How long does it take to sell a house?

Now there’s a question! The quickest I’ve sold a house was overnight. 1st viewing in the afternoon. Offer 2 hours later. Sale agreed at full asking price the following morning. Bosh!! But that house was proper lush.

But, then the fun really begins. Bring on the Solicitors. I wouldn't want their jobs for love nor money! I’m sorry but conveyancing is tedious. The legal process buyers and sellers have to endure is often long, slow and painful. Like herding cats. Occasionally you get lucky. 4 weeks was my record. But to be honest I really didn’t have a lot to do with that one. The conveyancing lady in the office was literally on fire and the buyer was practically homeless. And there was no chain. But let’s say you added those two scenarios together, in theory, the quickest you could sell a house would be 4 weeks and 24 hours.

However, let’s be real. That rarely happens. You see in the current market, houses are taking a little time to sell. Exactly how long really depends on how prepared your property is for enticing buyers. Let’s say you’ve followed my advice and spent some time preparing your home and maximising its value. You’ve done the 3D bit and then the 3 R/s and that’s taken you a month.

Your first viewers through the door love it, but it’s not quite right for them. Same with the next few (on average it takes 7-10 viewings before you sell a property). Then, 8 weeks down the line - in they come…. Your buyers! They completely love it! but they’re cautious. They need a second viewing a week later, and then the negotiating takes 2 days. By the time solicitors are actually instructed and memorandums of sale are sent, we are another week on. We are now at 9 weeks.

Then, YOU have to find your new home!! This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You get to actively get out there and get viewing. When you call an agent to book your first one and they say,

‘And what’s your position, do you have a property to sell?’

You finally get to say ‘Oh, no, we’re under offer….’ (Smug face, smug face, smug face).

So the house hunting begins…. Most buyers will find their new home within 2 weeks (although it depends how specific your search criteria are, it could take you a lot longer) but for our scenario’s sake, let’s go with 2 weeks.

So, we’re now at week 11. You’ve accepted an offer on your house and found your next dream home - fabulous!! The best case here is that your new place is empty. And that makes you the end of the chain. Fabulous. Chain complete. Let’s crack on. Worst case… your dream home isn’t empty and the sellers then have to find THEIR dream home. Let’s add another 2 weeks.

We’re week 13 and great news your sellers find a house and - even better news, it’s empty!! That’s it - we’re off!! (But you get the picture. I don’t like to be doom and gloom, and I by no means wish to put you off, but if you get unlucky and find yourself part of a lengthy chain, this can slow things right down.)

Anyway 13 weeks before conveyancing really starts to gets to all its nitty gritty. I know I said I’ve seen this done in 3 weeks but that case was an anomaly. Realistically add at least 12 weeks here. If not 16. So here we are 25 weeks down the line and you’re on moving day!! Yippee!!!

So from the moment you decide you want to sell to the day you get the keys to your next house, as a minimum, I’d say 6 months.

So, if you make that decision tonight, we’re looking at getting you moved in on 1st September 2025 at the earliest. And to be fair, that’s going some. I’d actually allow 9 months. So, if you want to be in by Christmas - let’s get cracking!!!

And remember, if you’d like any further advice or you just want to get on with it and get started. Give me a call. Let’s get you prepped and ready to market. New nest in 2025? Let’s do it right.