Thinking of selling your home? It’s completely natural to wonder how long the process might take. Understanding the timeline can help you plan your next steps, from your finances to your future move.
While every sale is different, most homes attract a buyer within the first few weeks. From listing to handing over the keys, the full journey typically takes a few months.
Several factors can speed things up or slow them down. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect, and how to keep things running smoothly.
How long does it take to sell a home?
When people ask about the timeline for selling a house, they often mean different things. There are two distinct phases in the home selling timeline to consider:
Finding a buyer: This covers everything from your property going live online to accepting an offer. This phase of the house selling process timeline can vary considerably depending on local market conditions, how your property is priced, and how well it’s presented.
Completing the sale: Once you’ve accepted an offer, the legal phase of your house sale timeline begins. This typically involves property searches, surveys, and legal checks, and usually takes several months to complete.
Understanding the average timeline to sell a house in the UK
The home selling process timeline can be broken down into clear stages, so you know what to expect:
Preparation and marketing (1-2 weeks): Getting your home ready for sale, choosing an estate agent, and launching your marketing campaign.
Viewings and offers (2-12 weeks): Potential buyers visit your property during this phase of the house selling timeline, and hopefully, you receive offers to consider.
Legal work and surveys (8-12 weeks): Once you accept an offer, this crucial part of the timeline of selling a house involves solicitors handling the legal transfer while the buyer arranges surveys and finalises their mortgage.
Exchange and completion (1-2 weeks): The final stage of your house sale timeline sees contracts exchanged, making the sale legally binding, followed by completion when ownership transfers and you hand over the keys.
Related: What problems do surveyors look for?
Selling and buying at the same time: what to expect
If you’re both selling and buying, your buying and selling a house timeline becomes more complex. This creates a property chain, where your sale depends on your purchase, and your purchase may depend on someone else’s sale.
The timeline for selling and buying a house typically involves:
Coordinating both transactions: Your estate agent will work to align your sale and purchase timelines as closely as possible.
Managing chain dependencies: Each link in the chain affects the overall buying and selling a house timeline, so communication between all parties is essential.
Flexible completion dates: Your solicitor will work to synchronise exchange and completion dates across the chain.
Related: What does ‘no onward chain’mean in property sales?
Additional things to keep in mind
Outside of the chain, a few other details can impact the pace of your sale. A property that’s clean, well-staged, and priced to match local demand often attracts attention more quickly. The type of home you’re selling and how active your local market is will also play a role in how fast things move.
Related: Transfer of equity in shared ownership: what sellers need to know
What can influence your house selling timeline
While many sales progress smoothly, a few common factors can affect how long it takes to sell a home:
Legal checks: Finalising property searches, confirming title deeds, or reviewing planning permissions can take time, but being prepared with the right documents upfront helps things move faster.
Survey findings: Occasionally, a buyer’s survey might highlight areas for discussion. Having your home in good condition and being open to conversations can help maintain momentum.
Mortgage processing: A buyer’s mortgage approval can take a little time, depending on their lender’s procedures. Staying in regular communication helps keep everything on track.
Property chains: If your sale is part of a chain, timelines can shift depending on others in the process. A strong agent can help coordinate these moving parts and minimise delays.
Seasonal patterns: Activity tends to peak in spring and early autumn, with a slower pace during holidays or winter months. That said, serious buyers are active year-round.
Related: How to inform a sitting tenant you’re selling your home?
How to optimise your house selling process timeline
Price realistically from the start: Work with an experienced local agent who can give you honest advice about pricing to ensure your house selling timeline stays on track.
Prepare your paperwork early: Gather documents like energy certificates, building warranties, and planning permissions before you start marketing to avoid delays in your timeline of selling a house.
Present your home well: Ensure your property is clean, decluttered, and well-maintained to attract buyers quickly and keep your home selling timeline moving.
Choose your professionals carefully: Select an estate agent and solicitor with good local knowledge and a track record of efficient service to optimise your house sale timeline.
Be responsive: Reply promptly to requests for information or access for viewings and surveys to maintain momentum in your home selling process timeline.
Stay organised: Keep track of all documentation and deadlines to ensure your buying and selling a house timeline runs smoothly.
Managing expectations
While it’s natural to want your home to sell quickly, it’s important to have realistic expectations about your house selling timeline based on your local market and property type. Your estate agent should be able to give you a clear picture of what to expect based on your specific timeline for selling a house.
Contact your local Ellis & Co branch to understand what it takes to achieve a successful sale within a realistic timeline.
