February is the best month to list a home on average, with homes listed during the month typically finding a buyer the quickest, as well as being most likely to be marked sold subject to contract, according to analysis by a property website.
On average, homes listed in February have taken 51 days to find a buyer – just ahead of an average of 52 days for homes listed in March, according to Rightmove.
Around two-thirds (66.4 per cent) of homes listed in February have gone on to find a buyer, again just pipping March at 66.3 per cent.
The analysis looked at millions of properties listed for sale since 2012 and the trends linked to the month of listing, excluding 2020 due to the distorting impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
The property portal also found that in 2024 so far, the number of buyers contacting agents about homes for sale is eight per cent higher than last year, while the number of new home listings for sale was up 11 per cent.
New seller asking prices rose 1.3 per cent month-on-month, in January, according to Rightmove's most recent house price index, but they were still 0.7 per cent lower than a year ago, making this spring's buyers keen to capitalise on stagnant pricing.
October was found to the the least advantageous time of year to list a home.
Homes listed in October have taken an average of 63 days to find a buyer, and 63.6 per cent of homes listed during that month have gone on to find a buyer.
Meanwhile the property market may take an extra hit this October depending on the timing and outcome of the General Election promised for the autumn.
Tim Bannister, Rightmove’s property expert said: “The best time to get moving is the time that’s right for you – we can’t always plan or predict when a life move is needed.
"However, for those who are able to be a bit more flexible about when they decide to sell, the data shows typically the start of the year has been particularly strong.
“It’s also when we’ve historically seen the most buyers sending inquiries to agents, so it’s a great time for those looking to sell to make sure they are listed, their marketing is strong and they’re pricing attractively enough against other sellers.”
