11 days is the optimum length of time for a property to be listed on the market in order for it to achieve the maximum sale price, according to analysis from HomeOwners Alliance’s Best Estate Agent Finder.
Agents with an average selling time of 11 days achieve 100.4% of the asking price (raising an extra £1,000 on an average priced property). By contrast, selling too quickly can also be costly. Properties sold within seven days or less achieved just 94% of the asking price, leaving sellers almost £16,000 worse off on an averagely priced home.
Data from 6,000 estate agent branches across the UK reveals a clear pattern:
- After 30 days on the market, sellers typically have to settle for less, accepting 98% of their asking price
- After 90 days (three months), the situation gets worse for sellers, typically accepting 95.5% of their asking price.
With the average UK home now selling for around £270,000, these percentage differences quickly add up.
- A home sold after one month typically loses £5,400
- After three months, that loss rises to around £18,400
Commenting on the data, Paula Higgins, founder and Chief Executive of HomeOwners Alliance says, “Right now every pound matters to homeowners. Our data shows there is a sweet spot when selling a home and that is around 11 days. Sell too fast and you leave money on the table. Let it drag on over a month and buyers start knocking thousands off the price.”
“This isn’t about rushing a sale, it’s about choosing the right agent. The agents who consistently sell in around 11 days are the ones achieving the best prices. When a home sits on the market for weeks, it is often a sign something needs to change. You can see how quickly homes like yours are sold by your local estate agents using our Best Estate Agent Finder.
