Why Does it Take 178 Days to Sell a Home in Leeds?

The average time to sell a house in the UK from start to finish is 170 days, equivalent to 24.3 weeks or 5.6 months from the first day of marketing to legal completion, whilst in Leeds it’s 178 days.

The actual time can vary depending on market conditions, location, property type, and pricing strategy, so in this article I delve deeper. Here is a breakdown of that 178 days.

Step 1 - Time to Accept an Offer:

On average, nationally, it takes 50 days (up from 43 days in 2022) to accept an offer on a property. This time starts with placing the property on the market, viewings, negotiating an offer and reaching an agreement with a potential buyer.

In Leeds, it is taking 45 days on average to agree a sale on a property.

Again, the type of Leeds property makes a huge difference as well.

The best-performing type of property is a Leeds terraced house, which takes an average of 31 days to agree a sale, to the poorest-performing type of property, which are Leeds detached houses, which take an average of 63 days.

Step 2 - Time from Offer Acceptance to Completion:

Once an offer is accepted, over the last 12 months, it has taken an average of 120 days nationally for the sale to be completed. This period involves finalising the legal and financial aspects of the sale to the legal exchange of contracts, with legal completion a week or a fortnight later.

In Leeds, it is currently taking on average 133 days from the sale agreed to the sale being completed.

It's important to note that these figures are based on averages and can vary depending on individual circumstances.

If you need to sell your Leeds house quickly, there are a few steps you can take to expedite the process.

There are many factors that can affect how long it takes to sell a house. The three major factors are:

Your Asking Price: The price you ask in relation to similar Leeds properties on the market has the most significant impact. Overpricing can result in fewer viewers, meaning fewer buyers, while competitive pricing generates immediate interest. Look at properties that are similar to yours on the market at the moment. When searching the property portals, not only search for them in price order, search for them in how long they have been on the market. That will give you a fascinating insight into the current state of the property market for Leeds homes like yours.

Buyers' Market, Balanced Market or Sellers' Market: The market condition, whether hot or cold, plays a significant role. In a hot market (sellers’ market), homes sell fast and pricing is not as sensitive, while in a cold market (buyers’ market), competitive pricing is crucial to avoid a prolonged time on the market with no chance of a sale.

Quality of Solicitors: Agreeing a price/sale is only half the battle to getting you moved. Your solicitor's efficiency can impact your sale's progress. Choosing a responsive solicitor who cooperates with estate agents can help prevent delays. Again, we can suggest some excellent Leeds and regional solicitors that are experts in their field.

If you are considering a move in the next 6 to 12 months, now is the perfect time to start planning. Selling your Leeds home can be a complex process, but with the proper guidance, you can navigate it smoothly and efficiently.