This year we have seen it happen,  January is when people start thinking about moving and February is when they start doing something about it.

Our website data from the start of the year shows exactly that.  In January, thousands of people were browsing properties, checking prices and researching areas. People were getting a feel for the market. Many were returning visitors, looking at multiple homes and quietly working out their next step.  By February, behaviour changed. We saw more people coming directly back to the website, more searches through Google and more time spent on individual property pages. That tells us something simple that people were not just curious anymore. They were serious.

What this means if you are thinking of selling

Most buyers do not wait until spring to start looking, they start early.  By the time many homeowners consider going on the market, buyers have already shortlisted areas, budgets and property types. February is often when buyers begin booking viewings and making offers.  If your home is not available to see, those buyers will move on to the next one that is. 

What this means for landlords

Tenant demand follows a similar pattern, at the start of the year tenants begin planning job moves, relocations and schooling changes. February is when searches rise and enquiries increase. Well presented rental properties let quicker because tenants are actively trying to secure a home before spring.  Waiting until later in the year often means entering a more crowded market.

Why timing matters

The data shows that the market does not suddenly start in spring, it builds quietly in winter.

January creates awareness.
February creates action.

The buyers and tenants are already there, they are simply choosing the homes they can see today.  If you are wondering what your property might be worth, or whether now is the right time, a valuation is the best first step. There is no obligation, just clear advice based on what we are seeing in the local market right now.  When the right buyer is already searching, being ready early makes all the difference.

*Google analytics 02.03.26 – www.richardkendall.co.uk