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February and March are the best months to put your house on the market, according to new research by Rightmove.
The property portal analysed more than a decade of data and found that 66% of homes listed in February and March go on to complete a sale – the highest proportion of the year.
If you're thinking of making the move, read on for advice on how to make your home attractive to buyers, and the additional costs you'll need to budget for.
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Rightmove analysed millions of properties advertised for sale since 2012, and found that February and March are the best months to put your home on the market.
As well as being most likely to successfully complete, homes listed in the first few months of the year also tend to find a buyer more quickly.
February leads the way, with an average of 51 days between a property being listed and an offer being accepted. March and April follow close behind, averaging 52 days.
Rightmove says 2025's market is already kicking into gear, with the number of potential buyers contacting agents up 8% year-on-year, and the number of sales agreed up 15%.
Selling your home can be a long-winded affair, and at a time when mortgage rates remain high, setting the right asking price is especially important.
Always get at least three valuations from local estate agents, and don't just go for the agent that promises they'll get the highest figure, or the one with the lowest fee.
An estate agent with a strong track record of selling homes in your local area can make a big difference to your chance of a successful sale.
It's also important to hire a reliable conveyancer, who will take care of the legal side of the sale promptly.
If you're in a hurry to sell, you might wish to prioritise offers from certain types of buyers, such as chain-free first-time buyers or cash buyers, but this could affect the price you'll get.
See our full guide on how to sell your house for more advice.
Ben Hudson of the estate agent Hudson Moody says:
'It may sound obvious, but clean up, de-clutter and make sure any obvious defects are put right before the photos are taken and viewers start coming round.
'Kerb appeal is very important, as when people arrive to view your property, and walk past it on the street or drive past it in a car, they will form some kind of impression. The more attractive you can make it look on the outside, the more likely people are to want to come inside.
'Small touches such as tidying up the front garden and mowing the lawn can send out the message that your home is easy to maintain and well-kept, which will delight some buyers who might not have the time to spend on household chores.
'The obvious things such as putting on lights to show the house well, putting the heating on, and making sure the home smells fresh and clean are also important for comfortable viewings, leaving potential buyers with the right impression.'
Before making a decision on whether to move, it’s important to get your head around how much the process might cost you.
Data from the price comparison site Reallymoving shows the average cost of moving (including selling your home and buying a new one) is currently just under £14,000.
Stamp duty (£6,250), estate agent fees (£4,500) and conveyancing (£2,000) are the most substantial costs.
When choosing an estate agent, conveyancer, surveyor or removals company, be sure to compare prices from different providers.
Stamp duty will be a hot topic for anyone buying or selling in 2025.
On 1 April, stamp duty thresholds will revert to their old levels, resulting in most homebuyers facing a bigger tax bill.
As a seller, you should expect buyers to try and offset this cost by negotiating harder on price. The good news, however, is you can do the same on the home you buy.
First-time buyers in more expensive areas will be hardest hit by the changes. The estate agent Hamptons says first-time buyers purchasing homes for more than £300,000 are currently negotiating discounts averaging £5,000.
Experts expect small increases in house prices this year, though the number of sales that go through will be heavily influenced by what happens to mortgage rates.
In late 2024, Reuters asked 21 housing experts for their predictions for 2025. The average forecast was a 3.1% price rise, though predictions ranged from 2% to 6%.
How much prices rise could vary from area to area. For example, the estate agent Savills forecasts a 4% average rise in house prices across the UK in 2025, but only a 2.5% increase in South West England compared to a 5% rise in Scotland.
