Selling your home in January: why the New Year can be the smartest time to list

14 Jan, 2026

Here’s why January can work in your favour, and how to make the most of it.

1) Motivated buyers come back with purpose

The festive period gives people time to reflect, plan, and make decisions. Once the holidays end, many buyers return to the market with clear “why now?” motivations:

  • Upsizing (new baby plans, remote-working needs, wanting more space)
  • Downsizing (simplifying, freeing up equity, reducing maintenance)
  • School catchment moves (planning ahead for applications and placements)
  • Lifestyle changes (moving closer to family, changes in relationships, commuting shifts)

This isn’t just a feel-good idea, UK portals consistently see a surge in interest around the Boxing Day to New Year period, which carries into January. Zoopla’s own round-up of 2025 activity reports that January was its most popular month for browsing, aligning with the “Boxing Day Bounce” and a traditional lift in property searches as the year begins. 

Zoopla also reported the year starting strongly in 2025, with buyer demand up year-on-year and more sales being agreed early in the year, exactly the conditions sellers want when launching a listing. 

Why this matters for you: a buyer who’s actively searching in January is often more decisive, because their move is tied to a plan for the year ahead, not just casual browsing.

2) Less competition (your home can stand out)

Spring brings more choice for buyers, and more competition for sellers. Rightmove regularly describes spring as one of the busiest periods, when “lots more people” list their homes. And their spring coverage highlights surges in new listings as the season gets going. 

By contrast, winter typically has a thinner pipeline of new stock. RICS market survey commentary through late 2025 showed new instructions (new listings coming to agents) remaining subdued, pointing to a slower flow of properties coming to market. 

Why this matters for you: with fewer comparable properties launching at the same time, you’re more likely to:

  • attract viewings from serious buyers sooner
  • face fewer “we’ve got five others to see” situations
  • keep attention (and negotiating leverage) for longer

3) Faster sales can happen when buyers want a clean start

January movers often have a timeline in mind. Some want to be settled early in the year; others are reacting to life events and want momentum (relationship changes, job moves, family needs).

A practical note: in England and Wales, the sale process can still take months from listing to completion, so the earlier you start, the sooner you can reach key milestones (offer accepted, conveyancing underway, onward purchase lined up). 

Why this matters for you: listing earlier can help you capture urgent buyers and get ahead of the spring rush, especially if your onward move depends on timings like school terms or job start dates.

4) The “Boxing Day Bounce” creates a runway into January

Many people assume nothing happens until mid-January, but the market often stirs earlier than you think. Rightmove has reported record levels of activity around Boxing Day, including record seller and home-hunter engagement heading into the new year. 

Why this matters for you: if you list in early January, you can ride that wave of attention, when buyers are browsing heavily and keen to book viewings.

How to maximise your January sale

A January listing can perform brilliantly, but presentation and pricing matter.

A simple January-ready checklist:

  • Make it bright: open curtains, add lamps, keep hallways well-lit
  • Turn up the comfort: a warm, inviting feel works especially well in winter viewings
  • Fix the obvious: dripping taps, sticking doors, scuffed paintsmall issues feel bigger in a quiet market
  • Price with strategy: the goal is strong early interest (which often protects your final sale price)

Ready to move this year but not sure where to start?

If you’re considering selling in January and want to understand what your home could achieve in today’s market, we can help.

Contact us today for your free property valuation and we’ll talk you through pricing, timing, and the best launch plan for your area. If you're in a hurry complete our Instant Valuation Form here and we'll call you back to discuss the Valuation. 

UK data sources used in this article

This Blog uses AI Editing

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