Picking the best and worst times to sell a house used to be simple. Spring was always considered the best time to sell your UK home, with Easter at the absolute peak. Summer holidays were tricky, and Christmas was … out of the question.
Over the last decade, digital technology has progressed significantly in the property market, allowing prospective buyers to search for properties 24/7, 365 days a year.
With high-quality video tours of homes and other valuable online tools to learn more about properties, we now see spikes in property views over bank holidays, including Christmas holidays. So, when deciding if it is a good time to sell a house, don’t overlook this shift in how potential buyers start the property search process.
So, the big question – is now a good time to sell a house? If you live in Barking and Dagenham, Ilford or Redbridge, consider local trends before putting your home on the market. Read on to find out about the East London housing market, best time of year to sell a house, and more factors that can help you time your home sale.
To help you answer whether now is a good time to sell a house, consider personal reasons and wider influences on the property market or affordability. For example, interest rates if you are buying another property, current property values and political instability.
Buying and selling at the same time?
Here are 10 things that could go wrong, and often do go wrong, and what, if anything, you can do to avoid them.
Buying and selling at the same time?
Here are 10 things that could go wrong, and often do go wrong, and what, if anything, you can do to avoid them.
Specific factors may impact property values or buyer demand levels in your local area of East London. There’s also the type of property to consider – if you’re selling a 4-bed family home, consider that buyers with children will be working around school term dates. Flats and smaller homes that appeal to first-time buyers
You should also think about whether now is the right time to sell based on your personal situation, for example, your family’s need for more space, securing a school place, moving for work purposes, or downsizing.
With the UK experiencing turbulence due to political and economic uncertainty, inflation reaching a 41-year high and mortgage lenders increasing interest rates, sellers need to assess the current financial climate. While interest rates have lowered slightly, cost of living pressures remain high and stamp duty rates have gone up while thresholds have gone down, limiting buying power. can slow a sellers’ market so it may be better to wait and see whether inflation and mortgage rates stabilise.
Want to feel prepared before you sell? Discover selling a house before Christmas and our tips for selling your house.
Average house prices in East London dipped slightly around 2023, however, different areas of East London experience distinct price trends. As shared by Land Registry, house prices in Redbridge saw a slight increase going into 2025. In short, properties in one area may have held their value while others fluctuate.
According to Rightmove, Redbridge home prices have risen by 9% in the past year, and are up 3% on their peak in 2021. Ilford property prices were up 2% in the last year, and 2% up on the local property market peak. Therefore, if you bought your property in Ilford over four years ago, it’s likely the value is still higher than the price you paid, so now could be an excellent time to sell.
Many property experts predict that economic uncertainly and April’s stamp duty increase could lead price growth to slow in 2025. Mortgage interest rates have tentatively come down from the peak, though they remain on the higher side.
Given the situation with international politics and high inflation, it is challenging to forecast future house price trends accurately. Delaying selling your house might not be the best option for you, and there is also the possibility that you may be able to sell before house prices drop in your area.
If you’re moving jobs, trying to secure a school place or working to some other immovable deadline, then it probably is the right time to sell your house. But if you’re more flexible, giving this decision plenty of thought is essential.
You should also consider local property market trends. For example, at the end of 2024, areas such as Dagenham, Rainham and Forest Gate dominated Rightmove’s ranking of the top 10 quickest markets in London.
It is worth checking the local market demand in your area to see how fast houses are selling right now, and your agents can advise you.
These trends of the best and worst months to sell are based on normal property market conditions. However, it’s important to look at the context of what is happening worldwide and in the UK property market – such as 2025’s stamp duty rate change.
If you need to move for practical reasons, there will always be buyers, even when demand is lower, but you may need to wait longer. You might find it easier to sell your property off-peak because there are fewer properties on the market for buyers to choose from.
How fast you can sell your house will always come down to supply and demand. When there are many properties just like yours for sale in your area, and fewer buyers, you are unlikely to be able to sell for the best price.
You can do your research to see what the demand is like in areas like Redbridge and Ilford by using portals such as Zoopla or Rightmove. You can check how many similar properties are currently for sale and see how long properties have been listed for sale.
Yes – different target buyers are active at certain times of year, which affects how quickly different types of home tend to sell.
As well as considering certain times of the year, the day you put your house on the market may make a difference. Studies suggests that the best day to list your home is either Monday or Wednesday as potential buyers are most active on property portals, so properties may sell faster.
Friday or Saturday is the worst time to list your home, with these homes taking a few more days to go under offer.
Want to feel prepared before you sell? Read about the process of selling a house and why is my house not selling.
With the recent challenges of rising mortgage rates and high inflation, many people ask, should I sell my house now? There is no right or wrong answer, as your personal circumstances may determine whether it is the right time to sell, such as if you have a growing family or need to move for work or school places.
Even though property sales in 2025 are likely to be lower than in previous years, the demand in your area and the demand for your type of property may not follow the trend. Speaking to your estate agent about the demand for property in your area and home prices they are achieving will help you decide whether now is the right time to sell your house.
For some people, renting your house out might be a better option. You should review whether your property will be suitable to generate a good rental income, factoring in all the costs and landlord tax obligations of renting your property out. Find out more about becoming a landlord in our blog post.
Instead of selling a home you love to gain extra space, adding an extension or conservatory could be a good idea. In London, an average single storey extension currently costs around £50,000 and could raise your house’s value by around 10%, but there are no guarantees. Conservatories are a cheaper option, with an average cost of £10-15,000.
If you bought at the market peak, you may be wondering about putting your property on the market now to avoid negative equity if selling prices dip further. But consider your personal circumstances and financial situation. Research the local market, consider the value of your new property, and if your house is already in negative equity, remember that you will have to cover the shortfall if you sell. If you’re concerned about the sale price of your home falling below the amount on your mortgage, seek expert financial advice.
It can take around 2 months for a house to sell, on average, though this can vary according to your house type and local area. Homes are spending an average 55 days on the market in Redbridge, and 63 days in Ilford, at the moment, according to Home.co.uk analysis. However, every property sale is different and housing market conditions are hard to predict with certainty.
The first few weeks after you list your home can be a crucial time for home sales, when your house is fresh on the market. At any time of year, there are some actions you can take to help sell your home faster, such as:
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, and the current market for properties like yours in Redbridge, Havering or Ilford, please contact us today. We have extensive local knowledge and experience selling property in East London, so we can share our expert advice on achieving a faster sale, whatever time of year you are looking to sell.
Selling your house can be a complicated process, but breaking it down can make it less intimidating. That’s why we have compiled this step-by-step guide to the process of selling a house in east London. Whether you’re selling for the first time, are buying at the same time, or just aren’t sure what the current advice is in 2026, read on for tips on how to sell your house. We’ll talk you through everything from mortgage matters to professional photography. We also answer your frequently asked questions about the selling process. Find out more.
When you inherit a property, there will be decisions to make regarding whether to sell the property, live in it yourself or rent it out, and there will be legal processes to follow.
If you are wondering what the next steps are then this guide explains how the probate process works, what tax obligations you may have and which documents you will need if you decide to sell the property.
We also cover the different options you have for selling an inherited property and answer some of the most common questions about inheriting a property.
If you are looking for a fast house sale, there are several ways that you can improve the chances of a quick sale. Choosing an experienced local estate agent will help to speed up the sale but you can also get your paperwork prepared and make sure that your property is presented well to attract more viewings and prospective buyers.
Read our tips on how to sell a house quickly in East London for a full guide on the actions you can take to help to achieve a faster property sale.
