February has been identified as the optimal month to list your home for sale, as reported by Rightmove. Recent data on house sales indicates that 68.9% of homes listed in February successfully found buyers. Following closely behind are January and March, both with a 68.8% success rate in selling listed homes. April ranked third with 68.7%, and May followed at 67.7%.
Contrarily, October had the lowest success rate, with 65.4% of homes listed during that month eventually being sold. On average, it takes about seven months to secure a buyer for a home and complete the sale transaction.
The analysis conducted by Rightmove examined millions of property listings from 2014 to 2024, excluding 2020 due to the impact of the pandemic. The year 2025 was also omitted to allow for properties listed later in the year that may still be on the market.
January emerged as the quickest month to secure a buyer, averaging 47 days, followed closely by February at 48 days. March stood out for the highest number of newly listed properties and overall sales agreements.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, stated that February typically presents the best opportunity to sell a home, with the upcoming Spring season also showing promise for home sales. She advised potential sellers considering a 2026 move to act promptly to capitalize on increased buyer activity.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed emphasized the importance of streamlining the buying and selling process to reduce stress and prevent transaction failures. John Baybut, Managing Director at Berkeley Shaw Real Estate, highlighted the current strength of the UK property market, attributing it to favorable interest rates and long-term value growth in the property sector.
Mike Sharman, Group Managing Director at Sharman Quinney, noted that January is a busy time for vendors planning their moves for the year, with February and March witnessing a surge in property listings driven by the onset of spring.
Overall, serious buyers are advised to be prepared with financing in place and current homes ready for sale to secure preferred properties during the busy market period.