Summer set to bring seasonal spike in homeseller activity
The latest analysis by Foxtons has revealed that while autumn is traditionally the busiest time of year for the property market, summer is the ideal time for homeowners to get their property ready and listed if they want to take advantage of the heightened buyer activity still to come in 2026.
Foxtons analysed government property transaction data across England and Wales looking at historic market trends based on the number of homes sold during each season of the year in order to identify when the market is traditionally at its busiest.*
The research shows that, on average, some 1.2m homes sell across England and Wales each year.
Seasonal home selling trends
Winter is the quietest season for the market, with an average of 275,000 homes sold during the winter months, accounting for 23% of all annual market activity.
Spring sees activity improve, but remains the second quietest season of the year, with an average of 279,000 homes sold, equal to 24% of annual market activity.
However, the market then gathers pace through the summer months, when an average of 307,000 homes are sold, accounting for 26% of annual activity. The strongest level of market activity is seen in autumn, with an average of 323,000 homes sold, equivalent to 27% of the annual total.
When to list to ride the seasonal wave of buyer activity
Whilst autumn may be the busiest time of year for the market, the time taken to prepare, market and sell a property means that homeowners need to act well in advance if they want to benefit from this seasonal uplift in demand.
Figures from the HomeOwners Alliance shows that it takes between 10 and 21 days on average to get a property ready and listed for sale. Once listed, it can then take between three and 14 weeks for an offer to be accepted, before a further 10 to 12 weeks are required to exchange contracts. Finally, exchange of contracts to final completion can take between one and 28 days.
In total, the average time from listing a home to completing the sale is around five and a half months.
As a result, homeowners hoping to move before the end of the year should now be preparing their property for market, as doing so will provide them with the perfect opportunity to capitalise on the stronger levels of activity seen later in the year.
There are also a number of practical reasons why summer is often considered the best time of year to market a home. Improved weather and longer evenings allow properties to be photographed and viewed in their best light, while gardens begin to look more attractive and natural light helps homes feel larger and more inviting.
Summer also provides the ideal opportunity for homeowners to declutter, carry out minor repairs, and refresh the appearance of their property before listing. At the same time, buyers tend to become more active after the quieter winter period, particularly those looking to move before the new school year or ahead of the Christmas period.
James Stevenson, Managing Director – Sales at Foxtons, commented:
“While the market may not be moving at the same pace seen during the post-pandemic boom, buyer demand remains strong and the landscape has improved considerably when compared to this time last year.
Homebuyer activity is building and it’s those sellers who price correctly and prepare properly during the summer months that are best placed to take advantage of the stronger market activity still to come this year.
At the same time, improving stock levels are also creating greater choice for upsizers, making current market conditions particularly attractive for those looking to make their next move.”
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