Updated 24 October 2026 · First published 5 February 2025
Choosing a month to put a home on the market can help with planning, but no season guarantees a quicker sale or a higher price. Rightmove’s analysis published in February 2025 found that 66.3% of homes listed in February and March went on to complete, the highest reported completion share for the year it studied. That is a historical result from one portal’s data, not a promise for an individual property or a universal pattern across every town.
The distinction between listing, agreeing a sale and completing matters. A property can attract an offer that later falls through, while a completed move may take months from the first advert. Rightmove’s review of 2025 reported average times to sell ranging from 59 to 77 days. Those are broad figures; a chain, conveyancing delays, mortgage approval, survey findings and the local supply of similar homes can all change an individual timeline.
Seasonal patterns can still help sellers think ahead. Spring often brings more viewing activity as gardens and daylight improve, and households may hope to move before summer. The New Year can bring fresh search activity. Summer holidays and the run-up to Christmas may reduce the number of active buyers in some places, but can also mean fewer competing listings. These are tendencies, not rules. A family home, city flat and rural property may attract different buyers and behave differently in the same month.
Start with the reason for moving and the time available. If a sale must fund a purchase, ask an agent how long comparable homes nearby are taking to find buyers and complete. Check recent sold prices for similar properties rather than relying only on asking prices or an instant valuation. Ask whether the agent’s estimate uses completed transactions, current competition or buyer enquiries, and how recent those comparisons are.
Preparation is more within a seller’s control than the calendar. Allow time to gather property documents, resolve known maintenance issues, declutter, arrange accurate photography and agree a realistic asking price. Build flexibility into the moving timetable: a quick offer does not mean a quick completion, and a quiet week does not prove that the property is wrongly priced. Review viewing feedback and local competition before making a decision.
The practical takeaway is to use seasonal research as context, then combine it with current local evidence and your own circumstances. Rightmove’s February 2025 findings are a snapshot, not a forecast for 2026 or a guarantee of sale. Its current guidance also notes that seasonal activity varies by area and recommends considering personal circumstances and local market trends.
Sources checked: Rightmove’s seasonal analysis and updated selling guidance: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/guides/seller/preparing-to-sell/is-now-the-right-time-to-sell/