How Many Viewings Does it Take to Sell a House?

Recent research from Zoopla reveals that, while your average home can go under offer in 38 days, it typically takes around 25 weeks to sell a home, from the moment it’s first listed to the moment you hand over the keys to your buyer. 

The time it takes to sell a house is dependent on various factors, so the process can actually take anything between 17 and 34 weeks. The biggest delays can be put down to poor communication, delays in the conveyancing or mortgage application process and the searches taking a long time to come back.

How many viewings will I need to sell my house?

The number of viewings a property receives before selling varies depending on the market, location and property type. On average, UK homes receive around 10 viewings before an offer is made, though the timeline can differ according to market conditions:

• Hot markets: Houses may attract slightly more viewings, as competition among buyers is higher.

• Cold markets: Fewer buyers mean viewings may be less frequent, which can extend the time to sell.

Based on research from The Advisory, only 20% of sales agreed in both a hot and cold market had fewer than five viewings, showing it’s unlikely you’ll sell your house within the first few viewings.

Even though the average number of viewings to sell a house is 10, which sounds like a lot, there’s no telling how quickly these viewings occur. They could all be in the first five weeks the house is on the market, so it could be sold subject to contract (STC) within that timeframe.

Alternatively, these 10 viewings could be spread over months or even years in some cases (not unheard of!). This is a big risk with the open market, as there are no set deadlines or timeframes for selling a house. This means that when you start selling a property, there’s no reliable way to tell how long the process will take.

According to our data at The Property Buying Company, the average number of viewings before a sale across all property types is six. Interestingly, this differs between property types, too, as you can see from this chart:

How many viewings should I aim for?

In a hot market, you should expect to get about two viewings a week. When there are lots of buyers in the market and, therefore, greater potential interest, that number could increase. With a hot market, there are more buyers than there are sellers, and so as soon as something comes onto the market, buyers will jump on it.

In a cold market, you should expect to get around one viewing every week-and-a-half to two weeks. Using this logic, you should expect a viewing in your first week or at least a call to arrange a viewing.

"The first week is the most important time for your house viewings as it's when the alerts on Rightmove and Zoopla are triggered and activity spikes with a view to a quick sale, which is in everyone’s interests.

“That's why it's crucial to get your house primed and ready to hit the ground running to increase your chances of finding the right buyer early doors. Get it wrong, and you could be waiting a good while."

Jessica Buckley, Sales Manager, The Property Buying Company

How many second viewings result in an offer?

Second viewings are a good indication that the buyer is interested in your property. Time wasters who just wanted to come and have a nosey will never go past the first viewing, as they never really had a genuine interest in your property.

Having said this, a second viewing doesn’t automatically mean an offer either; it could be the case that your house is on their ‘short list’ and there are multiple properties getting a second viewing. 

Sadly, there’s no exact statistic for the number of second viewings that result in an offer, since everyone’s experience with buying and selling is different. That said, viewing a house for a second time is an encouraging sign they’re interested, especially if they bring another family member to see it or start asking questions about the neighbours, what it’s like living there, what bills are like, etc.

Why am I not getting any viewings, and how can I get more?

If your house has been on the market a while and you’ve not had many viewings, then there’s obviously something putting off potential buyers. There’s no specific ‘one size fits all’ solution, but here are some things to consider:

> Asking price too high: This is often the first thing that an estate agent will say to you when your house isn’t selling (despite them being the ones who told you to put your house on the market at this price). However, they’re actually not wrong – getting the asking price right is crucial to ensuring your house doesn’t sit on the market.

> Photos don’t ‘show off’ the property: As the majority of buyers look for houses online, photos of the property are so important. Make sure you ask your estate agent for all the photos; choose the ones you like and ask a friend if they agree. You want to make sure the pictures are showing off all the ‘good bits’ about your property, as this is what will draw in viewers and make a house easier to sell.

> Bad timing: Maybe you’ve put your house up for sale at the quietest time of the year, causing your house to stick on the market. The best time to sell your house is during the spring/summer seasons, with May to August being the busiest months. You should look at seasonal or news-based effects too; if you’re unsure what’s best, speak with your estate agent, and they should be able to give you the best advice.

> Key features missing: If the description of your house online doesn’t include the key features that make your property attractive, then the house will sit on the market and be harder to sell. If your house has a garden or garage, make sure that these are featured heavily in the description; anything that makes your house sound the best it can should be included.

>Too much clutter: A cluttered house is not something any potential buyer wants to see. Before any viewing or photos, make sure to declutter and ‘depersonalise’ your house to help it become more appealing to your viewers, helping them visualise themselves living there, making it more likely that the viewings will turn into a sale.

My house isn’t selling - what can I do about it?

If your house is on the open market and isn’t selling, or has had more viewings than the average number of viewings to sell a house, then it may be time to start considering your other options. 

Luckily for you, there are plenty of other options to help get yourself a faster sale: (1) Part Exchange, (2) Auction or (3) a Cash House Buyer like The Property Buying Company.

Want a speedy sale? Sell your house to a cash buyer company

If you need to sell quickly, a professional cash house buying company like The Property Buying Company can provide a fast, straightforward alternative to the open market. You’ll receive a cash offer for your property, giving you a committed buyer and a fixed sale price without the uncertainty that often comes with traditional sales.

With no estate agent commission, no hidden fees, and legal fees covered, you keep more of the agreed sale price. Better still, once your offer is confirmed, you won’t have to worry about gazundering or buyers pulling out at the last minute.

Unlike selling on the open market or at auction, the process is designed to be simple and efficient. In most cases, only one property viewing is needed to confirm the condition of your home and ensure your offer is fair and accurate.

While cash offers are usually a little below full market value, the speed, certainty and cost savings can make it a highly attractive option if you need a guaranteed sale without delays. The price you agree is the price you receive, with no unexpected deductions along the way.

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