How Long Does It Take to Sell a House in South West London?

If you are considering selling your house, it is essential to have a realistic idea of how long it will take. The answer to the question ‘How long does it take to sell your house?’ is not straightforward.

Many factors, including the type of property, the current state of the market, the property chain and even the time of year, influence the timescales. Consider the detached properties and new build luxury apartments of Wimbledon Village, or Wimbledon Park’s terraces of period homes, even within Wimbledon and Coombe, variation results in different market trends.

We look at the average time it takes to sell a home and what you can do to speed up the process.

Stages of selling a house and how long they take

According to Zoopla, the selling process takes an average of 25 weeks. The fastest property sales can go through in 2-3 months, with slower sales taking 4-5 months.

Listing your property	Between 1 and 3 days
Offer accepted	Between 5 and 14 weeks
Offer acceptance to exchange of contracts	Between 8 and 16 weeks
Exchange of contracts to completion	Between 1 and 28 days (often 7-14 days)

How long does it take to list a property?

Listing your property in the UK can take 1 to 3 days. Your agent will check that you hold a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and arrange photography.

How Long Does It Take To Get An Offer Accepted?

The average time a property remains on the market after being listed with estate agents is two to three months in the UK.

Properties listed with Robert Holmes & Co beat the national average, spending between three and four weeks on the market. In a seller’s market, where demand outstrips supply, the time spent on the market can fall to just one day. However, when a property suits a particular buyer, it can spend longer on the property market.

If your home has been on the market for a long time, talk to your estate agent about ways to boost its appeal. Alternatively, consider switching to a more effective local estate agent.

Average House Sale Time & Methods Of Sale

How does the average time to sell your house vary if you choose a high street agent, online service or auction?

1 High Street Agents

Most sellers still opt for a high street agent – it normally takes 2-3 months to sell, but estate agents often know potential buyers waiting for a house like yours. Offering an additional level of service, they can help with selling your property and often secure a higher selling price.

2 Online/Hybrid

Online sales make up less than 1 in 10 UK property transactions. A newer, hybrid agency will offer a local representative’s services, but you’ll often pay a fixed fee, giving the agent less incentive to sell fast and achieve the best price.

3 Auction

You may sell your house fast by auction, where it takes an average of two months for the sale to complete. Be aware, auctions are generally more suited to a hard-to-sell property, and while you can set a reserve price you’re unlikely to achieve a strong selling price.

How Long Does It Take To Sell A House Once An Offer Has Been Accepted?

Expect the time between accepting an offer and completion to be around 12 weeks. These are the stages of selling a property and how long each takes on average.

Offer Acceptance To Exchange Of Contracts

Getting from offer acceptance to exchange of contracts is the most complex part of the process and relies on the following:

• the response time of local authorities to the searches
• the conveyancing process – how busy the conveyancing solicitors are
• the speed of the mortgage lenders
• the availability and proactiveness of the other buyers and sellers – if they are first-time buyers or cash buyers
• the complexity of the property chain, and how many other buyers/sellers you rely upon to get to the point of exchange

Timescale: 9 weeks

Exchange Of Contracts To Completion

Aim to allow around three weeks from the exchange of contracts to the completion date. This allows all parties sufficient time to prepare for moving. It’s possible to exchange and complete on the same day, but the stakes are high. The sale isn’t legally binding until exchanging contracts.

Timescale: 3 weeks

What Is The Best Month To Sell A House Quickly?

There’s no universal ‘best’ month to sell a house, as people need to move house at every time of the year for work, family or financial reasons.

We find that different property types sell best at different times of the year. Sell your property quickly, for the best possible price, by coming to the market at the right time for your target buyers.

Traditionally, Spring is considered the best time to sell your home quickly, with March being the best month to market. Late September and October attract many prospective buyers as people return from their summer holidays but haven’t yet started planning for Christmas.

Winter and Summer typically have the fewest buyers. Many people take their summer holiday in July and August, and parents prefer to avoid viewing houses with their kids in tow. Christmas preparations dominate November and December. Fewer potential buyers come for viewings, but those who do are more serious about finding a new home.

What Affects The Length Of Time To Sell A House?

• Broken chain: The chain can break or collapse. If your buyer pulls out, talk to your estate agent, they may find a buyer at short notice.
• Delays with the conveyancer: A responsive conveyancer or solicitor will navigate the process smoothly, but delays can still occur. For instance, it can take longer to sell a leasehold property or a home with covenants.
• Delays with local authority searches: Prepare to wait for local authority searches if construction projects are planned nearby.
• Problems with the survey: Expect delays if your survey reveals a problem.
• Delays securing a mortgage: If your buyer needs to restart their mortgage application, this can add around four weeks to the timeline.

How long it takes to sell a house in the UK can be determined by hot or cold market conditions and pure luck that a keen buyer searched at the right time.

In a hot market with more buyers than sellers, homes sell quickly, and bidding wars are common. In a cold market with few buyers, expect to price your home competitively if you want a quick sale.

Getting stuck in a chain can add weeks or months to the speed of your sale. Perhaps your buyer is struggling to sell their property, or your vendor is stuck in an onward chain. Property chains can also fall through, putting everyone back at square one.

The main factor that affects the time it takes to sell your house is price. Price your property too high, and it won’t appear on buyers’ online searches, resulting in fewer viewings.

How Can I Speed Up My House Sale?

The secret to a quick sale is to attract as many potential buyers as possible, then keep up the momentum.

• Consider your asking price: Setting the right price is the single most significant factor in securing a quick sale.
• Ensure your property looks its best: Sparkling clean, spacious properties attract the most buyers, so declutter and complete any repairs. Tidy the garden to raise your kerb appeal too.
• Make your listing stand out: Stage your house well for photos, and mention local amenities that appeal to your target buyers.
• Favour chain-free buyers: Select chain-free buyers and first-time buyers who can buy your property without relying on their sale. Cash buyers can move even faster.
• Choose your estate agent carefully: An experienced estate agent can boost your chance of a successful sale by valuing your home, marketing it well, conducting viewings, and helping you negotiate. Ask for recommendations and view their current listings on Zoopla and Rightmove.
• Pick a quality solicitor: Choose an experienced and proactive conveyancer and start the legal work early to speed up conveyancing.
• Be proactive: Get your finances in order, source important documents in advance, and be responsive when your solicitor calls.

What might delay a house sale?

Realistically, there can be hold-ups in any house sale. These are the most common causes of a delay.

• Mortgage delays: If the buyer’s finance isn’t in place, you will have to wait.
• Missing planning permission: Unauthorised developments take time to resolve, while the seller applies for a Lawful Development Certificate, indemnity insurance or retrospective permission.
• Probate: Properties can be listed for sale during the probate process, but you can’t complete the house sale until it’s been granted.
• Unpaid tax: Outstanding taxes must be paid before you can sell a property.
• Property chain: If you’re part of a property chain, another transaction’s delays can affect your house sale.

How Long Should You Live In A House Before Selling?

There are no regulations, but estate agents and buyers may ask questions if you sell a home after a few months.

Property experts recommend living at a property for at least five years, as each move incurs tax and moving fees. But you may consider selling within five years if the sellers’ market is hot.

Can You Sell Your House Within Six Months Of Buying It?

There are no legal time limits on selling a home, but some mortgage lenders have a limit of 12 months.

How Long Does the Conveyancing Process Take With No Chain?

If there is no chain, conveyancing usually takes six to eight weeks but can take up to 12 weeks

Selling A House – How Long Does It Take?

Hopefully, this article answers the tricky question of ‘How long will it take to sell your house?’. The type of property, number of motivated buyers, and skill of your estate agent and conveyancer all influence it.

On average, expect it to take around four months to sell your house with Robert Holmes & Co. It will typically take one month to receive an offer you are happy with and around three months to complete conveyancing.

If you have a property to sell in Wimbledon, Merton Park, Roehampton, Raynes Park, New Malden or the surrounding area, get in touch with our experienced and dedicated team today.