Moving Home Is Taking Longer Than You Think. Here’s Why...
Moving home is rarely quick, but new Rightmove data reveals just how long the journey can now take. From listing your property to collecting the keys, understanding the timeline could help you avoid delays and plan your move far more effectively.
Moving Home Is Taking Longer Than You Think. Here’s Why
Most homeowners think about moving in milestones.
Put the house on the market. Find a buyer. Make an offer. Exchange contracts. Move.
On paper, it sounds relatively straightforward.
In reality, a successful move is made up of dozens of smaller stages, involving agents, solicitors, mortgage lenders, surveyors, buyers, sellers and potentially several other properties within the chain.
And new data from Rightmove highlights just how important it is to understand that timeline before you decide when you want to move.
Rightmove's August data shows that the average seller currently takes around 63 days simply to secure a buyer.
That is before conveyancing, surveys, mortgage applications, searches, enquiries, exchange and completion even begin.
Source: rightmove.co.uk
Finding A Buyer Is Only The First Part
One of the biggest misconceptions about selling is that accepting an offer means the difficult part is over.
In reality, it means you have reached the next stage.
Rightmove's latest analysis also highlights significant differences in the overall time it takes people to move depending on where they live, with movers in some areas facing considerably longer journeys from listing through to completion.
Why?
Because every additional moving part creates another opportunity for delay.
A buyer may need a mortgage approved. A survey could identify something requiring further investigation. Searches need to return. Solicitors need to raise and answer enquiries. Someone further down the chain may lose their buyer.
None of those things necessarily means your sale is going wrong.
They are simply part of a process that is more complicated than many movers realise.
Source: rightmove.co.uk
The Timeline Starts Before Your Property Goes Live
This is where sellers can gain an advantage.
If you know you want to move, you do not need to wait until your property appears online before getting organised.
Choose your solicitor early. Gather guarantees, certificates and paperwork relating to work carried out on the property. Locate planning or building regulation documents where applicable. Understand your mortgage position. Start thinking seriously about where you want to move next.
The objective is simple.
Remove as many avoidable delays as possible before they become delays.
There is another reason to prepare early.
If it currently takes the average seller around 63 days to secure a buyer, deciding in September that you would like to be moved by October may simply create unrealistic expectations from day one.
Planning backwards from when you would ideally like to move gives you a much more realistic starting point.
Thinking about selling? See how we approach the entire process:
Your Asking Price Can Affect Your Timeline Too
Time on the market is not entirely outside your control.
Rightmove's August House Price Index shows buyers currently have more properties to choose from than at any August since 2014, with an average of 65 homes available per estate agency branch.
More choice means buyers can afford to compare.
And that makes your initial positioning incredibly important.
Rightmove says the average time to secure a buyer nationally was 63 days in July. It also specifically notes that properties priced too highly will typically take longer to find a buyer.
This is why the highest suggested asking price is not automatically the best valuation.
If an inflated price costs you weeks of your strongest marketing period before eventually requiring a reduction, the consequences can extend beyond the property itself.
It can delay your onward purchase.
It can affect your mortgage offer.
It can change the chain above you.
And ultimately, it can push your entire move further back.
Source: rightmove.co.uk
The Best Moves Are Managed, Not Just Marketed
Marketing gets buyers through the door.
But getting a property under offer is only one part of an estate agent's job.
Once a sale is agreed, communication and progression become incredibly important.
Who is speaking with the solicitors?
Has the buyer submitted their mortgage application?
Has the survey been booked?
Where are the searches?
Are enquiries outstanding?
What is happening further down the chain?
Where is the potential problem before it actually becomes a problem?
A good agent should not simply wait for somebody to call with an update.
They should understand the chain, communicate between the parties and keep momentum moving towards completion.
That part of estate agency is considerably less visible than photography and property portals.
But when you are several months into a move, it can become the part you value most.
So, How Early Should You Start Planning?
Earlier than you probably think.
You do not need to be ready to put a For Sale board outside tomorrow before speaking to an agent.
In fact, some of the most useful conversations happen months before a property launches.
Understanding what your home could be worth gives you an indication of your equity.
That helps establish what you could potentially spend next.
You can then explore areas, mortgage options and suitable properties with a clearer understanding of what your move might actually look like.
By the time you are ready to launch, you are making informed decisions rather than starting from zero.
Start by understanding your current position:
The Avenue View
The biggest lesson from today's moving timelines is not that moving home has become impossible.
It is that preparation has become more valuable.
The homeowners who put themselves in the strongest position are often the ones who understand the entire journey before they begin it.
Know your likely value.
Understand your finances.
Prepare your paperwork.
Choose your solicitor.
Think about your onward move.
Launch with the right strategy.
And once a buyer is secured, make sure somebody is actively managing the transaction rather than simply waiting for it to complete.
Because the objective is not just to put your property on the market.
It is to get you moved.
If moving is something you are considering over the coming months, speak with the Avenue Partner responsible for your area and start building your plan before you need it.