Kickstart Your 2026 Move - Timescales to Be Under Offer by Spring
New Year, fresh goals, if moving home by spring 2026 is on your list, now’s the moment to plan. Understand how long properties took to go under offer and complete in 2025, and the key steps you need to hit your timeline. Read on to map out your best move ever.
January is traditionally one of the busiest months for property searches, as people kickstart goals for a fresh beginning and clearer horizons, especially in the housing market, where a Christmas often drives renewed interest from buyers ready to take action in the year ahead.
Whether you’re planning to list your property, find your next home, or both, understanding realistic timescales is essential, particularly if you’re aiming to be under offer in time for spring 2026. Here’s a breakdown of typical journey times based on latest 2025 market data, and what actions to take now to keep your move on track.
How Long Did Moves Really Take in 2025?
From Listing to Sale Agreed
According to Zoopla’s year-end data, the average UK home took around 38 days from listing to being sold subject to contract (under offer) in 2025, up slightly from the previous year.
That average hides regional and property-type variations, homes in parts of Scotland moved fastest (around 13–15 days), whereas many areas in England and Wales took closer to three weeks (23 days) on average.
In practical terms:
• Fast-moving markets (e.g., parts of Scotland): 2 weeks, Longer out with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling
• Typical England & Wales markets: 3–6 weeks
• Slower or high-demand areas (e.g., larger homes or higher-value locations): can take quite a bit longer
Tip: Properties that are priced realistically and marketed well typically go under offer faster. Market trends can differ from Town to Town and properties that require upgrading and or remedial works can also take longer.
Once You’re Under Offer: Conveyancing to completion Getting under offer is a major milestone, but from that point you enter the conveyancing and legal process, where your solicitor, buyer, lender, and searches all play a part. On average, this phase takes:
• 8-12 weeks for conveyancing, mortgage lending to completion
So that’s typically around 8-12 weeks from offer acceptance to handing over keys, subject to the smooth progression of surveys, searches, and legal checks. If you are buying a new build, the timescale can vary by a few months. If you have accepted an offer based on your buyer selling their property, the timescale can differ greatly depending on the chain.
Putting that in perspective:
• Under offer by mid-late February 2026 → Completion by May
• Under offer in March → expect completion in May or June
What This Means If You’re Targeting Spring 2026
To realistically get under offer by March/April 2026, here’s the timeline you should be working to:
January — Plan & Prepare
• Arrange a valuation
• Collate necessary documentation (EPC, title deeds, recent improvements).
• Get professional photographs, floorplans, and a marketing campaign together.
February — Go Live & Field Offers
• Launch your listing early — homes often see strong interest early in the year.
• Be prepared to review offers quickly and respond with clarity.
March — Target to Be Under Offer
• If offers are agreed by this point, you can then embark on the conveyancing journey with confidence.
April–June — Conveyancing & Completion
• This window typically gives enough time for surveys, searches, mortgage offers, and legal work before exchange and completion — just in time for warmer weather and longer days.
Next Steps If You’re Considering a Move
For Sellers:
• Get a professional valuation and a bespoke sales strategy ASAP.
• Work with an agent who knows current buyer demand and pricing dynamics.
If you choose your agent based on fee, before you give the go ahead to the cheapest agent, take a step back and ask yourself 'Who would I choose if I didn't take the fee into consideration? ' You may lose a lot more than the few hundred pounds that you think you are saving money by instructing an agent based on the fee, you need a strong negotiator to achieve the best price on your home. You will be dealing with that agent throughout the process of the sale so it's important to make sure they are the right fit for you.
For Buyers:
• Be mortgage-ready with an agreement in principle before viewing — sellers are increasingly choosing buyers who can move quickly.
• Understand local market timescales so you can align your offer with realistic closing periods.
For Both:
• Factor in conveyancing lead times early.
• Communicate openly with your agent and solicitor to avoid delays.
If moving by spring 2026 is your goal, the key is to start strong in January, build momentum through February, and position yourself to be under offer by early March — allowing enough runway for conveyancing and completion before summer.
Timing, preparation, and professional guidance will make your 2026 move feel less like a marathon and more like a well-paced journey toward a fresh start.
Ready to make your New Year move a reality? Reach out to arrange a no-obligation valuation or to discuss tailored moving strategies, your spring home goals are within reach.