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Property selling times have dropped in the last year

Homeowners will want to strike a balance between selling a property quickly and ensuring they get the best price for their home.

The areas where the time to sell has reduced the most have been shared. Other parts of the UK have seen the time to sell increase.


The average number of days it takes to sell a property has dropped 0.7 per cent, from 241 to 240 in the past year, according to research gathered by full-service estate agents Yopa.

While the overall percentage is low, some areas have seen the selling time decrease by as much as 79 per cent between 2022 and 2023.

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Selling times have dropped across the UK

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UK areas with the biggest drop in selling time

Test Valley -79.3%

2022 – 1,045

2023 – 216

Lancaster -79.3%

2022: 474

2023: 98

Chichester -69.8%

2022: 613

2023: 185

Vale of White Horse -68.8%

2022: 282

2023: 88

Stratford-on-Avon -66.3%

2022: 531

2023: 179

Wycombe -63.8%

2022: 687

2023: 249

South Somerset -63.4%

2022: 634

2023: 232

Rushmoor -59.4%

2022: 421

2023: 171

Boston -57.7%

2022: 324

2023: 137

Derbyshire Dales -54.7%

2022: 349

2023: 158

Test Valley and Lancaster both experienced huge decreases in the home selling time over the one-year period.

On the other hand, the selling time in Forest Heath increased the most. This jumped from 144 days in 2022 to 595 days in 2023, seeing a 313.2 per cent increase.

South Northamptonshire also had a big jump up, with properties going in around 78 days in 2022 and rising to 266 in 2023.

CEO of Yopa Verona Frankish commented: “It’s been a strange few years for the UK property market and there’s no doubt that cooling market conditions have caused some sellers considerable delays when selling, due to the fact that they simply haven’t been able to secure a buyer at the speeds seen in previous years.

“Of course, a slower market does have its benefits for those who are able to find a buyer.

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Some selling times have dropped by 80 per cent

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“With the industry coming under less strain due to lower sales volumes, the actual process of moving from accepting an offer to completion has improved considerably in some areas of the nation.”

This comes as an expert shared advice on how to make a home more appealing to potential buyers and even increase its value.

An expert said: “One of the easiest and most efficient ways to increase the value of your home is with paint.” He advised picking grey tones when preparing to sell a home.