The numbers behind the seven-month wait
ValuQ's analysis shows that the average home takes 64 days to find a buyer and 150 days to complete once a buyer is found. Its worked example: a home listed on 21 September 2026 would on average find a buyer on 24 November 2026 and complete on 23 April 2027.
And that is the good news, because it only counts the homes that sell. Just 61% of listed homes now find a buyer, down from 74% in 2021. The number of homes for sale is at a 12-year high for September, buyer enquiries are down 9% on last year and sales agreed are also down 9%. Rightmove reports that average asking prices rose 0.7% in September to £367,440, the first monthly rise since May, but they are still 0.8% lower than a year ago.
It depends where you live
The averages hide a wide gap. In Scotland, 91% of listed homes find a buyer, in about 33 days. In the North West it is 71% and 57 days. In the South East it falls to 56% and 72 days, and in London only 42% of listed homes find a buyer, taking 78 days on average. If you are selling in the south of England, the national average is optimistic.
What seven months of waiting actually costs
An estate agent's fee is only one of the costs of a slow sale. While you wait you are still paying for the property: mortgage or loan payments, council tax, buildings insurance and utilities, plus upkeep if it is empty. As a simple illustration, if those costs come to £1,500 a month, seven months of waiting adds up to £10,500 before you have reached completion. For sellers facing arrears, a divorce, a probate deadline or a problem property, the cost of delay is not just financial.
Why the 150 days after "sold" matter most
Most sellers focus on the 64 days it takes to agree a price and overlook the 150 that follow. That stage is where the risk sits: the buyer's mortgage valuation, the survey, the chain above and below you, solicitors and searches. Mortgage costs are not helping either. Reports put the average two-year fixed rate at 5.29% in September, up from 5.09% in August, and the Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 17 September on a 6-3 vote, with three members preferring a rise. Buyers who depend on a mortgage are becoming more price-sensitive, and more likely to renegotiate.
Your options if you cannot wait seven months
Keep the property on the market, but price it honestly
An overpriced listing is the quickest way to end up in the 39% that never find a buyer. Insist on evidence for your agent's valuation, not just a confident number.
Sell to a cash buyer
A genuine cash buyer has no mortgage to arrange, no chain and no survey to fall foul of, so you decide the completion date. It will normally mean a lower price than a perfect open-market sale, which is why it works best when the alternative is months of costs, uncertainty or a deadline you cannot move. Weigh the discount against the seven months of bills you avoid.
Think about what happens if the sale falls through
If the buyer withdraws after months of waiting, you go back to day one, with a property that now shows a longer time on the market. Certainty has a value of its own.
Need to sell without the seven-month wait?
We buy houses for cash in any condition and any situation, with no fees and no chain, and we can complete in as little as 7 days when speed matters. For a no-obligation cash offer, call 0203 633 9596.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to sell a house through an estate agent in 2026?
ValuQ’s September 2026 market update puts it at around 64 days to find a buyer and a further 150 days to complete, roughly 214 days in total. That assumes the sale finds a buyer at all, which only 61% of listed homes do.
Do all regions take this long?
No. The same data shows big regional differences: 91% of listed homes in Scotland find a buyer, taking about 33 days, while in London it is 42% and about 78 days. The South East sits at 56% and 72 days.
Can I sell faster if I need to?
Yes. A sale to a cash buyer removes the chain, the mortgage valuation and the risk of a buyer pulling out. The trade-off is that a fast sale usually means accepting a price below the best you might achieve on the open market, so compare it against what waiting would cost you.