Is It a Good Time to Sell a House?

In an ideal world, you’d want to sell your home when there’s a high level of demand and low level of supply, meaning that your property has lots of interest and little competition.

At House Buyer Bureau, one of the first things we look at when assessing a property’s likely saleability is the ratio of available stock to properties already marked Sold Subject To Contract (SSTC). Across thousands of transactions, we’ve found that local market conditions usually have a far bigger impact on selling speed than the time of year.

A well-priced property in an area with strong demand can sell quickly in December, while an overpriced property may struggle even during the traditionally busy spring market.

TOP TIP: You can easily assess how busy your local market is by visiting Rightmove or Zoopla and seeing how many properties like yours are up for sale in your local area. If you then include those that are Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC), you’ll be able to see how competitive things are locally. For example, there might be 40 properties for sale locally, and another 60 that are SSTC. This would represent a “strong” market as 60% of properties are already sold.

A higher SSTC rate indicates a market that is competitive and selling well. A lower rate indicates one where a property may take longer to sell, or will sell for less money.

Best month to sell

Spring generally creates the most buyer activity, but sellers often overestimate the impact of timing,” says Chris Hodgkinson, Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau. “In our experience, the biggest determinant of success is pricing correctly. A realistically priced property will nearly always outperform an overpriced property regardless of the season.

If you can afford to wait, spring is usually the best time to sell a house. House selling data consistently shows the property market is at its most buoyant at this time, with lots of new houses listed for sale and plenty of potential buyers looking.

On average, March tends to be the month when houses sell the most quickly. With the new year in full swing and spring on the way, this is a great time to make a change. For many, spring is also a time of new beginnings, which means many are ready for a fresh start. This can be a double-edged sword for a house seller as there is usually more competition and you need to make sure your property is well presented and well-priced to attract buyers.

September and October are also popular with buyers as people want to complete their house sale/purchase after their summer holidays but before the dark evenings arrive.

Worst month to sell

The end of the year is typically a poor time to put your house up for sale. With the majority of people, and especially families, preoccupied with Christmas, this tends to be a period where most buyers have other priorities.

At House Buyer Bureau we still buy and value properties throughout December and January. Whilst enquiry levels can be lower, the buyers who remain active at this time of year are usually highly motivated because they need to move for work, family or financial reasons.

Is now a good time to sell?

What’s happening in the UK property market?

Based on our own purchase activity at House Buyer Bureau, and homeowner enquiries across 2025 and 2026, we’re seeing increasing numbers of sellers prioritise certainty over achieving the absolute highest sale price.

Many homeowners are concerned about lengthy chains, mortgage affordability challenges affecting buyers and delays within the conveyancing process.

National property trend data can be misleading and there are big variations from one local market to another. We recommend you always limit your research to the immediate area around the property you want to sell or buy.

Try and stick to within ¼ mile if there is enough stock to compare, otherwise extend your research to between 1 and 3 miles to get a comprehensive view of local activity, prices and demand.

What 6,000+ property transactions have taught us about selling successfully

House Buyer Bureau has been buying properties since 2010. We’ve operated in every type of market across England and Wales and bought every type of property.

What we have learned is:

Pricing matters more than timing
Local demand matters more than national averages
Chains cause more delays than market conditions
Most sellers underestimate conveyancing times
Motivated buyers are more important than large numbers of buyers

About the Expert

Chris Hodgkinson, Managing Director of House Buyer Bureau has been buying and selling property for over 20 years. In the past 10 years, he has overseen over 6,000 house purchases and sales and has bought property in almost every local market up and down the UK.

“For homeowners facing a fixed deadline, the best time to sell is usually as soon as a realistic plan is in place. Waiting for a potentially stronger market can sometimes cost more through mortgage payments, maintenance costs, council tax and ongoing uncertainty.”

Our friendly property-buying experts will be happy to discuss your needs, explain how selling to us works and provide a free, no-obligation cash offer if you would like one. Get in touch today!

Sell your property quickly with us

If you’re looking to sell your house quickly, without the hassle of estate agents and fees, or redecorating or decluttering, or having to worry about when’s the best time, speak to the House Buyer Bureau. Whatever your reasons for selling, we can help, and we buy property in all conditions. We won’t hard sell or pressure you, and will always be open, honest and discreet. Get in touch with our team today for a free, no-obligation chat about your options.

Do houses sell faster in spring?

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Generally, yes. Spring is typically the busiest time of year for the property market because gardens look their best, the weather encourages viewings and many buyers begin searching after the winter months. But a well-priced property in a desirable area can attract buyers at any time of year.

Can I sell my house in winter?

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Yes. While spring and early autumn are traditionally the busiest times for the property market, homes can sell successfully at any time of year. There may be fewer buyers in winter, but those who are looking are often more motivated to move.

Should I wait for house prices to rise before selling?

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Trying to time the market perfectly is difficult, and rising house prices may be offset by higher mortgage rates or reduced buyer demand. If you need to move for work, family or financial reasons, it’s often best to focus on your own circumstances than trying to predict the future of the market.

How long does it take to sell a house in the UK?

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A traditional house sale typically takes 4-6 months from listing to completion, although this varies with the location, demand and whether there’s a property chain. Surveys, mortgage approvals and conveyancing can all delay the process. If you need a quick sale, alternative selling methods may be better for you.

What makes a house sell quickly?

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The biggest factors are realistic pricing, good presentation and effective marketing, but choosing an experienced local estate agent and responding quickly to enquiries can also help speed up the process.

What’s the quickest way to sell a house?

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Selling to a cash buyer or professional property-buying company is usually the fastest option, as there’s no property chain and no need to wait for a buyer to secure a mortgage. While you may receive less than full market value, the speed and certainty can be worthwhile if you need to sell quickly.

Kerrie

Kerrie is a very popular and busy member of the team. She is the dedicated point of contact for our sellers when their sale is progressing.

Her extensive knowledge and experience of the property buying process means she is perfectly placed to liaise with surveyors and solicitors and keep things moving forward for her customers. She regularly gets great customer feedback for keeping her sellers up to speed and avoiding unnecessary stress and worry.

View articles by Kerrie