February and March have emerged as the most successful months to list a home for sale, with data showing a remarkable 66.3 per cent success rate for completed transactions since 2012.
Analysis by property website Rightmove reveals that two in every three homes listed during these months go on to sell successfully, making them jointly the strongest performing months of the year.
The findings are based on millions of property listings over the past decade, excluding 2020 due to pandemic-related market distortions.
The property market has shown strong signs of momentum in early 2025, with Rightmove reporting an eight per cent increase in potential buyers contacting agents compared to the same period last year.
Homes sell more quickly on average at this time of year
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Sales agreements have also seen a significant uptick, rising by 15 per cent compared to the previous year’s figures. These positive indicators suggest a robust start to the traditional spring selling season, with buyer activity demonstrating renewed confidence in the market.
Historical data from Rightmove shows February shares the fastest average time to find a buyer at 51 days, alongside January.
March and April follow closely behind at 52 days, highlighting the effectiveness of early spring listings.
April and January rank just behind February and March for successful completions, while December proves the least effective month with only 61.7 per cent of listings resulting in completed sales.
The lower December success rate is attributed to potential buyers being distracted by Christmas festivities. An expert shared tips anyone can follow for a quicker sale.
Managing director at Hudson Moody in York Ben Hudson said: “To give yourself the best chance of a successful sale, it is 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.
“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.
“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.”
Chief data officer at Rightmove Steve Pimblett said: “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.”
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However, potential sellers should note upcoming changes to stamp duty, with the “nil rate” band for first-time buyers set to reduce from £425,000 to £300,000 in April across England and Northern Ireland.
Average % of home sales per month (days to find a buyer)
January, 66.1% (51 days)
February, 66.3% (51 days)
March, 66.3% (52 days)
April, 66.1% (52 days)
May, 65.4% (54 days)
June, 64.4% (56 days)
July, 63.8% (57 days)
August, 64% (58 days)
September, 63% (59 days)
October, 62.4% (61 days)
November, 62.2% (61 days)
December, 61.7% (59 days)
