Agents who want to sell a property before Christmas need to get it on the market by tomorrow, Wednesday 23 October.

That’s the finding of research by the HomeOwners Alliance after looking at the average time to achieve a sale so far this year. The time to sell is defined as the amount of time to reach a sale subject to contract.

No later than Wednesday

The wheels have turned slower this year than the long-running average, with the time to sell averaging 67 days.

But data from the Alliance’s Best Estate Agent Finder shows that the average over the last nine years is 59 days.

So, using that measure, agents need to list no later than Wednesday if they want a sale by the last Friday before Christmas.

If you have moving house on your 2024 to-do list, then there is still time.”

Paula Higgins, CEO at the HomeOwners Alliance, says: “With the wintry weather blowing in and shorter days already, it’s only a matter of time before thoughts turn to Christmas planning.

“If you have moving house on your 2024 to-do list, then there is still time.”

Three agents

The Alliance advises sellers to invite three of the best local estate agents to value their property.

And the average time to sell measure for each agent is calculated using sold subject to contract for all properties advertised by the agent on websites during the previous 180 days.

The latest figures from TwentyEA showed the supply of properties for sale is higher than at any point in the last six years at 456,902, up from 419,807 in Q3 2023 – a rise of 9%.