How Long Does It Take To Sell A House? Your Questions Answered
If you’ve ever gone through the process of selling a home, you’ll already be familiar with the unpredictable world of real estate – some homes sell speedily, while others linger on the market for months. Keep reading to understand how long the average house sale takes to advance your buying and selling journey.
What is the Average Time to Sell a House in the UK?
If you’re wondering how long it takes between exchange and completion, you’ll be looking at around five months if you’re living in the UK. This includes each and every intricate stage of the selling process, from finding a buyer to conducting house surveys, securing a mortgage, and finalising all the necessary legal documents.
However, this can depend on several factors, which have the potential to change and shift over time. Market conditions, the local economy, where the property is, and the efficiency of the people involved (such as the particular estate agent or solicitor) will all have an effect on the length of the selling process.
Steps in the Selling Process & Typical Durations
- Preparing a Home for Sale (2-4 Weeks)
Before you consider anything else, preparing a home for sale is the first crucial step in the selling journey. Get your property primed and ready for the market by decluttering, cleaning, making any necessary repairs, and staging your house to showcase it in its best light to your potential buyers. You’ll also need to sort some professional photographs and write up a compelling property listing. Depending on what needs doing, this could take a few weeks to get sorted.
- Listing the Property & Finding a Buyer (6-10 Weeks)
With your property prepped and ready to be listed, you can now move on to the crucial step of finding a buyer. We’ve cited 6-10 weeks as a rough estimate, but in actuality, getting the right buyer to your doorstep can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the market conditions and time of year. Remain patient, and don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board if your property isn’t selling – you might need a fresh pair of eyes, new pictures, or even a replacement agent to step in and take the reins on your sale.
- Negotiating Offers & Accepting (1-2 Weeks)
Once you’ve received an offer, you’ll likely go back and forth negotiating with your buyer before landing on a price you’re both happy with. This will usually only take a couple of weeks, but be prepared for this to go on longer if your negotiations are more complex.
- Conveyancing Process (12-16 Weeks)
Once negotiations are done and the offer’s been accepted, it’s time for conveyancing to commence. This is the process of transferring ownership; if you’re wondering how long it takes to sell a house after an offer is accepted, this is typically the most time-consuming step due to the complicated legal documents each party will need to complete. Solicitors will spend time conducting property searches, drafting contracts, and arranging for the exchange of contracts.
- Surveys & Mortgage Arrangements (4-6 Weeks)
If there is a mortgage involved in the process, the mortgage lender will also usually require a property survey. This can take several weeks and is also subject to delays if the survey encounters any issues that need to be addressed before the mortgage is approved.
- Exchange of Contracts & Completion (1-2 Weeks)
The final stage: exchanging contracts and completing the sale. Once contracts have been exchanged, the sale becomes legally binding, after which point completion will occur a week or so later when the buyer transfers the funds.
The Impact of Market Conditions
Although the above can act as a rough timeline, there are several other factors that come into play with the length of the selling process. In a seller’s market, where demand outweighs supply, you can count on a quick sale (and higher price points), but in a buyer’s market, the opposite is true.
Traditionally, the warmer months offer prime selling points, with spring and summer being the busiest times for the property market. With more buyers on the hunt for a new home, your property will likely be snapped up quickly, spending less time on the market. On the other hand, winter is generally a slower time for the property market – if you’re listing during this time, be prepared to have patience with finding a buyer.
Should I Use an Online Solicitor or a Local Solicitor?
This comes down to your priorities as a seller. With online solicitors, you’re looking at lower fees and a more convenient remote handling process, but local solicitors offer a crucial awareness of the local market and a personalised service, which is handy for more complicated transactions. A local solicitor may also have connections to local estate agents and surveyors, which can help to speed up the selling process. If communication and local expertise is a priority for you, a local solicitor might be the better option.
Why Do Solicitor Prices Vary So Much?
Location, experience, and the complexity of the property transaction can all impact solicitor’s fees. If you’re selling in a high-demand area, your solicitor might naturally charge more, or if they have been operating for years and can give you a better quality level of service, they might have higher costs to reflect this.
While fixed-fee services might seem cheaper or more convenient, you could face additional fees down the line when other tasks are added on. Assess what’s included in the fee, as well as the solicitor’s reputation and experience, and go from there.
Chain Breaks in the Home-Selling Timeline
One of the most common issues that sellers face is a break in the chain. A property chain is a sequence of linked property transactions, where each sale – each link the chain – depends on the preceding one. When one sale falls through, this ‘chain break’ can cause delays in all the subsequent sales.
If you want to avoid property chains altogether, you can target chain-free buyers to ensure a speedier sale. These are first-time buyers or property investors – anyone not reliant on another property sale, which can significantly reduce the risk of delays.
Speeding Up the Selling Process
- Price Competitively
This is one of the most effective ways to secure a quick sale: price your house competitively from the get-go. You’ll avoid your property sitting on the market and going stale, and attract a whole lot more buyers.
- Choose the Right Agent
Select a serious, reputable, and (most importantly) local estate agent to help you along your selling journey. They’ll make sure your property is marketed correctly, taking into account the state of the local market, and ensure you negotiate the best deal possible with potential buyers.
- Be Ready With Your Documents
Take the headache out of your sale by readying all the necessary documents ahead of time. Title deeds, property surveys, planning permissions – anything you’ll need to secure your sale. This will avoid delays, speed up the process, and also save you a significant amount of stress with finalising the details of your sale.
- Spruce Up Your Home
Make your home move-in ready to attract more buyers to your door. Properties that are in good condition and ready for an immediate move are going to sell much faster than those that need a bit of work doing. Keep things clean, pristine, and well-presented in your online marketing materials if you want to turn buyers heads.
The Role of Estate Agents in Facilitating a Swift Sale
Ultimately, the estate agent you opt for is going to have a huge impact on the length of your sale. Expert negotiations, proper marketing strategies, and a key awareness of the local market conditions are crucial for getting your property sold quickly and efficiently.
That’s where we come in. At Zest, we have a wealth of experience in facilitating speedy and streamlined sales for our homeowners, with a thorough understanding of the shifts and changes in the local market that influence our ability to get property sold fast. If you’re looking for an agent who goes above and beyond in resolving issues, avoiding delays, and keeping you informed each and every step of the way, reach out to find out more about how we can help you sell your home today.