When to sell your house

Why do you want to sell your house? Maybe you’re getting married and looking for your first home, or relocating for work, or downsizing now that the kids have left. Alternatively, you might be looking for a bigger property to accommodate your growing family. There are many reasons, aside from financial that someone may want to sell their home, and it makes sense that you may just want to sell and move forwards. You might think that there is a better time to put your property on the market, but is there actually a right time to sell your house?

What’s happening with the housing market?

House prices in the UK increased by 3.7% in November 2024, and they’re predicted to rise again in 2025 - by how much, we don’t know. Estimates range from 1.1% to 4%. People are also successfully selling properties. 92,640 property transactions were successfully completed in November 2024, which is 13% higher than November 2023.

When is the best time to sell your house?

In the past, people have thought very seasonally about the best time to sell. Spring (from February to June) is often thought to be the best time to sell your home. Everything looks better in spring, with gardens blooming and the sunlight full of promise and optimism. September to November is also a decent time, as families are searching to find a new home and settle before Christmas. Warmer summers may mean more people taking advantage of the weather at home, and therefore they may be around looking for a new home to buy. And in winter, people may be inspired by ‘new year, new you’ and decide that it’s time to get a new house. A trend can be found for any season.

Similarly, there are arguments for and against selling your property at the ‘best time’. Having a lot of potential buyers is great, but it can also mean competition. It can be best to put your property on the market when there’s less competing properties, as you’re more likely to make a sale.

The main issue with looking at the property market in terms of season is that the market is impacted far less by season now than it used to be. Market trends vary from year to year, and are now mostly affected by other things going on in the world. You can find data showing which months saw more house sales last year, but that doesn’t mean the same will happen this year.

When is the worst time to sell your house?

In reality, there really is no right or wrong time to sell. Economic conditions, interest rates, world events and general budgetary influences can all affect the decision to move, but most importantly, it’s whatever is going on in the lives of the homeowners which should primarily impact their decision. Many people are looking to buy a property because they want to live in it - not because they’re closely watching the market to find the best time to invest.

There are so many personal, economical, and external factors that may impact when and why someone is looking to buy a new home - as well as when it’s the right time for you to sell. This is why it can be really helpful to work with an experienced estate agent who specialises in the local area, as they will know what’s happening in the market right now and will be able to give you tailored advice.

Is it the right time to sell your house?

We can speculate all we want, but no one knows what’s going to happen in the property market. Prices seem to be rising, which means they may continue to rise and the value of your property may grow, but it also means the cost of your new property (if you’re planning on buying again) may also rise.

It’s a good idea to put your buyer hat on and check comparable properties in your area on sites like On The Market, Zoopla, and Rightmove to see how much similar properties are going for and how much competition you have. Our team of estate agents in our local branches can tell you how much demand there is for a property like yours and average sales times in your area.

Thinking of selling a property in Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown, Ringwood, or Wimborne? Get in touch with our friendly team of specialists.