A higher offer is not always the most attractive —  a lower offer from a cash buyer may be more appealing than a higher offer from a buyer who is part of a property chain. There may be some negotiation on the final sale price here that your estate agent — if you have elected to use one — will undertake on your behalf. If you have just one offer that is lower than you would like, there may be scope for you and the buyer to meet in the middle. If you are spoilt for choice by attractive offers, negotiations could involve competition between several interested parties.
• Complete the Paperwork. Every house seller in the UK must provide a standardised set of documents to anyone who buys their property. The TA 6 form is a questionnaire that most sellers of freehold properties must complete. It contains questions on boundaries, disputes, planned developments, council tax, utilities and more. Your conveyancer will be able to guide you through this part of the process.
• Agree on Exchange and Completion Dates. Your solicitor and your buyer’s solicitor will negotiate on your behalf. The discussion will include the length of time between exchange and completion (typically seven to 28 days), what fixtures and fittings will be included in the sale and any re-negotiation of the sale price if the survey reveals significant problems.
• Exchange of Contracts. On the agreed date of exchange, the buyer pays a deposit to the seller. At this point, the sale becomes legally binding and both parties must see the transaction through to completion.
• Vacate the Property and Complete the Sale. If you are selling one property to fund the purchase of another, you will have to complete and move on the same day. This can be stressful and if it is possible to avoid this, you’ll be grateful that you did! Completion is when the balance of the agreed sale price leaves the buyer’s account and the property changes ownership. Your solicitor will register this with the Land Registry and pay off your mortgage using funds from the buyer.
• Pay Your Solicitor and Estate Agent. You will receive an invoice for any outstanding fees, which must be paid in full.

Potential Problems and Delays

Several problems can arise if you choose to sell on the market, many of which stem from property chains that involve numerous transactions that all rely on each other. Picture a set of dominoes neatly lined up — if one goes they all go! Potential causes of delays include:

• Property Development Delays — if you are selling your home to fund the purchase of a new build, you may be forced to delay the exchange of contracts if your new home is not ready in time.
• Your Buyer Is Currently Renting — buyers will typically be advised not to give notice on their rented accommodation until the exchange of contracts has taken place and the seller can no longer legally back out of the deal. This could result in a delay of several months or however long your buyer’s notice period is.
• Gazumping — this occurs when a seller accepts an offer and then decides to reject it in favour of a higher bid that comes in subsequently. This is more of a problem for buyers than sellers, but if you are selling a property to buy another, you could be gazumped, which will mean delaying the sale of your current home.
• The Seller of Your New Home Cannot Find Somewhere to Buy — if you are selling to buy another property, you may need to delay the sale of your home if the person you are buying from cannot find a property they wish to buy.
• A Broken Property Chain — if you are part of a chain and a sale falls through or is delayed further down the line, this will impact your sale. This is the most common cause of delays and failed sales.
• Your Conveyancer — sellers are completely reliant on their conveyancer (and their buyer’s conveyancer) to keep the sale moving forward. Delays can be caused by misplaced title deeds, expired mortgage agreements or an overwhelming workload. House sales are currently taking up to a month longer than before the first lockdown due to the limited availability of conveyancers — demand is far outstripping supply.
• Problems Revealed by the Survey — a survey is not a legal requirement — your buyer can elect to forego this step in the house sales process. — but this is not advisable and few people do so. If the survey throws up an unexpected and significant problem that would cost the buyer a significant sum of money to put right, the sale is likely to be delayed as both sides battle it out and negotiate the sale price. If an agreement cannot be reached, the problems highlighted in the survey could result in a failed sale.

Reasons Your House Is Not Selling

• The Asking Price Is Too High — Overvaluing a property is the most common reason a house does not sell. Furthermore, if a home seller sets the asking price too high and subsequently reduces it, this can add months to the time it takes to sell. An overpriced property will attract fewer viewings, which means fewer selling chances.
• Poor Marketing —Many people start their property search online. If an advert does not include images or the photographs used are of poor quality, there’s a good chance potential buyers will swipe on by. Equally, ads that lack sufficient detail or are not well written will fail to attract attention. Homeowners who choose not to erect a “for sale” board could also miss out on passing trade.
  
• Market Heat — Properties are easier to sell in a “hot” (sellers’) market, and sale prices are typically higher than those achieved in a “cold” (buyers’) market. In the last 18 months, we have been experiencing a hot market with property sellers in the strongest position as buyers flock to compete for a limited housing supply. However, the market looks set to calm down this year and buyers and sellers may soon be operating on a more level playing field.
• Ineffective Estate Agent — Home sellers have a wide range of estate agents to choose from on the high street and online. However, not all agents work to the same standards. If your agent is not sufficiently proactive, this will impact the number of viewings booked and, consequently, the time your property takes to sell.
• Poor Presentation — Properties that are untidy, cluttered and uncared for will lack the necessary curb appeal to attract offers. Both inside and out, poorly-presented houses are off-putting to buyers and can give the impression that a lot of work is required to make the property habitable.

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Average Time to Sell a House FAQs

What factors can affect how long it takes to sell a house?
There are many elements to a successful house sale — finding a buyer, arranging a mortgage, having searches and surveys conducted, and exchanging and completing contracts. Problems and delays can occur at any stage; for example, a buyer might fail to secure their mortgage, or their own house sale could fall through, preventing them from buying yours. In England, either the buyer or seller can withdraw from the sale at any time before exchanging contracts, which can mean starting the process all over again.

How does the house sale process in the UK compare to other countries?
In comparison to other countries, the house sale process in the UK is relatively slow, with significant differences between nations. In Scotland, sales are typically faster because solicitors often market the properties directly rather than using estate agents, resulting in fewer links in the chain. Sellers also usually prepare all the information a buyer needs before marketing their property.

How long does it usually take from offer acceptance to completion?
The time varies depending on the circumstances of the sale. If one or both parties are part of a property chain, this can lead to delays, as can mortgage problems, slow searches, or overworked solicitors and estate agents. On average, it takes around 11 weeks from offer acceptance to completion.

How long is the period between exchange and completion?
The buyer and seller agree on dates for exchange and completion, and the timescale can be set to suit both parties. Typically, the time between these stages is one to two weeks. If the buyer is using a Help-to-Buy ISA, completion may take slightly longer because banks require around seven working days to issue a closing statement.

Does selling to a chain-free buyer speed up the process?
Yes. Selling to a chain-free buyer is usually quicker because there are fewer potential sources of delays. In contrast, if the buyer or seller is in a chain, there are many potential causes of delays, such as failed mortgage applications, unexpected survey results, gazumping or gazundering, a change of heart, personal circumstances, or conveyancing delays.

Why might a house sale fall through before completion?
Some common reasons include:

• The buyer changes their mind or finds a property they prefer

• The seller receives a higher offer after accepting another offer

• Mortgage issues arise

When is the best time of year to sell a house?
The spring and summer months (March to June) are generally the best times to sell. Properties move more quickly during this period, and sellers have a better chance of achieving competitive offers.

Does selling a leasehold property take longer than selling a freehold?
Yes. Selling a leasehold is more complex due to additional legal paperwork, which typically adds around three extra weeks to the process.

How to Get a Quick House Sale

You can speed up the selling process by planning ahead and completing essential tasks, such as applying for an EPC or making a mortgage application (if you are selling to buy), as early as possible. You should also choose the professionals you work with carefully — will your estate agent do their best to book viewings and negotiate the best sale price for you? Can you rely on your conveyancer to be efficient, or are they swamped with too much work?

Property chain problems are the most common cause of failed sales. Opting for a cash buyer is one of the best ways to minimise the risk of problems and delays. Of course, on the open market, this is easier said than done, as you may not get any interest from cash buyers.

Selling off-market via a reputable cash house buying company is the only way to achieve a guaranteed sale fast. House Buyer Bureau has the funds to buy any type of property, in any condition in England and Wales (and some parts of Scotland) in as little as seven days. Our team of experts provide a professional, honest and transparent service. We are one of a handful of buyers recommended by The Advisory, the impartial authority on house selling.

Find out what our customers are saying about us here.

Get in touch and request your cash quote today.

Chris

Chris

Chris has worked in property all his career, first as a successful estate agent before spotting a gap in the market for buying property directly from people looking for a simple, quick sale.

He has a passion for property and as an experienced valuer, has looked at well over 50,000 properties so far at HBB. He has extensive experience in property buying and regularly comments in the press on property matters, trends and promotes ways to simplify and speed up the selling process.

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