Planning to Move in Early 2026? When to List Your Home
If you’re hoping to move in the first half of 2026, now’s the time to start thinking ahead. The property market might feel quieter as we head into winter, but getting your timing right over the next few months could be the difference between moving in spring or waiting until summer.
Why timing your sale matters more than ever
As we move through autumn 2025, many homeowners are having their properties valued but holding off from listing until the new year. It’s understandable, life gets busy as we approach Christmas, and the idea of marketing a home over the festive period doesn’t appeal to everyone.
If your goal is to move by spring 2026, waiting until January to even begin the process could already be too late.
Transactions in the UK typically take around 14 to 18 weeks from “under offer” to completion and that’s when everything runs smoothly. That means if you’d like to be packing boxes in March or April, you really want your sale agreed before the end of this year.
Getting under offer before Christmas allows solicitors to begin the legal work in January, so things are already progressing when the market wakes back up. If you delay until the new year to list, your sale may not complete until late spring or even summer, especially if there are chains involved.
The advantage of listing before Christmas
Listing your home before the festive slowdown has a few subtle but powerful benefits. For one, buyer motivation remains high. Those still searching in November and early December tend to be serious, often buyers who want to move quickly once the new year starts.
Secondly, your home will still photograph beautifully. The trees still have colour, gardens look fuller, and natural light is softer but not yet sparse. Come January, when skies are grey and gardens are bare, properties can look a little less inviting online.
And finally, there’s visibility. Many buyers spend the quieter Christmas period browsing online portals and planning their move for the year ahead. Homes listed just before the holidays often see a surge in online interest around Boxing Day, one of the busiest property-search days of the year.
If you’re aiming for a spring or summer 2026 move
If you’re not in a rush and are instead thinking of moving in the first half of next year, perhaps between April and June, it’s still worth preparing now. The early months of 2026 are expected to see a rebound in new listings, which means more competition.
By getting your valuation and photography sorted before the decorations go up, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running in early January, when buyer activity starts to rise again. That way, you’re not scrambling after the holidays to declutter, tidy, and get marketing materials together.
The market in 2025 has been steady but price-sensitive. Mortgage rates have eased slightly compared with last year, and affordability is gradually improving, but buyers remain cautious. That means the best results are going to those sellers who are well prepared, realistic on price, and ready to move when the right offer comes along.
Planning ahead pays off
The biggest advantage you can give yourself is time. By getting ahead of the curve, you control the pace of your sale rather than the market controlling you.
So, if your goal is to move by spring or early summer 2026, start laying the groundwork now. Arrange your valuation, gather your paperwork, and have your home ready for photographs while the light is still good. Even if you don’t plan to list immediately, you’ll be in the perfect position to launch strategically before the rush of new listings in January.
If you’re considering a move in the coming months, get in touch to arrange a no-obligation property valuation. We can help you map out the right timeline for your goals and make sure you’re ready to take full advantage of the new-year market.
