How long does it take to sell a house? Here at Property Saviour, we get asked this a lot.
Selling a home can be a lengthy process, and it can be difficult to predict how long each stage may take.
In this article, we’ll cover the process of selling a house, practical steps on how to speed the sale of your house and an alternative way to sell should you require a quicker-than-normal sale.
Table of Contents
What is the Average Time to Sell a House in the UK?
There are many factors to consider and people to involve when selling a home, so the time it takes to complete the process can vary greatly.
To better understand how long it typically takes, we’ve researched the average timelines for each step in the home selling process. So should you sell a house now or wait? Here’s what we found:
The process
The average time taken
From a new home listing to the offer being accepted
10-12 weeks
The conveyancing process
12 weeks
From exchange of contracts to completion
Same day or up to 4 weeks
Total time from property listing to completion of the sale
4-6 months
The process
The average time taken
From a new home listing to the offer being accepted
10-12 weeks
The conveyancing process
12 weeks
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House From Offer to Completion?
The timeframe mentioned above is just an average. Every house sale is different, and many factors influence how long it takes to sell a house. One of the most important is the local market, whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market.
An unrealistic asking price will also cause the property to stay on the market for longer, as potential buyers are likely to disregard it as it’s too far out of their budget.
Other factors that affect the length of time it takes to sell a house include:
- The location of the property,
- The efficiency of the buyer/seller’s solicitors,
- The size and condition of the property,
- The price,
- The condition of neighbouring properties,
- The number of similar properties in the area,
- The buyer’s preparedness to start the buying process,
- Whether they need a mortgage,
- If they’re also selling a house,
- The length of the chain.
The longer the property chain, the more likely it is for delays to occur. It’s worth mentioning that in August and December, there are delays, as people are away on holidays.
What Might Delay a House Sale?
Once an offer has been accepted, the home is under offer, awaiting legal conveyancing. If the surveyor identifies issues then the house sale can fall through at the last minute.
There’s also a possibility that the buyer’s mortgage application is refused.
If buyers are part of a house chain, it means that the sale of your property is dependent on the buyer selling their own. If one link in this chain is broken, the whole chain will collapse.
Unfortunately, the sale of any property in England and Wales comes with its unique set of challenges – namely, anyone can make an offer on a property, have it accepted and then, having wasted months of seller’s time, can pull out of the transaction without giving any reason.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House with No Chain?
A house will be sold more quickly if there isn’t a chain involved. On average, it takes around 8 weeks from when the offer is accepted until the completion of the sale if there is no chain. Listing a property as no-chain will likely result in more attention from buyers.
A seller could opt to only accept offers from buyers who are not in a chain, to speed up the sale. However, this could have the opposite effect, as it could take longer to find a buyer.
Another option would be to sell to a credible cash house-buying company. Here at Property Saviour, we’d be delighted to make you a cash offer, cover all your legal fees of up to £1,500 and complete within 10 days – or at a timescale that works for you.
Sell with certainty & speed
How Quickly Can You Sell a House?
If you are selling to a buyer who needs a mortgage, it would take around 12 weeks to go under offer, provided that you have priced your property to sell. It will take another 12 weeks for conveyancing, so the whole process can take around 6 months – as a best-case scenario.
If you need to sell quickly, one option is to sell to a cash buyer. The whole process can be completed within 10 days or at your timescale.
Consider Your Asking Price
Considering the asking price of your property is one of the most effective ways to speed up the sale — research recent sale prices of similar properties in your area to get an understanding of what is realistic.
You should also look at properties that have been on the market for a long time to gauge prices that may not be realistic.
Prepare Your Property in Its Best Light
Presenting your property in its best light is a great way to attract buyers and encourage offers. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the house, which is harder to do if the property is cluttered or in disrepair.
Clean up the house, make necessary repairs, and de-clutter the space.
You can also add value to your house on a budget and improve kerb appeal.
Market Your House Effectively
Marketing your house effectively can help you attract interest. Consider who would be most interested in your property and highlight the local amenities and features that may draw people in. High-quality photos are also important in attracting more attention.
Consider the current market conditions and the best time to sell. If the property market is slow, you may want to wait until it improves before putting your house up for sale.
Sell to First Time Buyer
If you’re looking to sell your house quickly, trying to sell to an owner-occupier, such as a first-time buyer, is an ideal scenario.
This will almost certainly speed up the process. Look for buyers who have all the necessary documents in place, such as a mortgage agreement in principle and a solicitor who is instructed.
Cash buyers are especially likely to be able to proceed quickly since they don’t need to take out a loan and risk having their mortgage application rejected.
Selling to a first-time buyer can be financially rewarding if they fall in love with your property. As a bonus, they won’t be tied into a property chain, meaning the sale can progress much more quickly.
If you’re looking to sell your house, pick an estate agent who is proactive and will do what it takes to get the house sold from start to finish.
But if you need to sell now, is there any alternative?
Property Saviour Offers Certainty of a Quick Sale
Whatever your situation, we buy houses in all conditions. Take the first step by getting in touch and let us each the burden:
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
