The analysts at TwentyCi have been crunching the numbers to find out which month is the busiest to sell a home in the UK. We looked at sales agreed in the last five years, and the results are in:
July is the busiest month to agree a sale
It’s little surprise that July reigns supreme as the busiest month for the number of sales agreed. A summer market buzz thanks to warmer weather and longer daylight hours makes it more convenient for buyers to house hunt. And more viewings mean more chance of converting into a sale! A property’s curb appeal goes up in the summer months; everything looks better in the sunshine, with gardens blooming and natural light showcasing the property in all its glory.
Number of sales agreed between 2020-2024
Why is March the second popular month for sales agreed?
Alongside a boost in sales in summer, there’s also a spring surge in buyer activity. In March, the housing market wakes up and buyers suddenly come out of hibernation having recovered from the expense of Christmas. March also offers the benefit of a summer move-in. If you sell around easter or before, you’ll time your move date just right for more favourable weather on your move day (who wants to move when it’s cold and wet)! This also aligns nicely with when the kids are off school so it’s a great time for families and a nice transition between school years.
Why are winter months quieter for agreeing a house sale?
There’s reduced buyer interest in winter with fewer buyers actively searching. People recognise that the property market is slowing, so can hold off listing until spring. A reduction in daylight hours negatively impacts sales agreed.
Most people generally work nine to five, and the sun sets before 5pm between mid-October through to mid-February. Analysis by House Buyer Bureau found that as the nights draw in and the clocks go back, over half (54%) of homebuyers are less likely to view properties and 84% feel they can't view it properly in the dark. It’s much harder to make a judgement. You can’t see the garden unless the seller has outside lights, and the property overall can just look less appealing than in the daylight. However, 55% of buyers did say they'd take time off on a weekday to view properties and there is always the possibility of weekend viewings if the seller is flexible. Ultimately though, there are just fewer opportunities to showcase your property in the winter and fewer viewings mean less chances of agreeing a sale.
In winter, people are also preoccupied with Christmas and will often wait until the new year for a fresh start such as moving home. People mentally reset in January, so November and December experience a lull. Financial pressures and holiday spending also cause people to delay big financial decisions. The holiday period can also cause delays as lenders process fewer applications, causing a temporary dip in transactions as buyers are left waiting to find out how much they can borrow. Bad weather can also put people off house viewing or, in the case of flooding and storms, make it impossible!
It has to be said though, that sometimes buyers are more motivated to buy outside peak times. They may have to move for a personal circumstance or a job. This urgency can work in a seller’s favour. There are far more distractions in the summer for people with holidays, increased social activities and kids on school holidays.
The importance of understanding the busiest months:
For estate agents:
For estate agents, it's crucial to know the busiest times for sales agreed as it impacts your operations, revenue and client relationships. If you know when more stock goes under offer, you understand when you need to work harder to ramp up prospecting and drive new listings to maintain a strong sales pipeline. In quieter months, agents can shift their focus to winning instructions, training and nurturing leads. When it’s busy, you may need to hire extra staff to handle increased viewings, valuations and negotiations.
As agents only get paid on completion, understanding peak periods helps with forecasting cash flow. Your pricing strategy may also change during peak months. The extra demand allows you to be firmer on asking prices whereas adjustments may be required in quieter months to keep deals moving.
For conveyancers:
Conveyancers need to know when the busiest times for sales agreed occur so they can manage their workload capacity and avoid bottlenecks. They may need to hire temporary staff or extend working hours. Law firms can be more transparent with clients about timescales and manage expectations avoiding frustration from clients. As conveyancers are paid on completion, understanding peak periods helps you to better manage your cash flow and budget more efficiently. Burnout is a real issue for both conveyancers and agents in spring and summer! (or when the Government throw in a Stamp Duty deadline!)
For retailers:
For retailers, knowing when sales agreed peaks occur in the property market is valuable because homemovers are a major spending group. You should align your marketing efforts with peak sales agreed months. Buyers tend to spend the most within the first six months of moving. This allows you to better plan stock and anticipate demand surges. SMEs can prepare for increased demand post-move such as decorators, landscapers and KBB retailers, adjusting staffing to suit. Removals can be prepared in advance, and more staff can be hired in preparation for the sales to be completed in a few months.
For housebuilders:
For housebuilders, knowing when sales agreed peaks occur is crucial because it affects sales strategy, construction timelines and buyer demand. Knowing when buyer activity is at the highest level means the housebuilder can ramp up advertising ahead of these busy months to secure more reservations. They can also time property completions to meet demand. Show homes and sales offices should be fully operational and staffed ahead of busy months. In quieter months, housebuilders may look to increase incentives to maintain sales momentum.
Looking closer at the data
We have broken down the busiest months for sales agreed per year. It’s important to note that the stamp duty holiday ran between 8th July 2020 and 30th June 2021 and would have impacted these figures.
March came out on top in three of the five years and in fact, July only topped the chart in 2020 potentially thanks to the stamp duty exemption.
Number of sales agreed per month between 2020-2024
Top ten sales agreed dates in 2020:
Top ten sales agreed dates in 2021:
Top ten sales agreed dates in 2022:
Top ten sales agreed dates in 2023:
Top ten sales agreed dates in 2024:
Final thoughts
The best time to sell a home is influenced by seasonal demand, market trends and the personal circumstances of the seller. For businesses like estate agents, conveyancers, retailers and housebuilders, understanding the seasonal patterns is crucial for tailoring your services, staffing and marketing strategies. Spring and summer typically see higher buyer activity compared to colder months. By aligning your business strategies with these market cycles, you can optimise your efforts and better serve homemovers.
Interested in homemover data for homemover marketing? Get in touch and let's have a chat.