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Homeowners looking to sell by Christmas need to act fast and get their property on the market by Friday 16th October to maximise their chances of a sale by the last business day before the festive season.
Analysis by the HomeOwners Alliance using data from its Best Estate Agent Finder reveals it currently takes an average of 68 days to sell a home in 2026 (this is 10 days slower than this time last year), meaning mid-October is the key cut-off point for a pre-Christmas sale.
Bear in mind the time it takes to sell varies significantly depending on your local market ranging from 33 to 85 days, with the overall average sitting at 68 days.
Commenting on the data, Paula Higgins, Chief Executive of HomeOwners Alliance, which hosts the Best Estate Agent Finder tool, said:
“With the summer over and the evenings getting darker that bit quicker, it may feel a bit premature to mention the C word (Christmas). But if you are hoping to be in a new home early in the New Year, you need to get planning, as the 16th of October is the last day to list your property to have a chance of an agreed sale before the festive break.“
“This won’t mean you’ll be in your new home this year, as there will be paperwork and procedures along the way, particularly if you’ve not found the place you want to move to. However, having a secured sale will put you in a positive position to plan your relocation early in 2027.“
“The HomeOwners Alliance’s advice is to invite three reputable local estate agents to value your home. Do read their reviews, compare their sales successes, and find out all you can about their track records to determine if they are the right agent for you.“
“And if you can list before the 16th of October, you could be toasting a home sale this Christmas.”
1. Find a strong estate agent. Our Best Estate Agent Finder resource is invaluable – it ranks estate agents in your local area on how successful they are at selling homes like yours at asking price and quickly. You can also consult their customer reviews before asking them to visit and provide a home valuation.
2. Negotiate the best deal. Before you sign anything, remember to read the terms of the estate agent’s contract carefully. This guide will explain the difference between the different contract terms while this guide explains how much you should pay and how to negotiate.
3. Set a realistic asking price. Our instant online valuation tool will give you an insight into how much you can expect to sell for – it will show a low, high and average valuation. A good local estate agent will have figures on what similar properties in your area have sold for. And bear in mind, estate agents with a track-record of achieving asking price will be most likely to offer you a realistic valuation.
4. Instruct your solicitor. Secure a conveyancing solicitor early and get the necessary documents sorted to ensure you can stick to your sale schedule.
5. Get your house ready for sale. If you have any problems in your home like loose roof tiles or a damp spot, likely to arise in a survey and subsequently delay your move, consider fixing them now. A lick of paint in busy traffic areas will brighten them up. And as the days draw shorter, make sure your home looks warm and inviting. So ahead of viewing day think about lamps, mirrors and flowers.
6. Choose the right buyer. While we all want the best price, if you want to sell quickly and are lucky enough to have more than one offer, then choose a chain-free buyer (like a cash buyer or first time) who’s not relying on selling their place to buy yours.
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