Why November Is a Good Month to Put Your Home on the Market
Most people assume spring is the time to sell and winter is the time to wait. But listing in November has some real advantages, especially this year. Here's why it can pay to get on the market before Christmas rather than after it.
Fewer new homes come on in the run-up to Christmas.
Rightmove's figures have shown the same pattern for years. The number of new listings drops sharply between October and November and stays low until Christmas, as sellers decide to wait for the new year. That means a home that goes on now has less fresh competition, and stands out more to the buyers who are still looking.
The buyers looking now usually mean it.
Nobody books a viewing on a wet Tuesday in November out of idle curiosity. People still searching at this time of year tend to have a reason to move, whether that's a new job, a growing family or a sale of their own already agreed. Viewings may be fewer, but they're more likely to be from people ready to make an offer.
You'll be ready before the Boxing Day rush.
Christmas is when a lot of people start thinking seriously about moving. Rightmove recorded its busiest ever Boxing Day last year, with visits up 93% on Christmas Day. But it isn't just buyers who turn up. In the five days after Christmas, new listings jumped by 143% compared with the five days before. If your home is already live with good photos and a sensible price, buyers browsing over the holidays see it before that flood of new homes arrives.
It lines you up for the best months to sell.
Rightmove's analysis found that February is narrowly the best month of the year to find a buyer, with January and March close behind. Going on the market in November means your home is live, the photos are done and the early feedback is in by the time those buyers arrive, rather than spending January getting ready.
What's happening with mortgage rates.
The Bank of England makes its next interest rate decision on Thursday 5 November. Fixed mortgage rates have climbed this autumn to around 6% on average, and the markets have been pricing in the possibility of a rise. Nobody knows for certain what will happen. But buyers who already have a mortgage agreed are often keen to use it, and that can work in a seller's favour over the coming weeks.
The one thing that matters more than timing.
None of this helps if the price is wrong. There are more homes for sale across the country than at any time of year since 2014, so buyers have plenty to compare. We've written before about what happens when a home is overpriced, and the short version is that the first few weeks on the market matter most. A realistic price from day one does far more than any choice of month.
A few things to do if you list this month:
- Get the photos taken on a bright day, ideally before the garden loses everything for the winter.
- Keep the heating on and the lights bright for viewings, as it gets dark early.
- Make sure your paperwork is ready, so you can move quickly once a buyer is found.
Thinking about it? If you'd like to know what your home could sell for this winter, Sam can give you an honest figure based on what's actually selling nearby. Call 01925 767000 or email sam@courtyardhomes.co.uk.
Sources: Rightmove, Boxing Day 2025 figures, as reported by Estate Agent Today, January 2026; Rightmove, seasonal listing data (November 2014 report); Which?, "Is winter a bad time to sell your home?" (February 2026), citing Rightmove analysis; Rightmove House Price Index, October 2026; Tembo, Market Watch, October 2026; Courtyard Homes, "What Happens When a Home Is Overpriced?".
