Spring 2026 — when should you list your property?

Every year, the property market follows a predictable seasonal rhythm. Understanding these patterns — and crucially, understanding when other sellers list — gives you a genuine edge.

What the transaction data shows

Analysis of Land Registry completions over the past five years reveals consistent patterns:

• Peak buyer activity: March to May (40% more searches than January)
• Peak new listings: Late March (when competition is highest)
• Optimal window: Early-to-mid March (buyer demand rising, seller competition not yet peaked)
• Easter effect: Activity dips during the Easter fortnight, then rebounds strongly

The 2026 calendar

Easter 2026 falls on 5 April. Based on historical patterns, this creates two optimal listing windows:

Window 1: 9–20 March 2026 — Buyer search volumes are climbing but the spring listing surge hasn’t hit yet. Properties listed in this window face 23% less competition than those listed after Easter.

Window 2: 13–24 April 2026 — The post-Easter bounce. Buyers return refreshed and motivated. Mortgage pre-approvals peak in this period as completions before summer become the goal.

Day of the week matters

Thursday listings receive the highest first-week engagement. The theory: properties appear in weekend browsing sessions when buyers have time to review new listings properly. Monday listings, by contrast, get buried by mid-week.

What this means for sellers

If you’re considering listing this spring, the data favours acting earlier rather than waiting for “perfect” weather. The best gardens look good in March sunshine. The best interiors photograph well year-round. And the early bird genuinely does catch the most engaged buyers.

You can test the market on open for offer at any time — for free. See who’s interested before committing to a full listing.