February and March are the best months to list a home for sale, according to analysis from the UK property website Rightmove.
Research found that nearly seven in 10 homes (66.3%) listed during these months since 2012 successfully completed a sale, making them the highest months for successful transactions.
The analysis indicated that February typically matches January for the quickest average time to find a buyer at 51 days, with March and April close behind at 52 days.
This points to strong selling potential for February and March.
January and April also performed well, just slightly behind February and March in terms of likelihood of sale.
Steve Pimblett, chief data officer at Rightmove, said: “These insights should make for encouraging reading for anyone thinking of listing their home for sale soon, as well as anyone who has already come to market this year.
“The Spring Selling season is traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year for agents, and the signs of buyer activity we’ve been seeing are setting the scene for a positive one this year.”
Ben Hudson, managing director at Hudson Moody in York, said: “To give yourself the best chance of a successful sale, it’s really important to present your home at its best.
“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.
Hudson added: “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 of your home.
“The more attractive you can make it look on the outside, the more likely people are to want to come inside.
“Small touches like 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.
He said: “The obvious things such as putting on lights to show the house well, putting the heating on, and making sure it smells fresh and clean is also important for comfortable viewings, leaving potential buyers with the right impression.”
