One in four prospective sellers pull plans to move
The latest research by GetAgent has revealed that a proportion of home sellers are rethinking their plans in 2026, with almost a quarter (24%) no longer intending to sell in the near future, while a further 27% say they still plan to move but are far less certain than they were at the start of the year.
GetAgent commissioned a survey of 1,011 UK home sellers who had intended to list their property at the start of 2026, examining how far they had progressed with their sale, whether their plans have changed, and the reasons behind shifting sentiment.
The findings show that while many sellers had already taken meaningful steps towards bringing their home to market, increasing uncertainty in recent months has caused a notable proportion to reconsider their plans.
Prior to changing course, many home sellers had been actively progressing their move.
Some 17% had prepared their property for sale, while 16% had spoken to an estate agent and the same proportion had begun searching for an onward purchase. A further 13% had requested a valuation, 12% had already listed their home for sale, and 11% had reached the stage of hosting viewings. However, only 8% have so far agreed a sale, highlighting a clear drop-off between initial intent and successful completion.
As market conditions have become more uncertain, many sellers have started to step back, with the latest insight from GetAgent finding that 24% no longer plan to sell this year and a further 27% are now far less certain about doing so.
Of those who have reconsidering their plans, the most common reason cited is a lack of buyer engagement, with 23% stating they had not received an offer and 18% reporting little to no viewing activity.
Financial concerns are also playing a key role. Some 17% of sellers say they are worried about the increased cost of their onward purchase, while 16% point to wider economic uncertainty, including inflation, as a reason for delaying their move. Other factors include difficulty finding a suitable property to buy and political or global uncertainty.
Despite this hesitation, many sellers are not abandoning their plans entirely, but instead delaying them. Of those who are no longer proceeding immediately, 31% say they expect to re-enter the market later this year, while 29% are now planning to sell in 2027. However, 40% remain unsure as to when they will resume their move.
This uncertainty is reflected in broader market sentiment. Just 19% of sellers describe themselves as confident in the current housing market, while 58% say they feel uncertain to some degree.
Co-Founder and CEO of GetAgent, Colby Short, commented:
“What we’re seeing here is not a lack of intent from sellers, but a hesitation driven by uncertainty and a more challenging market environment.
Many homeowners have already taken meaningful steps towards selling, but with softer buyer activity, affordability pressures and wider economic uncertainty, they’re choosing to pause rather than push ahead.
For agents, this means fewer sellers coming to market and increased competition for instructions. In this environment, focusing on lead quality and maintaining consistent follow-up is more important than ever.
At GetAgent, we’re paid on completion, so we understand how stressful it can be when there’s pipeline disruption. Our Client Services team is focused on helping sellers feel more confident and informed, connecting them with agents who are well placed to guide them through the process.
Good agents are doing what they’ve always done – providing clear, data-driven advice and demonstrating local market expertise, helping to rebuild momentum and showing that even in a more measured market, there are still opportunities to successfully sell.”
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